The right lighting in your bedroom can enhance your mood, aid relaxation and even help you fall asleep faster. Here are some helpful tips on how to light your room so that you can enjoy all the benefits of good lighting.
Choose the right light bulbs.
You should use warm white light bulbs in your bedroom because they produce a mellow light. We’d further suggest LED versions as they last longer and cost less to use. If you need bright light for dressing and lower light for slumber, consider using dimmers instead of switches. This will allow you to control the brightness of your lights without turning them off completely.
Add some mood lighting.
Mood lighting is an easy way to add ambiance to your bedroom. It can help set the tone for the your rest time as well.
Bedside Lamps
Try adding a couple of lamps either side of the bed and perhaps one for the larger furniture items such as dressing table or chest of drawers. The pools of light have a cozy feel that so pleasing and beckons you to unwind.
The bedhead lights are the main lights used for mood light and as such they should be able to switch easily from the bed. You may wish to switch these on and leave ceiling lights as you get ready for sleep to avoid the bright glare of overhead lighting when your eyes are sleepy. Many of us like to read before sleep and bedside lamps are perfect again a switched version of wall or table lamps are best.
Hotel style wall lighting
If you want to create a relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom, but have limited bedside space, why not opt for wall lights.
Hotels do bedside lighting incredibly well, we could all achieve the same levels of perfection with a little for-thought. These natty little dual lamps have soft shaded light and a separately switch reading lamps. Ultimate luxury light for bedrooms!
Chamber Music
What about a clever little wall light with a built in speaker? You could have a lovely gentle lullaby help you drift off to sleep. Oh! something classical, night music. Be it sleep or romance (oh la la!) a bit of background music is relaxing.
Recessed
Bedhead Lamps.
Built in bedside light fixtures offer a refined quality that’s undeniably cool. We love this idea for functionality but I’d be tempted to still have a decorative table lamp too, purely for the delightful pop of personality you get from a hand picked lamp that matches the decor.
Building in lights to a headboard or wiring electrics for wall lamps does need a bit of preplanning and some upheaval. A job only to be tackled before decorating for sure.
Don’t give up on using soft lighting it’s crucial for the type of relaxed ambience required for getting yourself ready for sleep. Soft lighting creates a calming effect and helps you relax. You can use faux candles, plug in lamps, or pendant lights hung lower at the side of the beds all bring that low level intimate feel to the bed chamber.
Bedside Lighting what’s new?
If you fancy something different or would like a wall light but no way of getting a cable in the wall no worries! There’s so many bedside lighting options that are new and innovative. You’ll find so much inspiration and these little beauties can be customised too.
Plug in wall lights
Plug in wall lights are really simple to install making bedside lamp look amazing. You have pendant style lamps, extra long bedside wall lights.
Tall Bedside Lights
If you don’t have bedside tables and space is tight what about these fabulous floor lamps? They fit flat against the wall and have handy open shelving for odds and ends.
Create a relaxing atmosphere with dimmer switches
Dimming lights can also help you sleep better at night. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that people who slept with bright light had higher levels of cortisol than those who slept with dimmed lights. This hormone is linked to stress and anxiety.
By the same token some people are worrying when the wake in the night and its complete darkness. A small low level lamp or nightlight provides reasurence and just enough light for your to get up and pop to the loo. A low level of light is a great for young and old alike no-one want harsh bright light as they wake.
Avoid installing recessed lights above the bed.
Recessed lights are an easy way to add light into your home without having to install hanging light fixtures but avoid placing them above beds, its too harsh. They are typically so they won’t take up much space, but they are a little unimaginative. You can use them as task lighting for example above a dressing table, wardrobe areas or accent lighting features or alcoves.
If you do want to avoid installing recessed lights above your bed, there are other options. For instance, shaded lights. Drum chandeliers have a softer aesthetic as do all chandeliers with shades.
Upwards facing light is good for bedroom ceilings as the gentle, reflected light from a white ceiling is very calming and flattering!
Keep Cool with bedroom fans
For some of us, evenings in the bedroom can be hot and steamy, (calling all ladies of a certain age) one way or another. If you find it difficult to drift off to sleep consider installing a ceiling fan.
The best place to put a fan is at the center of the room. Fans are most effective gently stirring the air in the room, rather than blowing directly on a persons face – that’s a little intense!
Some of our ceiling fans are reversible, which allows you to change the direction. One way sucks the air from the bottom which is cooler and is great in the Summer. The other way takes the warmest air to circulate which is a great way to keep the room warm in Winter.
3 Tips for buying a bedroom fan:
- Choose a fan that runs silently,
- One that has variable fan speed
- Opt for a fan that also has a light.
These three things gives you most control and comfort.
There are plenty of fans about to choose from and a noisy fan in the lounge may be fine but at bedtime little noises can exasperate a light sleeper. It is worth investing in a good quality bedroom fan as these are normally quieter.
Variable speed fans offer the best control for the user making it suited to varied conditions. You can alter speed to get the gentle waft you require for a fresher feel to the bedroom or go faster when the weather is very hot and sticky. We all require exacting sleep conditions specifically suited to us, this will enable you to relax in the evenings.
Hang pendant lights from the ceiling.
Pendants are a great option for adding ambiance to any room. A recent trend is to have them hanging above the bedside tables this is really attractive. If you go this way for your bedside choose metal or fabric, something robust enough that if it gets a knock it won’t break.
Pendants come in different sizes and styles, so you can find one that fits perfectly with your décor. If you hang them from the ceiling directly above eye-line, they are open at the bottom often and you may simply see the light bulb, this may be harsh light. If you are seeking the looks of a pendant but one that will provide soft, indirect light, look for ones with diffusers. What’s a diffuser? You may ask. A diffuser is a shield or baffle that covers the harsh spot from light bulbs.
Extra touches
Little extra touches in the bedroom help make the space feel cozy and relaxing. Soft throws and cushions help cosset you.
Plants such as snake plants help clean the air. A cup of lavender tea may help you drift off, or the soft smell of a light scent may help evoke a nice relaxed feeling. Scents bring associations and memories, often smells, nice not nasty ones are used in yoga classes. As you walk in, your brain is already preparing you for a relaxation.
