Choose the real reading position
Bring the chair, the book, and your usual footrest together before choosing a lamp position. Reading upright at a desk is different from leaning into a deep armchair. Notice where the page sits when your shoulders relax. Try the lamp from both sides, especially if you write notes as you read. A position that looks balanced beside the chair may cast your hand's shadow directly across the paragraph you are trying to follow.
Check glare with the book you use
Glossy magazines, an e-reader, and a paperback do not reflect light in the same way. Open your ordinary reading material and change the light angle before increasing brightness. Check that the light source itself is not shining into your eyes from the seated position. A shade or adjustable head can be useful, but test the exact geometry rather than trusting a product called a reading lamp to suit every chair.
Make the corner easy to return to
Place the switch within reach and give the current book a clear landing place, perhaps a small side table or one accessible shelf. Keep a drink separate from electronics and loose papers. Test the arrangement after dark with the rest of the room in its normal state, not with every other light turned on for a photograph. If the corner is used only occasionally, choose a movable light that can serve another task rather than adding a permanent cluster of furniture.
