Blog>Expert Advice>Buying guide: Helping you to choose your bedroom lighting
Last updated: 24 September 2024
Buying guide: Helping you to choose your bedroom lighting
We explain all you need to know about bedroom lighting to help you create a cosy, functional, and stylish sanctuary in your home.
Bedroom lighting can be tricky to get right. But when you do, it's the magic ingredient that sets the perfect tone for a bedroom environment.
Be it a master suite or a children's den, nailing bedroom lighting has as much to do with style and design as it does bulb colour, brightness, and placement. And we're here to help you make sense of it all.
In this post, we show you everything you need to know about bedroom lights to help you confidently achieve a magazine-worthy room.
The importance of bedroom lighting
As home lighting projects go, bedroom lighting should be a top priority.
A bedroom is a place where we relax and unwind—a sanctuary away from the rest of the house. Lighting plays a key role in setting the mood.
From an aesthetic point of view, the right lighting will make a room look lighter, brighter, and more spacious. It's also the finishing touch that brings your internal decor together.
Lastly, lighting has an important functional role. Whether it's to slowly wake you from a slumber, light you up for makeup application, or provide a gentle glow for bedtime reading, it's a crucial feature not to be ignored.
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Types of bedroom lighting
A well-lit bedroom typically uses a combination of three types of lighting: general, task, and accent. This is known as 'layered lighting'.
Getting the right blend is crucial in making sure your bedroom has good overall illumination, has the right ambience, and helps to facilitate practical tasks such as dressing and grooming.
In this section, we explore the bedroom light fixtures that fall within each of these three types of lighting. We also outline where they're best suited and why you may wish to choose them for your home. It's like a 'pick 'n' mix' of bedroom light fixtures! Let's get started.
1. General lighting
General lighting, also known as ambient lighting, provides overall illumination for a room. Your general lighting will be the primary source of light for your bedroom.
Recessed ceiling downlights
Recessed ceiling downlights are set into the ceiling at regular intervals to provide even light in a downward direction.
Best for: Master bedrooms, guest bedrooms, or a children's bedroom where a sleek, minimalist look is preferred
Why choose ceiling downlights: They offer bright, even light distribution and are perfect for larger or darker bedrooms. Their discreet design suits contemporary interiors or those with low ceilings, where hanging pendant lights might be impractical
Flush or semi-flush ceiling lights
Flush and semi-flush ceiling lights sit close to the ceiling and provide a gentle glow.
Best for: Smaller bedrooms, bedrooms with low ceilings, or children's rooms
Why choose flush ceiling lights: They are available in several design options but are unobtrusive - giving an ambient glow without taking up too much space
Pendant lights
Pendant lights hang from the ceiling and range in style from simple lampshades to intricate chandeliers.
Best for: Larger bedrooms, those with higher ceilings, or bedrooms where you want to create a design statement
Why choose pendant lights: They create a focal point in a bedroom, especially when a statement style is selected. They can also be positioned lower, on either side of a bed in place of traditional bedside lamps
2. Task lighting
Task lighting is an essential part of your bedroom lighting scheme. It's needed for specific activities such as reading, getting dressed, or applying makeup.
Bedside wall lights
Bedside wall lights are positioned on the wall on either side of the bed, providing direct light for reading and relaxing.
Best for: Master bedrooms, guest bedrooms, or smaller rooms where a space-saving solution is beneficial
Why choose bedside wall lights: They provide targeted light for reading in bed, can often be adjusted for flexibility, and add a decorative touch to the room. In the absence of bedside tables, bedside wall lamps offer the perfect solution
Wall sconces
Wall sconces are a type of light that's mounted to the wall and typically provide a soft but targeted source of illumination.
Best for: Master bedrooms, guest rooms, or dressing rooms where grooming tasks are performed in front of a mirror
Why choose wall sconces: Positioned on the wall on either side of a mirror, wall sconces provide even lighting for precision tasks such as makeup application and styling - helping to avoid unflattering overhead shadows
Table lamps
Table lamps are a bedroom staple, normally found on bedside tables, a desk, or dressing table to light up a specific area.
