Which Bedroom lighting options work best?

Make your bedroom comfortable and functional with a well-planned lighting scheme

Over the course of our lifetime, we’ll spend at least a third of our lives in our bedrooms. Some sources estimate as much as 36 years in total!

In addition to sleeping, we read, relax and pamper ourselves in our bedrooms – many people watch TV and some even have meals there too. Considering how much time we spend in these places of rest and relaxation, it’s important that they have effective lighting sources to make them optimally enjoyable and functional.

Many homeowners begin by looking for a statement chandelier – certainly in the principal bedroom. However, bedroom lighting needs satisfy multiple needs, and before choosing a single lighting fixture, you should plan carefully around the ways in which you use your bedroom. For example, a single lighting source may leave shadows and pockets of darkness, which can be problematic for activities such as applying make-up or styling hair while sat at a vanity table. Do you often read in bed? Will opening the wardrobe door create a shadow which makes viewing your clothes more difficult? Take some time to consider what you use the bedroom for, then design your scheme around those needs. 

Bedside lighting

Your bed, bedside tables and bedside lights create a beautiful focal area for the entire room. Table lamps have certainly come of age over the years, and it’s now possible to find beautifully designed table lamps which add to the luxurious feel of the bedroom, and when placed in a guest room create a feeling of welcome (and perhaps even a talking point between you and your guests).

But who says that you have to go for the expected? We love our stupendous table lamps, but if you’re out to make a style statement, there are many benefits to going vertical…

Wall lights bring a contemporary feel and, unlike table lamps, can be fitted to your desired height. Most consider this to be around 10cm above the height of your shoulder when you’re sat up in bed – however, some think this is flexible and dependent upon where the switch for your light is. Generally, however, one rule of thumb is that the top of the wall light should not be visible when you are sat in bed.

Remember, however, that wall lights can also be positioned around vanities and mirrors to create a useful source of light with a specific purpose. (See our selection of wall lights here.)

Pendant lights

Also rising in popularity is the use of pendant lighting beside the bed. This is a look we simply love, not just because the eye travels up the length of the cord, creating a great sense of height in the room, but also because of the flexibility provided.

Pendant lights can be hung bedside singly or in groups of twos or threes, and the heights of the pendants can be easily adjusted by shortening or lengthening the cord. Exposed cords lend a natural, authentic look to the space too.

Each product from our pendant lights collection looks fantastic when hung over a bedside table or pouffe, and since our pendant lights come with a two-metre braided fabric flex cord and a matching ceiling rose included at no extra cost, you’ll have everything you need to create the look you want.

Both wall light and pendant options provide you with more space on the surface of your bedside cabinet. Plus, you may find it’s easier to match your beside lights with the other luminaires in your bedroom – particularly if you opt for an eye-catching cluster of pendant lights or choose to install wall lights in a nearby main or en suite bathroom.

For more lighting design tips and trends, follow The Light Yard on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. To speak with a member of TLY’s team, call +44 (0)330 2233 940 or email info@thelightyard.com.