The bedroom is one of the most commonly overlooked places as homeowners start the process of creating a lighting plan for their homes. This is due to the misconception that these areas are only used for tasks related to sleep. However, bedrooms need more lighting than we often tend to think. Because whether you’re getting ready for bed or curling up with a good book, the space still needs enough illumination to accommodate those needs. So, if you want to keep yourself from making this mistake, it’s crucial that you start doing a bit of research. These are a few lighting ideas to brighten up your bedroom and tips for tackling this process in the most effective way.
The Basics of Bedroom Lighting
Believe it or not, bedroom lighting can be designed in an infinite number of ways to correspond to your functional and style needs. This means that no matter what type of placement you have, it will be effective in one way or another. Though, if you want to fully optimize your bedroom lighting and get the most out of it, you need to first have a grasp of the fundamental components. These are some of the core things to consider when making your bedroom lighting plan.
Lighting Type
Environmental lighting comes in three different types: ambient, task, and accent. Each variety has its own unique effect on a given space, and all three are required to be present to give a room the proper amount of depth. Otherwise, you risk creating a design where the lighting is either insufficient or off-balance, which mitigates both the appearance and the usefulness of the room. As such, it’s important to remember that all three must be present in a bedroom as well.
Lighting Layers
When using the different types of lighting, it isn’t enough to just use them together—you also need to use them correctly. This is what’s known as layering your lighting. Ambient lighting will allow you to fill the room with a base amount of light, while task and accent fixtures work to target specific areas around the room. This way, you always have just the right amount of illumination in the places you need it, such as near the bed and changing areas, without the brightness being overwhelming.
Saturation
Speaking of brightness, this is something to keep in mind as well. Depending on the light bulbs you choose to use, you could end up with a slightly different saturation than you first expected. In a room used for sleeping, this can make it difficult to do so if your lighting ends up being too bright. High illumination can energize the body and keep us awake. For this reason, you’ll want something a bit on the dimmer side for this space to set the proper atmosphere.
Bulb Color
Lastly, you should take some time to think about what color you want your lighting to be. Like brightness, color can also have an impact on the mood you set for the environment. This is why it’s recommended that you be selective about this aspect if you want to get the desired effect. Blue lighting, often from electronics, keeps the brain active, and warmer light creates a cozy, restful setting.
Effective Bedroom Lighting Ideas
Now that you know what important guidelines to follow during the planning process, it’s time to take a look at some potential options. As mentioned before, there is a multitude of different ways you could choose to design your bedroom lighting. But it helps to gain some inspiration before taking on this potentially daunting task. Here are a few lighting ideas to brighten up your bedroom based on the different essential lighting layers.
For Ambient Light
Your bedroom’s ambient lighting fixtures are going to be responsible for producing the largest quantity of light. Therefore, you’re going to want to choose something that has a large enough radius. Overhead recessed lighting is one modern method that evenly disperses light throughout various different areas. However, if you want something a bit more traditional, single flush mounts are also a viable option. Even chandeliers can make an effective and stylish way to use ambient lighting, since they’re known to project a lot of light while contributing to a unique style.
For Task Light
When looking at task lighting, on the other hand, you want to go for focused, saturated light rather than range. This is the best way to ensure that you can properly see what you’re working on in your immediate area. Some options for this include low-hanging pendant lights or bedside table lamps. Both of these fixtures work by directing light in a specific place, giving you a better environment for things like reading. Depending on the style you want, you may even be able to find models that can be bent to point in more custom directions and offer additional control.
For Decorative or Accent Light
Then the accent lighting you pick will further amplify the light already present in the room. So, if you’re looking to add only a bit of extra brightness, they’re the perfect way to do it. This is because many of these fixtures will direct the light upwards, helping it spread farther and better saturate the room. As such, a few potential choices could include walls sconces near the bed or floor lamps in any darker corners. Bedside table lamps may work in these situations as well, especially if you decide on a model that has an open top.
Proper bedroom lighting is the key to getting sufficient rest, as well as unwinding at the end of a day. Therefore, take your time when putting together your lighting plan and make sure you ask for help where it’s needed.
At Bicycle Glass Co., we aim to provide our customers with quality lighting fixtures regardless of what room they’re looking to remodel. From recycled glass chandeliers to handcrafted glass pendants, we create and sell hundreds of different types of arrangements for you to browse. As such, we’re confident that we have just what you need—regardless of whether it’s for a cozy area like the bedroom or a busy, high-energy space like the kitchen. We also offer plenty of educational material about the art of selecting home lighting and we are ready to answer any questions you might have. So, don’t hesitate to give us a call and ask what to have in stock.