Best for: All bedroom types, especially where additional lighting is needed next to a bed, on a dressing table, or on a desk in a teenager's room
Why choose table lamps: They come in a variety of styles, designs, sizes, and colours, making them easy to pair with all sorts of decor or add some personality to the room. They're also versatile, as they're simple to unplug and reposition if needed
3. Accent lighting
Accent lighting is the third type of lighting and is primarily responsible for setting the desired atmosphere in a room.
Bedroom floor lamp
A bedroom floor lamp offers both style and function. It can either be used to help create a relaxing atmosphere or to provide additional lighting in a reading corner.
Best for: Larger bedrooms with more floor space or bedrooms without ceiling lights
Why choose a bedroom floor lamp: They offer a flexible lighting option that can create added interest to your room decor. Depending on the design, the brightness and direction of the light can also be adjusted
String lights
String lights, also known as fairy lights, can be draped over a headboard, pinboard, mirror, or shelving to add a whimsical atmosphere to a bedroom.
Best for: Children's bedrooms, boho, and eclectic decor styles
Why choose string lights: They're cost-effective and easy to install, adding warmth and personality to a room
LED strip lighting
LED strip lights can be installed under furniture, behind a headboard, or along shelving to create a soft, ambient glow.
Best for: Modern and contemporary bedrooms or children's rooms
Why choose LED strip lights: They create added visual interest and a relaxing, welcoming environment in a bedroom, as well as being energy-efficient
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How to choose the best bedroom lighting for your home
Aside from selecting the right bedroom light fixtures to create the layered lighting you desire, there are a few things to consider.
In this section, we outline what to be aware of when choosing your lighting including room size, layout, decor, bulb colour, and measurements.
Style and design
As well as serving an obvious functional purpose, your choice of bedroom light fixtures is a great way to add to your overall design aesthetic.
There are a couple of things to consider here. Firstly, the colour and finish of the light fixture itself. And secondly, the colour of the cable and casing, which is more evident in a hanging pendant light.
Traditional-style bedrooms look great with warm metallic tones such as brass and copper lights, or classic glass fixtures
Modern bedrooms or those with an industrial edge pair well with matt black or metallic finishes - or a careful blend of both
Cottage or rustic bedrooms suit organic textures such as wood, bamboo, and glass
When choosing the colour of bedroom light fittings (cables and casing), consider either blending with the internal decor, or create a contrast.
For example, a black cable and casing would work well with industrial or modern decor, while traditional white would blend into more neutral interiors.
For design inspiration, have a read of our post on bedroom lighting ideas:
17 bedroom lighting ideas: brilliant ways to light up your sleep space
Bedroom lighting ideas need to do so much more than simply light up your boudoir. Of course, you need good general lighting for everyday use and to wake you up during dark winter mornings. But, a well-lit bedroom is also about creating mood and atmosphere. After all, your bedroom
Handy bedroom lighting measurements
Often, it's the finer details that help to create a polished final look. So here's what you need to know about how many downlights to install and how long a pendant cable should be!
Ceiling lights: The bottom of a ceiling light fixture should be at least 7ft from the floor
Bedside pendant lights: Aim for a clearance of 35-45cm from the bottom of the pendant to the top of your bedside table
Recessed ceiling downlights: Space downlights approximately 3-5ft apart to ensure even light distribution. Use fewer lights in a smaller room for a softer glow
How many lights do you need in a bedroom? A good rule of thumb is to have one source of general lighting per 8-10 sq ft of ceiling space, complemented by task and accent lighting.
Light bulbs
Light bulbs needn't be as confusing as they sometimes appear to be. For anyone who's stood scratching their head in the lighting aisle of a DIY store, this section will help to clear things up.
LED bulbs
LED bulbs might have a more expensive price tag, but they're worth it.
They're energy-efficient, so they cost less to run, using up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs. Not only that, but they last longer and are available in a variety of options, making them the go-to choice for modern home lighting.
