People say you should love where you live, and you should especially love where you sleep. The bedroom is where you start and end each day — it’s where you get ready for the day, unwind, rest, and escape from life’s demands. When a room looks unfinished or not up to your standards, it can disrupt your ability to truly relax. 

You deserve to love and feel good in this space. If your bedroom feels not quite right, now’s the time to give it the TLC it needs to be amazing. And the right mix of bedroom lighting is as important as your furnishings. We’d argue lighting is even more crucial because bedroom lighting can affect your mood, daily rhythms, and sleep patterns. Here, we’re sharing our top bedroom lighting tips, including fixture and bulb considerations, so you can create a sanctuary space you’ll enjoy day and night. 

Bedroom Lighting Sets the Mood

Of course you want to feel happy in your home, who doesn’t? Feeling nourished and relaxed are two of the six most important qualities that increase people’s happiness and contentment at home. Nourishment can take many forms — physical, emotional, and psychological. And in a bedroom, design and furnishings can play an important role in creating a soothing and calming environment. When it comes to lighting, that idea corresponds to a pleasing combination of natural and artificial light during the day and soft artificial light in the evening to mimic our natural daily rhythms and encourage a restful night’s sleep.

Create Your Sanctuary Bedroom With Lighting

Start designing a bedroom that makes it easy to hit the snooze button with these five tips:

In With the Warm

The right light bulb is important to get right in a room, especially in spaces that are designated for rest like a bedroom. When bulb shopping, pay attention to two characteristics — lumens, which indicate the amount of light, and Kelvins, a measurement of a light’s color temperature. 

Natural daylight ranges from 4,000 to 5,000 Kelvin depending on the time of day, so it makes sense to create a similar look in the bedroom, right? Not quite. A higher Kelvin rating means a crisp white light with more blue wavelengths, which is not the most comfortable in a home (more on that below). For master bedroom lighting, consider LED bulbs that emit a softer warm glow. A bulb in the range of 400 to 800 lumens and 2,700 to 3,000 Kelvin is a good choice that offers plenty of illumination that’s easy on the eyes.  

Out With the Blue

Blue light wavelengths emitted from energy-efficient bulbs and electronic devices are fine during the day and may even help boost focus and concentration. But when you’re trying to relax, they tend to have the opposite effect. Blue light suppresses the brain’s release of melatonin, a hormone that aids in rest and sleep. Too much of it can cause feelings of wakefulness and insomnia – two feelings you don’t want to experience in a bedroom.

One of the ways to increase the sanctuary feel of a bedroom is to designate it as a no-device zone. If that’s impossible, then try to turn off phones and tablets at least one hour before bedtime. 

Integrate Layers of Light

Rooms look and live best with multiple layers of light, and the bedroom is no different. A combination of ambient or bedroom ceiling light, task, and accent light provide ample illumination for everyday tasks and specific activities. It also complements any natural light coming in throughout the day. 

Getting dressed and undressed, reading, and resting require different types of lighting for comfort. Consider a few different sources to illuminate various areas of the room, like wall sconces and bedroom lamps. And the ability to manage the amount and intensity of light is important too. For example, the light required in the morning is different from that in the late afternoon or evening. Opt for fixtures with programmable dimmer switches for optimal control. Candles are also a natural fit for a bedroom. Candlelight offers romantic bedroom lighting in a soft and diffused glow that’s soothing and relaxing. 

Right-Size Your Fixtures

A light fixture that’s too large or small makes a room look clunky and awkward. In a bedroom, those feelings are amplified. A fixture that’s not properly scaled to the size of a bedroom is jarring and won’t provide the right amount of light. It may make the space look unfinished and feel uncomfortable – two things you shouldn’t experience in a space that should make you feel well-rested and happy. 

When planning your bedroom lighting, often your ceiling height will dictate your fixture size. If you have your eye on a small bedroom chandelier, you’ll need a ceiling height of at least eight feet. Room size is also an important consideration, especially if you plan to layer in wall sconces or a floor lamp. Finally, consider your bedroom’s existing style and coordinate your lighting accordingly. A boho pendant is lovely but would look out of place in a bedroom full of mid century modern furnishings. Opt for similar or complementary fixtures for a cohesive look. 

Select the Right Finish or Color

Bedroom lighting should be soft, diffused, and cozy – these characteristics are what encourage feelings of serenity and contentment. Fixtures that help light move around the room in a way that feels natural are best for a bedroom. For finishes, that would include brushed nickel, brass or copper. They create a warm glow, and the brushed feature offers a slightly matte and subtle look that reduces glare. When it comes to color, neutrals are typically the most calming and blend easily with existing decor. But if you gravitate toward bright colors, that’s ok too! Your bedroom, your rules. As long as your fixture complements your palette or provides a pleasing contrast, we say go for it. 

Love Your Bedroom Lighting 

Don’t leave your lighting to the last decision in your bedroom. Make fixture and bulb selections an important part of its design, paying attention to color, size, and scale for the best results. And one of the first steps to creating your bedroom sanctuary is taking advantage of some complimentary expert advice from a local Lighting One member showroom. There, a lighting consultant can review your room’s layout, plans, or photos and offer suggestions to help you design a relaxing retreat you’ll love coming home to every day.