The bedroom is our ultimate personal space inside the house. After spending seven to eight hours at work each day, wouldn’t it be nice to come home and hibernate inside a comfy bedroom? Wouldn’t it feel wonderful to unwind and relax in your room at night? Hence, it is important to choose the bedroom lighting wisely. It will not only provide a soothing ambience for health reasons, but it will also be a statement of your personal taste and style.
Size and space
Logically, before we can decide what kind of lighting to install and how much illumination is needed, we first have to determine how large our bedroom is. Knowing the dimensions and space of the room will guide us on how many lighting fixtures have to be installed and how much rating each one should be.
Generally, a central ceiling light should provide uniform glow around the entire room. It should be bright enough for general rudimentary daily routines to be done, such as getting dressed, putting away the laundry, and cleaning the floor and shelves. A light-coloured shade with a low-watt bulb is the most appropriate for general ceiling light.
Also take note of tricky corners inside your room that requires extra illumination. There might be coves that can be hazardous points when not properly lit. Thus, it might be wise to install sconces and wall lights. They will not only cast light in the darkened coves but will also enhance the overall ambiance.
Survey existing power outlets and placed your lighting fixtures near them. Additionally, you could reduce wire length requirement if you install another lighting branch circuit. It’s safe to say that none of us want long extension cords that are hanging all over our room.
Check natural lightings through the windows and make the most out of them. Tie back voluminous draperies to allow as much light as possible to enter during the day. Alternatively, you can choose simple net curtains in light to medium tone to diffuse light for softer effect. If your room permits plenty of beautiful, natural light, you may only need general light to go around at night.
Type of lighting
There are various ways of lighting and it is important to understand their functions. More common lighting sources are general lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. In the earlier discussion, general lighting has been described as the overhead lighting that provides overall light to the room. Meanwhile, task lighting are needed for specific purpose and use.
These include reading lights, bedside table lights, mirror lights, and wall sconces. Other forms of lighting include wardrobe lighting for illuminating dark recesses of your wardrobe, and romantic lighting which is a soft accent lighting installed to create a romantic atmosphere. Before using these lights, decide how you want them to look like. Do you need a tall lamp? Or one with a narrow base? Do you want to mount them high? Or just low? Study these variations because they won’t work in every part of the room.
Positioning and use
Knowing the different types of lighting would enable you to better play around with them. You can go with classic arrangement of pieces. For example, table lamps on nightstands or bedside tables will not only accessorise your bedroom but will also add up a sense of balance and symmetry. For an added twist, you can choose a standard bedside lamp whereby the lamp comes with a swing arm. This provides more flexibility as it can be adjusted for any bed or person’s height.
But if you are the experimental type, you can mix and match them up to construct the ideal feel and atmosphere you wish to create. Say you divide your room into three major levels and mount in multiple layers of light to focus on specific areas and/or illuminate the entire space.
On top, you have the general lighting which can be a grandiose chandelier or a wall sconce with unique set pieces. On the middle level, you can have the bedside lamps and romantic lights. For added effects, you can install floor lamps at low levels. A playful and creative combination of these lights can transform your bedroom into an exciting cozy haven. Think of colours and symmetry combos.
Personal style
Lastly, decorate your bedroom lights in a way that best fits your personality. If you consider yourself a minimalist, you can simply place a single overhead light at the center. For more classy touch, you can opt for pendant lights hanging over the bed, and sconces for beside lights. If you have an adventurous nature, there are multiple-arm sconce lights that can exhibit boldness, yet maintain a modern and sleek look. Play with multiple layers of light to achieve your vision in mind.
In the end, it is noteworthy to remember that the bedroom is supposed to bring you peace and quiet. Design the lights to create a relaxing ambiance while infusing into the overall vibe your own personal touch and taste.