Colour temperature
'Cool white', 'warm white' - what's the difference, and does it really matter?
In a word, yes, it matters. You can find the most beautiful bedroom light fixture only to ruin the effect with a blindly bright light bulb. So what should you look for?
Colour temperature is measured in Kelvins (K). For a cosy and relaxing atmosphere, choose warm white bulbs (2,700-3,000K).
The higher the number, the cooler the tone, so if you want a more energising space, opt for cool white, which sits around 3,500-4,000K.
Lumens
Lumens is the next element to be aware of. It measures the brightness of the bulb.
The amount of natural light a bedroom receives will influence how bright you need the lighting to be.
In a naturally darker bedroom, you may opt for more lumens to compensate for the lack of daylight. But in general, aim for around 100-150 lumens per m².
Dimmer switches
The final consideration when choosing light bulbs is whether you wish to install a dimmer switch.
Many lighting designers would argue this is essential in a bedroom as it allows you to adjust the light intensity depending on what's needed.
Safety and IP ratings
There are two important safety considerations when choosing bedroom lights: IP ratings and fire protection.
IP ratings
IP (Ingress Protection) ratings measure a fixture’s ability to withstand moisture and dust.
The two numbers following ‘IP’ indicate the level of protection. IP20 is usually sufficient for bedroom lights as they don't typically experience a lot of dust or moisture.
Fire protection
If you opt for recessed ceiling downlights in your bedroom, check they are fire-rated. This means they are designed to restore the fire integrity of the ceiling by sealing off the hole where the downlight is installed.
Energy efficiency and smart technology
There are a couple of factors to bear in mind when choosing bedroom lighting, to help offer both optimal convenience and energy-efficiency.
Smart lighting lets you control your lighting from an app, adjusting the brightness, colour temperature, and set timers. You can even program smart lights to gradually dim or brighten to help you wind down or wake up naturally.
Motion sensor lights automatically turn on and off when motion is detected. This is particularly useful inside wardrobes or walk-in wardrobes, and helps to conserve energy too.
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How much does bedroom lighting installation cost?
The cost of bedroom lighting installation will vary depending on the scope and complexity of the work, the type of fixtures you choose, and whether new wiring is needed.
The average cost of supplying and installing downlights is around £300 - £500 per project
The average cost to hang a chandelieris around £120
Electricians tend to charge between £45 - £60 per hour
For an accurate quote, contact a qualified local electrician.
Do you need help with the rest of your bedroom decor?
If your bedroom lighting upgrade is part of a bigger bedroom renovation, let us help to connect you with quality tradespeople for the job.
Whether you need an interior designer, painter and decorator, or flooring specialist, we've got you covered.
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Request a quote for your bedroom lighting project
It's always best to hire a qualified electrician to install your bedroom light fixtures and fittings to ensure safety and compliance. Get direct quotes from our approved members through our request a quote feature.
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FAQs
What type of lighting is best for a bedroom?
A combination of general lighting (like ceiling lights), task lighting (such as bedside lamps), and accent lighting (e.g. LED strips) creates both a functional and welcoming bedroom environment.
How do I choose the right size light fixture for my bedroom?
In a larger room, you can opt for a larger pendant light or chandelier. In a smaller bedroom, flush or semi-flush ceiling lights or recessed downlights make a good choice.
Are LED lights good for bedrooms?
Yes, LED lights are energy-efficient, long-lasting, and safe. Many LED bulbs are also dimmable, making it easy to adjust the light levels to suit your needs.
How bright should bedroom lights be?
Bulb brightness is measured in lumens. As a guide, aim for 100-150 lumens per m² of space.
Key takeaways
Bedroom lighting is most effective when a blend of general, task, and accent lighting is used
Choose from a selection of bedroom light fixtures, including ceiling downlights, pendants, wall sconces, LED strip lights, bedside lamps, and string lights
Take your lighting design up a notch with smart lighting and motion sensors inside wardrobes
Always hire a qualified electrician to install your bedroom lighting
Electricians tend to charge between £45 - £60per hour
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