ultimate guide to bedroom lighting

We spend a lot of time in our bedrooms so spending time to get the lighting right is worth the thoughtful consideration.

Whether it’s ensuring you have enough light for bedtime reading, a well-lit space for getting dressed, or simply creating a romantic mood.

We look at ways that you can make your bedroom a relaxing sanctuary whilst also making it functional.

The Ultimate Guide To Bedroom Lighting

Flexibility - Dimmer Switch

Having complete flexibility and control over your lighting setup is the first place to start when choosing your bedroom lighting.

A dimmer switch in a bedroom can be a great idea for controlling lighting because it allows you to adjust the level of light in the room to suit your needs and mood.

With a dimmer switch, you can create a relaxing atmosphere for winding down at the end of the day, or brighten the room for tasks such as reading or getting dressed. They are the ultimate in achieving a fully personalised and comfortable bedroom space.

Dimmer switches can also save energy by allowing you to use lower levels of light when full brightness is not needed.

Task Lighting

Task lighting in a bedroom is any type of lighting that is used for specific activities such as reading, writing, or getting dressed. It is designed to provide focused light on a specific area, rather than illuminating the entire room.

In a bedroom, task lighting may be needed at a desk or work area, a vanity or dressing table, or near a comfortable chair or reading nook.

Some examples of task lighting for a bedroom might include a desk lamp, a wall-mounted reading light, downlights or a floor lamp with an adjustable head.

It is important to choose task lighting that is bright enough to adequately illuminate the area where it will be used, while also being energy-efficient and easy on the eyes. Task lighting can be an important part of creating a functional and comfortable bedroom space.

Downlights

Downlights are one of the best forms of task lighting as they can be directed exactly where you need the light. However, they should only be used for task lighting in areas that need it, and not throughout a bedroom.

This type of lighting would work perfectly for highlighting a vanity table or desk, reading nook or for backlighting shelves and wardrobes.

downlights

Wall Lights

Introducing wall lights to a bedroom is a great way to create a layered lighting scheme. They can be used in a number of settings from bedside lights to a desk light, to carefully placed wall lights around a bedroom for soft, subtle levels of light.

Wall lights can be a stylish and decorative element in a bedroom, adding to the overall ambience and design of the space.

Wall lights come in a variety of styles and finishes, so you can choose the ones that best fit the look and feel of your bedroom.

They can be used to complement other lighting sources or to provide additional task lighting as needed.

Pendant Lights

Using a pendant light as a focal feature in a bedroom can help to provide a cohesive interior design look, lending aesthetics and functionality to the space.

Pendant lights can be a stylish and decorative element in a bedroom, they can be used to complement other lighting sources such as wall lights, or provide additional task lighting as needed.

You can choose from a wide range of styles of pendant lights, and thoughtful consideration should be made about the sizing of the light.

An oversized pendant light can look stunning in the right setting, but it can also dwarf a small room and make it feel even smaller. Be aware of the measurements and size it up in the room before committing to the chosen light.

glass pendant light

Table Lamps

For more controlled, task lighting you might also prefer the look of a traditional table lamp.

Table lamps are a perfect choice for bedside table lighting, reading nooks, a stylish addition to a set of shelves or for a desk setup within a bedroom.

You can really combine aesthetics with functionality when it comes to table lamps so you can ensure it becomes part of your interior decor look.

The Best Bulbs For A Bedroom

When it comes to choosing the best bulbs for a bedroom, there are a few factors to consider. One important factor is the colour temperature of the bulb.

Bulbs with a warm white or soft white colour temperature (2700-3000K) tend to be more soothing and create a cosy, inviting atmosphere, which is ideal for a bedroom. Bulbs with a cool white or daylight colour temperature (4000-5000K) tend to be more energising and may be better suited for tasks such as reading or getting dressed.

Another factor to consider is the bulb's brightness, or lumens. For a bedroom, it is generally best to choose bulbs that are not too bright, as this can be harsh on the eyes and make it difficult to relax. A bulb with a brightness of around 500-800 lumens should be sufficient for most bedroom tasks.

Lastly, you need to consider what type of bulbs you choose. LED bulbs are a popular choice for bedrooms because they are energy-efficient, long-lasting, and produce little heat.


led bulbs in bedroom

This bedroom lighting guide has hopefully provided some helpful insight into how to create a relaxing ambience in a bedroom that can be adjusted as the role of the room changes throughout the day with the right type of lighting setup.