Table of Contents
How Does Lighting in the Bedroom Affect Sleep Quality and Mood?
Bedroom lighting is a key factor when it comes to the enjoyment of the space. It helps shape the atmosphere of it and may influence your sleep as well. This is due to the way light interacts with the circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, responsible for your wake-sleep cycle, is very sensitive to light. Having exposure to cool toned, bright light in the evening can suppress the production of melatonin, which is a hormone responsible for making you sleepy.
Having low intensity warm lighting can help keep your circadian rhythm in check. Shoot for soft white lighting tones around 2700K which mimics the colour of sunset. It is recommended that you get wall mounted reading lights instead of relying on overhead bedroom lamps for late night lighting as well.
Besides sleep, there is the moody aspect of bedroom lighting. Warmer lighting is known to promote a more relaxing mood and a gentler atmosphere, ideal for sleep and unwinding. Strategic lighting choices transform your bedroom, especially when you use indirect lighting like wall sconces and bedroom reading lights.
Why Layering Lighting in the Bedroom Is Important, and How to Do It
Layered lighting is the easiest way to create a lighting scheme that is both inviting and functional. Instead of relying on single overhead light fixtures, you can layer your ceiling light with headboard reading light fixtures and internal wall lights for a balanced look.
There are three main layers of light: ambient, task and accent. Ambient lighting refers to the main source of illumination and usually comes in the form of recessed or surface mounted LED downlights. Task lighting helps you perform activities like reading. Finally, accent lighting helps create a mood.
To effectively layer the lights, begin with the ambient layer. Install a surface mounted, recessed or hanging pendant light fitting to control the overall brightness. Pendants that have a fabric shade can help set a warm and comfortable tone.
Then, move onto the task layer. Bedside wall lights are ideal for reading and for winding down for sleep without bright lights in your eyes. This type of lighting is also great for bedrooms that you share with a partner, so you won’t disturb them while sitting up.
Bring in some accent lighting to further improve upon the mood. LED strip lights under shelves, along skirting boards or behind mirrors can provide indirect lighting that enhances the mood and atmosphere.
By incorporating dimmers and smart controls, you can adjust each layer of light independently. This will further help you control the light levels according to the atmosphere you want to create.
What Is LED Colour Temperature and What Is Best for the Bedroom?
Colour temperature, also sometimes called colour correlated temperature or CCT, is how the warmth or coolness of a light is perceived. Contemporary bedroom lighting focuses on relaxation and mood, and getting the colour temperature right is an important aspect of that.
Colour temperature exists on a scale of Kelvin units measuring 1,000K to 10,000K. Warmer bedroom light fixtures will sit lower to the bottom of the scale. Cooler lights are towards the top.
Cool lights are often considered to be energising and sometimes harsh if not used in the proper settings. This is the opposite of the kind of atmosphere you want to create in a bedroom.
Lights in bedroom areas should be relaxing and inviting, meaning that warm colour temperatures are recommended. Opt for colour temperatures between 2700K and 3300K for best results. This will help create a nice atmosphere while still ensuring visibility.
Nighttime Lighting Tips
Getting lights right in your bedroom is key to creating an atmospheric space you love to relax in. Below are a few tips for nighttime lighting to make the most of your light fixtures for bedroom spaces.
- USE LOW LEVEL ILLUMINATION. Avoid having super bright LED lights for a bedroom. Instead, choose low intensity illumination that gently fills the space without creating an overwhelming glare. Choose bedside pendant lights and indoor wall uplights to create warm, indirect lighting, and strip lights for a soft glow.
- INCORPORATE DIMMER SWITCHES. With dimmable lights, you can choose the brightness of your bedroom lighting at all points of the day and night. You are able to gradually lower the lighting as the day wears on to help keep your circadian rhythm in check.
- POSITION LIGHTS WITH CARE. Set lighting in places that support nighttime routines. Bedside lamps need to be around eye level, and accent lights can be placed wherever they best highlight different features. Try not to place lights right above the bed, as this can be uncomfortable and harsh.
What Types of Lighting Are Great for Use in the Bedroom?
The best bedroom lights for a given space will be different depending on each individual bedroom. Modern bedroom lighting involves layering different lighting fixtures together to create a balanced, seamless look. It begins with the ambient layer.
Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting provides the foundational layer that other lights can supplement. It offers the main brightness level and helps with moving around the room or cleaning. Ambient light options include:
- ceiling mounted fixtures, ideal for low ceilings
- pendant light for rooms with tall or vaulted ceilings
- recessed lighting for a sleeker, more minimalistic appearance
Task Lighting
Task lights provide more focused illumination for engaging in certain activities, like reading. In a bedroom, your task lighting doesn’t need to be super bright, just well placed. Some task lighting fixtures include:
- bedside lamps for reading and relaxing in bed at night
- LED interior wall lights positioned beside the bed
- LED mirror lights around any vanities in the space
Accent Lighting
With accent light, you can enhance the aesthetic appeal and highlight different features in the room. It can come in many forms, including:
- LED strip lights behind headboards and shelves
- picture wall lights for the bedroom art in the space
- table lamps that double as decor
How Does the Right Lighting Complement the Colours and Design of Your Bedroom?
