Your bedroom is where you start and end each day. Stylish, comfortable bedroom décor helps you relax and unwind at night. At the same time, the look and design of your bedroom also helps you greet the morning with energy and enthusiasm.
Many guys don’t put much thought into the lighting of their bedroom. After all, a significant amount of time spent in the bedroom is time spent sleeping. But the right lighting promotes better rest, creates a comfortable atmosphere and even helps set the mood for romance.
Just a few simple tips and tricks can really let your bedroom lighting shine. Don’t worry if you’re not an experienced decorator. Here are some easy and affordable bedroom lighting ideas:
The 3 Types of Bedroom Lighting
The bedroom is about more than just the bed. There’s a pretty wide range of lighting needs – more than most people initially realize. Bedroom lighting can be broken down into three different types:
General
This is lighting which fills up the entire room. You’ll want this type of lighting when you’re moving around the room. Putting away laundry is an example of an activity where you need general lighting.
Task
This is lighting for a specific area. Task lighting might focus on a mirror or vanity in the bedroom. If your bedroom contains a desk, task lighting would be any desktop lamp. Task lighting is used to accomplish (you guessed it) a task.
Accent
This is more subdued lighting which helps create a comfortable, and sometimes romantic, mood. Accent lighting could be as simple as dimming your general lighting. Accent lighting could also involve an entirely separate lighting system. Even something as simple as a string of small white light bulbs can be effective accent lighting.
Let’s take an in-depth look at how each type of lighting works together to create a stylish bedroom:
General Lighting
This lighting doesn’t always have to come from a light fixture. In fact, in many bedrooms, the biggest source of general lighting will be the sunlight which shines through the windows.
Even if you have a lot of sunshine, you’ll still want some type of main light fixture. Otherwise, your bedroom will end up pretty dark on cloudy days and during the night!
What type of fixture is best? Room size is a big factor. If you have a large bedroom with high ceilings, a large ceiling-mounted light fixture might elegantly fill up some space. On the other hand, ceiling fixtures might needlessly dominate a small room.
Another option for general lighting is floor lighting. These are free standing lights which you can put in a corner or elsewhere in a room. While the base does take up floor space, most floor lights are pretty thin and unobtrusive overall. Check out Lamps Plus for an idea of how much variety you can find in floor lamps.
Finally, wall lights are also an option. More sophisticated wall lights can be built directly into the wall and operated by a switch. But there are simpler options, too. You can find battery or solar powered lights which use special tape to attach anywhere. IKEA has some examples of wall lights in a wide range of prices.
Task Lighting
Task lighting is based on your specific needs. If your bedroom has a desk or office space, direct table lighting is often a great option. Some desks and office equipment also include built-in lights.
You might also want to add lights to the inside of your wardrobe or other furniture. Proper lighting in your closet space allows you coordinate your clothes with precision.
Most walk-ins closets have a ceiling-mounted light of some kind. You don’t necessarily have to limit yourself to that light. Installing a simple row of track lighting can help brighten up your closet space.
Many of us like to unwind at night by reading in bed. Lamps on a small table are a popular option. But some small bedrooms don’t have the space for tables. Reading lights clipped to the headboard are a great way to save space.
Accent Lighting
A cozy glow is always a nice addition to the bedroom. Accent lighting is soft, indirect lighting used to set a mood for relaxation. Of course, accent lighting can also set the mood for romance.
One simple solution to create accent lighting is to add dimmer switches to your existing light fixtures. More opaque lamp shades can also help dim light brightness. If dimmers aren’t available, a three-way light bulb works in just about any type of fixture.
Placing Lights
For medium and large sized rooms, choose one primary source of lighting for the room. One common primary source of lighting is the main ceiling light. Ideally, you want that light to dim or have other adjustable brightness.
Then you’ll augment that primary light source with additional light fixtures. These are usually table or floor lamps scattered around the room. You can have lights which you only use for specific purposes, such as a desk light. You should also have light fixtures for general, softer room lighting.
For general light fixtures, think pairs. Try to place two of each fixture in relatively symmetrical locations within the room. A mixture of mismatched lamps and lights creates a busy, cluttered look.
Pay attention to what’s illuminated and what isn’t. Use lighting to highlight the features of the room. Open-ended floor lights can accentuate tall ceilings. Wall lights can focus on paintings. Lighting can dramatically alter the perceived size of a room.
Finally, don’t overlook switch placement. There’s nothing more annoying than having to walk in the dark from your light switch to your bed. Aside from convenient light switches, some lighting systems operate via remote control.
The right lighting can give your bedroom a tasteful, masculine and sophisticated look. Great style doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. What bedroom lighting ideas have you found success with?