Bedroom lighting requires bright and invigorating light in the morning, but also an atmospheric, intimate glow in the evening. In this article, we will look at various lighting ideas and tips that will help you create the perfect atmosphere in your bedroom.
Where to start with bedroom lighting?
Questions such as whether spot lighting is too bright, whether wall lamps are more suitable than bedside lamps and how high to hang a pendant lamp come up when considering how to light your bedroom. Read on for our advice on all these dilemmas and more…
Impressive ceiling lights for the bedroom
There is no rule about how many ceiling lights are too many in a bedroom. The size of the room and the height of the ceiling are of great importance when making decisions. For example, a low ceiling in a small room may not be suitable for a central chandelier, while a spacious room with a high ceiling can accommodate it with ease.
If you have the option of a striking pendant light fixture, consider its size in relation to the furniture it will be hung above to ensure proportion in the room. For example, if the light fixture is narrower than the bed frame, it emphasizes the bed as the main element and does not challenge its importance.
Pendant lights often tend to hang low. However, this is more typical of kitchens and living rooms where lamps hang above islands or coffee tables. In the bedroom, the only time you'd do this is if you've chosen hanging bedside lamps where the cord falls right over the nightstand or shelf.
Sculptural table lamps for the bedroom
Usually, the first place among the lighting fixtures for the bedroom are those that are placed on either side of the bed. Not only do they provide comfortable bedtime reading light (choose a base that allows the lampshade to be at shoulder level when propped up in bed), but they also create an excellent ambiance, softly illuminating the entire room.
Whether it's table lamps or any other type of lighting, it's important not to overdo it and not repeat the same source too many times. Two lamps are usually sufficient, but if there is another surface suitable for a decorative lamp, such as the end of a dressing table, three is still a safe number.
Another commonly used source of bedside lighting is LED bulbs on flexible cables that can be built into the headboard. They can offer a useful beam for evening reading, but lack the sculptural sophistication that the lamp embodies. Remember, your table lamp is not only functional, but also a decorative element in the room.
Discreet wall lights for the bedroom
The first rule of lighting design that applies to reception rooms is also true for the bedroom - the need for multiple sources of light at different heights. This distributes the light throughout the space of the room, from ceiling to floor, and provides different strength and beam patterns.
Bedroom sconces are excellent for achieving this layered look. In a room with limited space, bedside lamps can look too bulky. By choosing brass wall lights that illuminate both up and down, you avoid this problem. They fit quietly and stylishly, creating a pleasant background lighting.
Elegant floor lamps for the bedroom
Of all the possible ways to light up your bedroom, the floor lamp is often overlooked. However, including one in the corner next to an armchair or next to a dressing table instead of a smaller lamp can show how effective and easy to use this lighting idea is.
Floor lamps, like any lighting design, range from classic to modern, from chrome to brass, and from minimalist to majestic. In the bedroom, however, it is appropriate to choose simpler designs, because bedroom lighting is about subtlety, not ostentatiousness. The lighting should calm you or wake you up slowly, so it makes sense that the designs fit unobtrusively into the interior.
This bedroom showcases this beautifully with a traditional brass floor lamp and cream linen shade that blends in with the setting with ease. Placed in a corner, its thin trunk and small base make it a discreet addition to the interior.
