Direct light or a reflection?
When a lamp becomes uncomfortable in the evening, make one useful distinction: are you looking at the bright source itself, or at its reflection in a screen, framed picture or piece of furniture? Sit in the affected place and switch the lamps off individually. This narrows down the cause before you start buying different bulbs without a clear reason.
A reflection often changes as you move your head slightly. Identify the surface on which it appears. A glossy coffee table can return light in a different direction from the matt wall behind it. The same lamp position can consequently be comfortable from one seat and distracting from another. Include all the places people use regularly in the trial.
Consider reflective objects together
A reflection may disappear from a glass table after moving it and appear in a picture frame instead. Recheck neighbouring glossy surfaces after each adjustment. Small metal objects on a sideboard can create conspicuous bright points too. Move those objects first when they are the cause rather than changing all the room lighting.
A matt surface on a shelf may alter the effect where it suits normal use. It should not remain solely for the trial while becoming an everyday obstruction. If a lamp causes discomfort in every available position, its open construction may be unsuitable for the room. A different form of screening then addresses the problem more directly than continued rearranging.
Try small changes first
If the bulb is directly visible, rotating an adjustable shade, lowering the lamp or choosing a better-screened shade may help. Only use adjustments the fitting is designed to allow. Draping fabric or paper over a lamp is not an appropriate substitute for a compatible shade. An attractive material is not necessarily suitable for use close to a light source.
For a reflection, try moving the lamp sideways or changing the angle of the reflective surface. A framed picture may look different after a small repositioning. Test a television with a dark scene as well as a bright screen. A bright test image can hide reflections that become obvious when a film moves into a darker sequence.
Avoid making everything else dark
Switching off all the other lights can make one bright source appear even more conspicuous. Try restrained background light on a wall instead. It should keep the room visible without creating another reflection. Adjust screen brightness and room lighting together after you have addressed the position of the offending source.
Record the working arrangement if several people use the room. Plain instructions such as turning the reading lamp towards the wall or switching on the small sideboard lamp are enough. A useful solution should be easy to recreate during an ordinary evening. If one seat remains problematic, reconsider its relationship to the window, screen and lamp before replacing the lighting throughout the room.
