Those who cherish a calming ambiance are likely monitoring bedroom lighting ideas closely, with an eye toward outfitting their chambers with mood lighting for optimum relaxation. Gone are the days when a night-light seemed like sufficient decor for such a significant space. “Bedrooms are used for more than just sleeping,” says Boston interior designer Gary McBournie. “It’s nice to have a ceiling fixture to provide overall lighting, but you might want a pair of bedside lamps or swing arm lamps for nighttime reading.” Bedroom designs that include lounge chairs, desks, or side tables all have more specific illumination needs, ranging from floor lamps to task lighting.
Planning your bedroom lighting design can make for a fun treasure hunt at lighting stores, but it might feel overwhelming to scan through a bevy of chandeliers, lamps, and wall lights. That’s why we narrowed down the search to 17 striking bedroom lighting ideas.
What is the best lighting for a bedroom?
The wrong bedroom lighting can completely ruin a space, if you ask Kevin Chan, cofounder of the Toronto design studio Nivek Remas. “The best interior design can be completely ruined with terrible lighting,” he warns. When it comes to planning out your space and researching bedroom lighting ideas, Chan advises zeroing in on accent lighting and furniture lighting, including pieces like bedside table lamps, pendants, and wall sconces. Indirect lighting and lighting options with dimmers can help you create that coveted soft glow. “Accent lighting would include integrated LED lights in a headboard or somewhere in the interior architecture,” he explains. “You’ll also want to look for soft and indirect light on a dimmer, not [architectural spotlights] that are harsh and not suitable for bedroom design.”
Which light is best for bedroom at night?
Since lighting in a bedroom is usually focused on evening use, McBournie likes “pools” of light to create ambiance. Control lighting should be separately switched on a dimmer. Table lamps should also have separate high/low switches so they can be adjusted to one’s taste.
You’ll also want to consider the height and scale of the bedside table. It should be approximately the same height as the bed and placed no more than four to five inches from the bed to make it convenient when you turn the lights on and off. Table lamps should be between 25 to 29 inches tall and should use a dual bulb, so that the level of light can be adjusted. The lamp itself should have a soft shape—such as a gourd or urn style—to further play up relaxation, McBournie suggests.
You can also bring in floor lamps, eclectic hanging pendant lights, and delicate flush mounts—especially in a small bedroom.
