Call us dramatic, but bedroom lighting is a hard beast to tame. One moment you’re revelling in the light and airy morning sun, the next you’re rolling in bed wishing you had installed the blackout blinds. On top of that, there are the artificial light sources to contend with. How many lamps are too few? How many candles are too many? What’s the right combination? These are all musings that our bedroom lighting ideas aim to resolve. And, get this, we’ve even thrown in 10 real-life examples from skilled decorators to give you a taste of how they could translate into your own space.
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Light it Right: The Principles of Bedroom Lighting
It’s easy to stick a pretty shade on an overhead light and call it a day, but when layered lighting could be your ticket to a bedroom with just as much artistry as day-to-day function, why would you stop there? To really, and I mean really make your lights work for the bedroom, it’s a great idea to think about them like an interior designer – and that means sussing out the different ways that you can evoke certain moods with the design, whilst adding new dimensions of practicality.
Types of Bedroom Lights
The best place to start with your bedroom lighting redesign is to ensure that you’re working with a mixture of lighting types and successfully layering them as to create a sense of intentionality, warmth and depth. A key part of this strategy is introducing them at a variety of heights and from a number of sources, so it feels natural and laid back rather than ‘enforced’ over the bedroom.
To give you an idea of how this would work in practice, here’s an example of how you could incorporate the 4 main bedroom lighting categories into your own sleepy hideaway.
- Ambient – The ‘general lighting’ that pervades the entire room, often creating a soft, uniform glow. Here, you could exploit ambient light by installing a skylight or a semi-flush ceiling fixture that provides the right level of general visibility, from doing your morning routines to getting dressed for a night out.
- Task – Exactly what it sounds like, task lighting provides the illumination required to complete specific tasks, such as reading, doing your makeup or working at a desk. An easy way to add task lighting is by positioning a floor lamp in a nearby corner or stationing a side table with a lamp atop in the vicinity.
- Accent – Add a dash of decorative flair by highlighting specific elements with accent lights; in the bedroom, this works exceedingly well with headboards, recessed alcoves or in the middle of classic ceiling moulding details.
- Decorative – Think of this as the final flourish to your bedroom lighting scheme: a handful of modern candles on eye-level surfaces, a trail of fairy lights over a bookshelf or the warmth of a lava lamp seeping across your bedroom walls.
Restoring Your Circadian Rhythm
Pausing to seriously consider your bedroom lighting ideas isn’t just about amping up the cosiness (although, as we’ve explored in previous blog posts, it certainly helps!); it’s equally concerned with optimising the room for a good night’s sleep.
All the major studies suggest that light, both from artificial and natural sources, has a huge impact on our circadian rhythms or, in layperson’s terms, our internal 24-hour body clocks. This means it’s of special interest for us to avoid harsh, blue-toned lights in the bedroom as we wind down for sleep, and to ensure we can access natural daylight as we wake up in the morning. As such, large windows and warm-toned bulbs are major assets in your arsenal.
Controlling Mood & Ambience
On top of improving your sleep and creating visual interest, the bedroom lights you install can also play a role in how you feel within the space. Cool, brighter lights tend to be more stimulating and keep you focused, while warmer-toned alternatives engender feelings of safety, sanctuary and quietude. By bathing each area of your bedroom with different types of suitable light, you can also make a cramped space feel more open and, thus, much more appealing.
Everyday Practicality
Not all lighting is made equal, and neither is it all suited to your bedroom ideas and plans. For some, the addition of a skylight sounds like a dream come true, while to others it’s simply unfeasible architecturally. Similarly, attic bedroom ideas command a specific set of considerations to accommodate their quirks, such as avoiding pendant lights around sloped ceilings.
Another thing to note is that it’s always better to have more options than you need than fewer; for example, having a whole host of lamps to switch on for bedbound movie nights is much better than being stuck with the choice between the main light or the corner lamp.
10 Beautiful Bedroom Lighting Ideas (with Real-World Examples)
1) Kindle Your Inner Peace with Warm Orange Tones
We rate this beautiful bedroom interior from Valeria Cozyhome. Not only is it a sublime use of a neutral palette, but the layering of candles, fairy lights and creative use of the faux fireplace introduces a sense of playfulness that is neither too stimulating nor too underwhelming.
