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Modern bedroom lighting does far more than just provide visibility. Through the use of bedroom reading lights and other bedroom lighting trends, you can transform the room into a relaxing place you love to spend time in. Below, we will discuss LED reading lights and how to incorporate them into your room.
Why is Good Bedroom Lighting Important?
The bedroom is a place where multiple activities can take place. Everything from sleeping to working to reading to getting dressed in the morning is accomplished in this room. Having proper lighting in the room ensures that you can easily complete these tasks.
The bedroom should have a layered lighting scheme just like the rest of the home. This includes task lighting, ambient lighting and accent or mood lighting.
- AMBIENT LIGHT – This type of light provides the general, overall illumination. This tends to come in the form of ceiling lighting or large floor lamps.
- TASK LIGHTING – For tasks such as reading and working, bedside reading lights are a great choice. Wall mounted reading lights are versatile in the way you can mount them by the bed or use them in a reading nook.
- MOOD AND ACCENT LIGHT – Enhance the overall feel of your room with accent lights creating focal points and cosy indirect lighting.
What Types of Reading Lights Can You Buy?
The kind of reading lamps you choose will ultimately come down to preference and personal style. There are many types of reading lights to choose from.
The most popular kind of LED reading lamp tends to be bedside lights, such as headboard reading lamp fixtures or wall reading lamp fixtures. These attach to the headboard or the wall respectively, giving you control over its look and functionality. With these lights, you can choose exactly where they shine and in what direction.
When it comes to headboard reading light styles, clip on lights are a popular variety. These lights attach directly to the headboard by way of a clamp that secures them in place. If you want something more traditional, you can also opt for a simple table lamp on your bedside table.
Bedside reading lights, whether they are a simple headboard lamp or a wall reading light, can also either be fixed or flexible. A flexible reading light has a movable arm that allows you even greater control over where the light shines.
Important Things to Consider When Choosing Bedroom Reading Lights
Reading lamps for bedroom areas should be considered as carefully as any other light in the house. There are many factors that come into play, including:
- COLOUR TEMPERATURE AND BRIGHTNESS – In order to create the right reading environment and a generally comfortable bedroom, you will want to get the best colour temperature and lumen count for you. Generally, having adjustable bedside lights that let you control the brightness setting of the light is recommended. You may also want to aim for warm white reading lights between 2700 and 3000 Kelvin.
- DISTRIBUTION OF LIGHT – Decide whether you want focused directional lighting or a wider wash of light.
- FLEXIBLE OR FIXED – If you want total control over where the light shines, opt for lights that have an adjustable arm. Otherwise, you’ll be just fine with a fixed reading lamp for beds.
- STYLE AND APPEARANCE – Choose a light with an appearance that complements the decor in your bedroom. There is a wide variety of different types of bedside reading light fixtures or wall sconces for reading elsewhere in the room. Pay attention to shape and finish when shopping.
- DIMMABILITY – A dimmable reading light for beds will allow you to dictate the brightness levels at any given time. This can make reading during different times of the evening or night more comfortable.
How To Create a Reading Nook in the Bedroom
Reading nook lighting can help you create a cosy little corner to enjoy reading your favorite book. After you have chosen the best light for the job, you can start thinking about other ways to make the nook.
In order to make a nook as inviting as possible, you will need comfortable seating. Choose a nice chair or sofa to cuddle up on when it’s time to read. Furnish it with soft items like cushions, pillows and throw blankets to make it even cosier. Zone out the reading nook from the rest of the room with a soft floor rug.
You can personalise the space to feel more like your own with artwork, photos, plants and other belongings that could make the area more tranquil. This also includes organising your books on a nearby shelf and keeping your favourites within arm’s reach.
To help keep you focused on your book, minimise or remove any nearby distractions. Make a reading nook far away from noisy appliances like TVs or other electronics. You should also clear out any clutter in the area.
If you want to enjoy natural lighting during the day, you can build your bookcase into a bay window or otherwise position it near a window. If you want to brighten the nook up in other ways, you can paint an accent wall behind it in a light colourful hue.
What is LED Colour Temperature And Why is it Important For Reading Lights?
Colour temperature is a way to communicate how cool or warm a light is. The temperatures exist on a spectrum, with warmer temperatures on the lower end and cooler temperatures at the higher end.
Different colour temperatures belong in various locations. For example, art galleries and retail environments tend to use cool light to make what is on display stand out. In domestic settings, warm light is preferred.
What Type of Light is Best For Reading Lights, Cool or Warm?
When it comes to the bedroom, warm light should be prioritised. This can create a calmer, more tranquil area and make the space feel more cosy. For reading lights, you will want to use a warm white light between 2700k and 3300k for best results.
Why Use LED Reading Lights as Opposed to Halogen Reading Lights?
LED lights come with a number of perks and benefits no matter where or how you use them. When it comes to reading lights, you should use LEDs instead of traditional bulbs as well.
LED lights are energy efficient. They use as much as 80 percent less energy compared to halogen bulbs. Their lessened energy requirements make them better for the environment and better for your energy bills.
LEDs also have a long lifespan compared to halogen bulbs. These lights can last for 20,000 hours or more, compared to the 1,000 hours or so that halogen bulbs last. This means that you can save money not only on electric bills but on the cost of the bulbs themselves, since you won’t have to replace them as often.