Fitting lights into your bedroom involves more than just thinking about the illumination it will provide. Incorporating bedroom lighting ideas that decorate the room as much as it lights it up is important.
Lighting can enhance the colour tones in the space, for example. Warm lighting brings out earthy tones like olive freen, terracotta and taupe.
Cooler lighting can sharpen blues, grays and whites. Choosing the appropriate colour temperature ensures that your textiles, furnishings and paint colours all look their best.
Lighting in bedrooms can also highlight the materials and textures in the space. Placing wall mounted or strip lights behind headboards can show off the grain of the wood. Accent lighting pointed at curtains can draw attention to the richness of the fabrics.
With lights, you can also achieve visual balance in the room. A well-lit and balanced bedroom has a sense of harmony and tranquillity to it. Use lighting to balance out bold colours with softer ones, shadowy corners with brighter areas and more.
For example, you can brighten a dark feature wall with warm accent lights. Minimalist spaces can get a warm touch with layered bedside lamps, too. Ground your colourful bedding with neutral toned ambient light in the room.
How to Use Mirrors with Lighting in the Bedroom
When designing a bedroom lighting scheme, a lot of people make the mistake of installing modern bedroom ceiling lights and stopping there. Still, it can feel like a double edged sword if you add in accent and task lighting; you may notice that your smaller bedroom feels cramped.
If you struggle to find the right balance, you can amplify the light without adding too many fixtures. This can be accomplished with strategically placed mirrors.
Mirrors play a huge role in the movement of light around a room. They can amplify and bounce lights when placed opposite or adjacent to a source of light.
For example, placing mirrors across from a window can maximise the amount of light that spreads within. Mirrors near bedside lamps can double the light while softening the overall glow.
In a smaller bedroom, you can give the illusion of more space with mirrors, too. Install mirrored wardrobes or LED strip lights around a mirror to move more light around the room. This will add depth without cluttering the space with additional light.
Mirrors can themselves be a part of the design scheme. They can serve as a focal point when they are properly illuminated. For example, backlighting a mirror can bring a sleek and modern appeal to the space. It will also provide ample lighting for grooming and getting ready for the day.
Advice on Lighting Placement in the Bedroom
Where you place your lighting matters. Your illumination can fall totally flat if you don’t pay attention to where you place the lights.
At the bedside, you should keep lights within easy reach so you don’t have to go too far to turn them off before sleep. It is recommended that the bottom of the shade sits around shoulder height to prevent glare when sitting or lying in bed.
Recessed downlights and other ceiling lights should be centred in the room. This ensures even light distribution across the space. Larger bedrooms may need more than one light to make sure the light is balanced.
Lighting around the mirror or dressing area should be placed on either side when possible. Installing lights above the mirror can cast unflattering lighting. You can also avoid this by choosing backlit mirrors or mirrors lit by LED strip lights.
When it comes to accent lighting, highlight features with directional spotlights. Artwork, textured walls and architectural elements can shine with the right highlighting. You can also install LED strip lights beneath floating shelves.
Why Use LED Lighting in the Bedroom
Over time, LED lights have overtaken traditional bulbs like halogen and incandescent lights in terms of popularity. There are many reasons why they are the preferred style of light in most cases, and especially when it comes to the bedroom.
The versatility of an LED light is one of the biggest draws. LEDs come in a wide variety of colour temperatures, allowing you to easily select how cool or warm you wish for your illumination to be. You can choose the LED light based on the colour temperature, as well as factors like brightness.
Lumen counts with LED lights are just as varied. In bedrooms, low intensity lighting is often preferred, and LEDs come in low lumen level options.
LED lights are also energy efficient. They use up to 80 percent less energy to create illumination than halogen or incandescent bulbs. By using less energy, you may notice a reduction of your energy bills.
The lower use of energy also means the lights last longer than traditional bulbs. Where you can expect around 1,000 hours of light from halogen bulbs, LED lights last exponentially longer. They can generate light for as long as tens of thousands of hours before needing to be replaced.
Since you don’t have to replace them as often, you can save on upfront costs, too. You will reduce the amount of money you spend by purchasing them less frequently. You can also save on time and energy that comes with changing the lights out.
In bedrooms where lights will be close to you, such as with bedside reading lights, LEDs are a safer choice. They do not generate the same level of heat that halogen bulbs do, for instance. Because of this, they stay cooler to the touch, so if you bump into them at night, you don’t have to worry about getting burned.
