The bedroom is not only a room where you sleep, it is a space where other activities are carried out and, therefore, it is necessary to have LED lighting for bedrooms that suits our needs.
How to illuminate a bedroom
A bedroom should have a homogeneous, uniform and shadow-free light. It is recommended to create a harmonious atmosphere that invites relaxation and rest. For this we will choose a warm, pleasant and not very powerful light. The recommended lighting level is about 200 lux.
In this guide, we will focus on the most generic case such as the master bedroom. Although the tips we will discuss can be applied to all types of bedrooms, we have a specific article on lighting for children’s rooms that you might find interesting.
Being a room where the light is not required to remain on for hours, we must choose a type of lighting that is prepared to withstand continuous switching on and off and that lights up instantaneously.
In small bedrooms, the most commonly used light fittings are LED flush ceiling lights or pendant lamps. The latter, if the ceiling is high enough, are installed in the center of the room. If you want a more diffused lighting we can go for wall lights. On the other hand, if the bedroom has a false ceiling, it would be best to choose recessed spotlights distributed evenly across the room. One of the most widespread options are the Ultra Slim downlight panels that allow us to have quality recessed lighting even if our false ceiling does not have much space.
To achieve a general lighting in larger rooms we can also include floor lamps, which will allow us to generate a more intimate atmosphere when needed. When choosing the lampshade, it is best to select opaque lampshades, made of fabric, paper or tinted glass, as they filter the light and create a more relaxing atmosphere.
Types of bedroom lighting
Next, we will examine the elements required to light the bedroom in the appropriate way and with the combination of lights necessary for any activity. We will approach the lighting plan in layers: general, ambient and functional.
General bedroom lighting
For the general bedroom lighting, the main options are surface lights, pendant lamps and downlights. We will choose one or the other depending on the style of decoration we have or want for the room, how spacious it is and the height of the ceiling.
If we have a single light point on the ceiling, a pendant lamp is usually the most common choice. Look for the design that best suits your style among those that offer a wider opening angle, to try to make the lighting as even as possible.
If we use surface lamps or downlights, it is advisable to distribute the light spots to avoid shadows (it is highly recommended to review our step-by-step guide where you can plan your room’s lighting from scratch).
Warm colored lights are usually used. As we have already mentioned, this type of light invites relaxation and rest, making the space more welcoming.
Ambient lighting
This type of light is dimmer than the general lighting, even so it allows us to move around the room without tripping. It is recommended for anyone who has a television in the room. We can enjoy a good movie or our favorite program, without straining our eyes and without annoying reflections.
Wall lights can provide indirect light are the best option and are also be a great decorative feature.
Functional lighting
In this case, we will choose lights that have a very specific purpose. For this reason there is no general guideline when choosing a specific lighting, since the lights needed for reading are not the same as the lights needed for applying makeup.
We have already seen above how to choose a reading light or lights for wardrobes. In the case of make-up, it is best to use neutral light distributed vertically on each side of the mirror (in this post on make-up lights we have a more detailed explanation).
Bedroom lights for a specific purpose, cold light or warm light?
Sleeping, reading, putting on makeup or getting dressed are activities that have very different lighting needs. After reading our tips, it will be much easier to choose the right LED bedroom lighting for every moment.
Cool light to read in bed
For someone who likes to read before going to bed we will choose a light, preferably with a concentrated beam, with an extendable arm attachable to the sides of the bed or on to the headboard. In addition, you will be able to read without disturbing your partner.
If we cannot find a reading light that fits our needs, a table lamp can be a good option. In any case, it is recommended that the colour of the light is cold, or at least neutral, to make reading more comfortable for the eyes.
Lights in closets
Placing lights in the closet is becoming more and more popular. This area needs a more natural light than the main lighting in the bedroom, usually neutral white is chosen to reproduce the true colors of the clothes. Good lighting in the closet will help us to choose our outfit and get dressed without turning on all the lights in the room. If you share a room, don’t worry, closet lights won’t bother your roommate while they are asleep. The ideal option is the LED spotlights recessed in the ceiling that are adjustable or LED strips inside the closet itself.
Ambient lights for watching TV or relaxing
To watch TV comfortably from the bed we need a dim light that does not produce reflections on the screen. We can either go for indirect lights or some kind of dimmable lighting.
In the teenagers’ or young adults bedrooms we can combine the lights on the desk with the general lighting in the room, regardless of whether they spend sleepless nights studying or not. In this case, a desk lamp with a cold light, which helps to maintain concentration, will be more than enough. Remember to place it on the opposite side to where we are writing to avoid shadows.
In conclusion, the bedroom is not simply a space used for sleeping, but for a variety of activities with very different lighting needs. A basic bedroom would have a warm general lighting, dim lights for watching movies and a more focused cool lights for reading.