Bedroom is often neglected when it comes to lighting. It’s the room where we spend most time sleeping, and it may seem useless to bring more sources of light to your sleep sanctuary. If those are your initial thoughts, answer these questions:

• Do you enjoy reading in bed or journaling your day’s events before you put your thoughts to bed?

• Do you light candles to create a romantic atmosphere? If so, are you ever worried about the fire hazard related to candles?

• And what about picking your outfits or doing your make up in the bedroom?

Every bedroom needs three types of lighting to support your relaxation and productivity:

1. General Lighting

General lighting provides an even level of illumination throughout the space. For general lighting, use a chandelier, pendant or spotlights.

A good even light is important in every space. You need this basic light to clean the room or to get dressed in the winter. Of course, the best general light source will always be natural light. However, we don’t get much sunlight during long, British winters – that’s why you’ll always need a general ceiling light. But remember to turn it off when you don’t need it – there is nothing worse than a harsh ceiling light while you’re trying to relax in bed!

Make sure that you like the look of your bedroom ceiling light even when it’s off. We often don’t realise the power of decorative lighting. What is the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning? The ceiling! Now imagine you have a really beautiful ceiling light, and you could start every day with a smile.

2. Task Lighting

Task lighting is used to illuminate tasks such as reading, writing, or computer work. Brighter light is required in a smaller focal point of the room. For task lighting, use lamps, pendants or wall lights.

If you like to read or journal in bed, a good bedside light is a must. If you apply your make up in the bedroom, you also need task lights near your dresser.

That doesn’t necessarily mean desk-style lights – classic table lamps with light fabric shades and hanging pendants will work well, and look more aesthetically pleasing.

We also love hanging pendants over the bed, they look super stylish and save space on the bedside table.

3. Mood Lighting

Mood lighting is used to create a relaxing, cosy atmosphere and recreate a candle-light or sunset glow. To create mood with lighting, use low wattage, warm temperature lamps, pendants and wall lights.

In the bedroom, you need mood lighting for a relaxing, romantic atmosphere in the evenings. To create this cosy glow, you can dim the lights we’ve already talked about. However, we suggest adding a few decorative lights in warm temperature to recreate candle-light.

Look for shaded lamps made from materials such as rattan, paper, or ceramic – they will diffuse the light gently and softly.

Remember, mood lighting is used to create atmosphere, not to light areas of need – that’s what task lighting is for.

TOP TIP

If you want your bedroom lamps to feel more relaxing, replace existing bulbs for tinted LEDs.

Look for bulbs in warm colour temperature. The lower the Kelvin, the warmer the light will be. The standard colour temperature in residential lighting is 2700K – 3000K.  But if you want to recreate that romantic candle glow, replace your existing bulbs for bulbs with colour temperature of 2200K – 2500K.