2) Feed Your Obsession with Heritage Maximalism
As defined by the lovely folk at Homes and Gardens, heritage maximalism is a new trend that combines two interior design leanings: traditional or vintage styles, with the grandeur of maximalist homes. In the context of bedroom lamp ideas, you have so much room to play around, and since the emphasis is on creating a bustling, curated look, the more lights the better. This beautiful vintage bedroom from @goldernhourabode is proof in the pudding!
3) Sometimes Simple is Best
When your bedroom décor is already a bit busy, sometimes it’s best to let your lighting take a back seat. Take this example from @townley_terrace – the lights are pared back yet functional in a simple shade of white, while the patterned wallpaper and pillar box red bedframe leap out.
4) Define Zones to Retain the Flow
No versatile bedroom scheme is complete without a properly planned flow. Whether that’s clearance left around your bedside, space for your en suite door to open and close unencumbered, or breathing room to help make the room look bigger, defining the distinct zones that make up the big picture adds narrative and cohesion. See how the desk and sleeping nook each have their own task lights? It’s these deft touches that bring everything together.
5) Go Down the Cyber Punk Route
While traditional and cosy are well-trodden paths, they’re not the only option. Those with a hankering for a slick, futuristic aesthetic will love this example above. In this bedroom lighting idea, the decorator has decked out their bedroom with ambient light from coloured bulbs that invoke the colour palette of Blade Runner, all whilst providing points of contrast with accent lighting. The dreamy nighttime vibes are on point!
6) Lean Into Textured Countryside Charm
Looking to style your bedside table décor with a countryside twist? Then, lighting is your lynchpin. While it’s easy to build a mood of contentment and warmth with soft, glowy light, it’s equally easy to fall into the trap of being too generic with your fixture choices. To differentiate your bedroom from the rest, make sure to pick unique bedroom table lamp ideas with interesting textures, then you can thread them into the wider scheme by echoing motifs elsewhere. For example, this lamp’s skirted shade mimics the lines in the wood panelling behind, creating a calming harmony.
7) Don’t Forget Your Bedroom Lighting Ally, the Mirror
Sometimes your odds are stacked against you. Has your box bedroom got you at a loss? Maybe a low ceiling is stifling your creativity? Either way, don’t forget that mirrors aren’t just a practical bedroom feature. Beyond bringing them into your dressing table styling, they are also versatile tools for bouncing light around the room, and excitingly, can be layered much like your lighting sources. Think: a standing mirror in the corner next to your wardrobe, an arched mirror on a mantlepiece surrounded by framed art, and then some smaller hanging mirrors incorporated into a gallery wall.
8) Match Your Patterns
Fabrics aren’t the only avenue to layer your textures, not at all. Lamp shades are surprisingly versatile in this department, moulding to practically any size, shape, colour or finish you could imagine. Paper orbs, feathers, fluted or bubbled glass, solid brass, woven rattan… the list goes on. One option we particularly warm to is integrating your bedroom lighting ideas via matching visual motifs or patterns. Curtains, bedspreads, blankets and cushions are all great starting points.
9) Be Dramatic (Complementary)
Dark academia, modern maximalism, Victorian eclecticism, you name it – there are swathes of interior styles that revel in the dramatic. Really, the moodier, the better. See this example from @lock.downhouse? On paper, the dark walls, orange ceiling and shiny finishes shouldn’t work, but topped off with a chandelier light, arched mirror and bedside lamps, it’s meant to be.
10) Mimic Nature with Organic Shapes
In bedrooms lacking a depth of character (new builds, we’re looking at you), statement lighting can make all the difference, bringing visual weight, texture and excitement where there was none to be seen. For instance, take a peek at this fluted pendant. Its shell-like profile is bold, but soft enough not to overpower the look.
Concluding Thoughts: It’s Time to Choose the Best Bedroom Lighting Ideas
There we go: all the inspiration you could possibly need for your bedroom lighting redesign. With comfort, higher sleep quality and mood-boosting characteristics all on the table, the best lights for your wider bedroom ideas go beyond mere aesthetics. Luckily, making the choice is straightforward; revisit our considerations, remember the lighting principles and shop around – and you can’t go wrong!
After more interior inspiration, now you’ve whetted your appetite? Check out the rest of our blog, or alternatively, go give our range of creative table lamps a browse.