Since they emit very little heat, they are more comfortable to use close to your head. You also won’t have to worry about accidentally burning yourself on the hot bulbs, since they are usually safe to touch.
LED lights have a wide spectrum of colour temperature options and lumen counts as well. Through them, you can choose the best brightness levels and colour temperatures for your specific needs.
What Are Lumens And How Many Do You Need For Reading Lights?
Lumens are the way LED lights indicate their brightness levels. They are similar in this way to wattage in halogen bulbs. The brighter a light is, the higher its lumen count will be.
To get a better idea of what various lumen counts have to offer, consider that for a 100 watt incandescent bulb, you’ll need an LED bulb with 1600 lumens. The equivalent of a 75 watt bulb is an LED bulb that shines at 1100 lumens, and 60 watt bulbs can be replicated with an LED bulb that generates 800 lumens. If you want a standard 40 watt bulb, go with an LED that provides 450 lumens.
Reading Light IdeasÂ
Get a modern looking LED reading lamp with the LWA317 3 Watt LED Beech Wood Wall Mounted Reading Light. This reading light features a beechwood backplate and light head to give it a coastal feel. It has a flexible arm that allows you to change the direction of where the light shines. The light outputs 3000k warm white light at 120 lumens, making it ideal for reading, and it measures 120 millimeters in width with a 90-millimeter long arm and head.
Perfect for couples, the LWA225 Twin 2 Watt Chrome Wall Mounted over bed lights has two light heads that can be independently operated. This wall mounted light generates a total of 280 lumens with 140 lumens produced by each head, which can be bent and turned to shine right where you want it. It has a single on and off switch that will turn both bulbs on at once for your convenience. The light features a plate that measures 160 millimeters by 30 millimeters and comes in a stylish polished chrome finish.
The LWA322 3 Watt Recessed LED Reading Wall Light is a stylish modern reading light that features a fixed head and a sleek cylindrical shape. The main body of the light recesses into the wall to give it a contemporary look. The fixture generates 120 lumens of 3000k warm white light that shines at a 30-degree beam angle, making it ideal for reading. It measures 180 millimeters long by 105 millimeters wide by 75 millimeters high and comes in your choice of ore brushed copper, polished chrome or black.
Enjoy a sleek and contemporary reading light with the LWA539 3 Watt Bedside LED Reading Light with USB Port. Alongside providing you with ample lighting, it also gives you a place to charge your phone or e-reader with the included USB port. This lamp features a backplate that measures 180 millimeters by 60 millimeters and is finished in your choice of black or white. At the end of the 110-millimeter arm, the bulb shines 120 lumens of 3000k warm white light at a focused 30-degree beam angle.
Control your reading environment with the LWA423 3 Watt Flexible Arm LED Reading Light with USB Ports. This light features a round backplate with a long, flexible arm attached. There is an on and off switch in the front and a USB port on the side for charging electronics. The light shines 120 lumens of 3000k warm white light at a 30-degree beam angle. The entire fixture is crafted out of durable aluminium with your choice of a black or white finish. The backplate measures 115 millimeters by 40 millimeters while the arm measures 555 millimeters in length.
The Elegante Round Recessed LED Bedside Reading Light is a minimalistic reading lamp with a circular body that recesses into the wall behind it. This modern light comes in black, white or silver to suit your taste. It turns on and off by tilting the head in and out of the backplate. When it’s on, it outputs 206 lumens of 3000k warm white light. You can change the direction of the light by tilting and twisting the head 360 degrees. Overall, it has a diameter of 100 millimeters.
Get a contemporary reading light for your bedroom with the LWA 477 3 Watt Square LED Bedside Reading Light. It turns on and off by tilting the fitting in and out of the backplate. When it’s turned on, you’ll get 120 lumens of 3000k warm white light that shines at a 30-degree beam angle. You can tilt and twist the head to shine at the ideal angle for you. This square-shaped light is designed to be mounted to the wall and is fashioned out of premium aluminium in your choice of black or white finishes. It measures 105 millimeters by 105 millimeters with a 75-millimeter projection from the wall.
Get two reading light styles in one with the LWA298A 6+3 Watt LED Chrome Wall Mounted Bedside Reading Light. This light features a larger lamp with a shade as well as a flexible arm. The light with the shade generates 600 lumens of light, while the arm light outputs 120 lumens. Both lights shine 3200k warm white light, perfect for reading. You can control each light individually with the two switches found on the backplate. Overall, the fixture measures 482 millimeters in height by 148 millimeters in width.
Enjoy the convenience of a reading lamp and a charging station with the LWA421 4 Watt Bedside LED Reading Wall Light With USB and Wireless Charging. The lamp attaches to the wall and generates 320 lumens of light that is diffused by a fabric shade available in either black or white. It features a small platform where you can rest your phone or e-reader to charge it in the included USB port. Overall, it measures 450 millimeters in height.
Minimalistic and modern, the LWA418 3 Watt LED Wall Mounted Reading Light With USB and Wireless Charging is a two-in-one reading lamp that brings convenience in style. The fixture features an arm that outputs 120 lumens of light with a halo backlight that shines 400 lumens of light. It also comes with a USB port that you can use to charge your phone or e-reader. The light is crafted out of durable steel that comes in either black or white. Overall, the product measures 240 millimeters in height by 140 millimeters in width.
