Let’s Get Illuminated: How To Set The Mood With Lighting In Your Bedroom

Good lighting should never be underestimated when it comes to creating the right atmosphere in your bedroom. Nowadays, we use our bedrooms for far more than just sleeping in. We go there to relax, read, work, or even enjoy time with our families. So how can you create a relaxed, atmospheric feeling in your bedroom while catering to all of these activities? Although lighting a bedroom can be quite an art, there are a few tips and tricks anyone can use to help create a beautiful bedroom atmosphere.

How to Layer Your Lighting

When talking about lighting, you will often hear people say to ‘layer your lighting’. But what does that actually mean? Well, to know how to layer lighting you first have to understand what each layer is. Creating the right lighting state in your room relies on having multiple light sources each with different purposes. Lighting a room can be categorised into three types:

Ambient lighting is also known as general lighting. It’s typically the primary light source in your bedroom and provides general illumination. Often in bedrooms, it is the ceiling light (or lights) but can also come from natural light, floor lamps, and wall sconces. It seems to be universally agreed that one of the most important aspects of bedroom lighting is where possible, to have your ambient lights on dimmers so you can adjust the level of brightness to cater to multiple lighting needs. Lower lighting in the evening tends to be more calming and inviting.

Task lighting is concentrated, focused light and as the name suggests, caters to a range of specific tasks you may like to do in your bedroom such as reading, streaming, knitting, completing a crossword, etc. Task lighting is typically brighter than ambient lighting and trained on the area you commonly use to do these tasks. Task lighting in the bedroom will often come from a bedside lamp, but can also come from pendant lighting, rope lights, or LED lights. These types of lights often make good task lights as they can be directed to where the light is needed.

Accent lighting is designed to draw attention to specific features of the room. These types of lights are often brighter than your ambient light but softer than your task lighting and serve to highlight artwork, architectural design elements, or treasured items. Examples of accent lighting that may be used in the bedroom are recessed lighting, smart downlights, or LED lights that can flood a specific spot in the room with light.

To create the right bedroom ambience there should be a combination of all three of these lights. Layering your ambient, task, and accent lighting, paying special attention to the placement and using dimming controls wherever possible will have a significant impact on the overall look and feel of your bedroom. Give yourself plenty of options so you can create the right lighting state for each purpose.

Different Lights You Can Use in Your Bedroom

There are a number of light sources, types and styles you can use within the bedroom to create a great layered effect and add to the overall aesthetic appeal of your space.

Bedside lamp

A bedside lamp is perfect for reading or providing a soft light source before bed. It can be placed on a bedside table or mounted on the wall for a minimalist look. With various designs and styles available, bedside lamps can also add style or a point of interest to the room.

Floor lamp

Floor lamps are ideal for illuminating larger areas or dark corners of your bedroom. They not only provide ample lighting but also add a stylish feature element to the room. Available in a range of designs and heights, floor lamps can be chosen to complement any style, including Contemporary, Classic, Natural, and Luxury.

In-built LED Lighting in Bedroom Furniture

In-built LED lighting is an energy-efficient solution that can be integrated into bed frames and furniture. It offers a modern and sleek look, providing ample illumination without taking up additional space. LED lighting is also known for its long lifespan and low energy consumption.

Decorative or Oversized Lamp

A decorative lamp enhances the aesthetic appeal of the bedroom, serving as both a light source and a piece of art. Making a statement with your lamp choice can add an important design element to your room, making your bedroom feel more personal, inviting, and stylish.

Dimming and indirect light

Dimming and indirect lighting create a cosy and relaxing atmosphere in the bedroom. This type of lighting allows you to control the light intensity to suit different activities and moods, making it perfect for winding down in the evening or setting a serene ambiance.

FAQ’s

Is warm light or white light better for the bedroom?

Lighting in warmer tones is usually best for the bedroom. It is more helpful when trying to relax the mind and for activities such as reading as it doesn’t interfere with melatonin production, the hormone that helps induce sleep.

White and blue light are used to facilitate alertness and are best used for directional lighting or task lighting for focused activities. These lights are known to suppress the production of melatonin and are not ideal for winding down.

What light bulbs should I get for my bedroom?

An LED bulb in a warm tone with a brightness of between 1000-2000 lumens would work well as a bedroom light bulb.

Lumens are a measure of brightness or visible light and indicate the amount of light emitted by a bulb. Colour temperature is measured in Kelvin (K) and indicates the warmth or coolness of a bulb. Higher colour temperatures produce a cooler light while lower colour temperatures produce a warmer light.

Are LED lights good for bedrooms?

LED lights are an excellent and popular choice for bedrooms. Not only are they energy efficient but they are often dimmable and in the right tone can help create a relaxed, cosy, and inviting atmosphere in your bedroom.