Light plays an important role in the interior design of premises. When thinking about lighting in the bedroom, it is advisable to adhere to modern trends. With the help of lamps, you can independently create a harmonious atmosphere in which it is pleasant to relax after a long day.
Properly thought out lighting in the bedroom will help create the right atmosphere, relax pleasantly and, of course, set the mood for sleep.
Light in the bedroom: what should the lighting be like?
When selecting light sources, you should take into account the style, size of the room, and functionality of each zone. Where the bed is, bright light is undesirable; closets and boudoir tables, on the contrary, should have light. The best option is uniformly scattered rays throughout the room, reflected from a glossy stretch ceiling.
Before planning lighting design in the bedroom, designers are advised to determine the position of the room relative to the cardinal directions.
Chandeliers are not appropriate in all styles; you can easily do without them, but to create a special atmosphere it is better to play with color. Residents of spacious rooms should think about sconces and ceiling lamps with a soft glow, lampshades made of milky glass. Textile lampshades create a special atmosphere. A decorative LED cord evokes mystery, a romantic flair, and emphasizes the laconicism of the interior in a minimalist style.
Warm, dim light sets the mood for relaxation, as it helps the production of melatonin.
What is taken into account when organizing lighting in the bedroom?
When planning lighting in the bedroom, take into account not only the convenience of its use, but also the distribution of lighting fixtures. The latter especially affects the visual comfort for human vision. The mood created in the room depends on how well the lamps are selected and installed.
However, there are other points that are important when creating the necessary perception of a room that has its own characteristics. Therefore, in each individual case, bedroom lighting requires an individual approach:
Lighting in the bedroom should contribute not only to proper rest, but also to elevate a person’s overall mood.
- The first thing you need to evaluate when choosing the size and design of lamps is the area of the room. The larger the room, the more carefully you will have to choose lighting fixtures. However, if the bedroom has a small area, choosing lamps for it is also not easy, since they should not overload the interior design. Chandeliers, floor lamps, and bedside lamps should have dimensions that are to a certain extent proportional to the area of the room.
- The next important point when choosing lamps is their design. It is clear that it must match the style in which the room is decorated. So, a massive chandelier will look ridiculous not only in a small bedroom, but also if the room is decorated in one of the styles of minimalism.
Lighting in the bedroom, just like in other rooms of the apartment, requires certain zoning.
Another important condition is that it is necessary to correctly distribute lighting across zones. But any room should have general lighting - it can be intense or dim. Each owner chooses for himself which option is closer to him
Zone lighting includes:
— lighting above the bed, comfortable for reading before bed;
— table or pendant lighting fixtures for a workplace or dressing table;
— mirror lighting, if provided in the interior;
- lamps for cabinets, shelves or niches;
— if you plan to set up a separate place for reading or doing handicrafts by installing a comfortable chair, then a floor lamp with an elegant lampshade or a sconce mounted on the wall can be installed next to it.
An original ceiling illuminated in soothing colors would be an excellent solution for this room.
- A beautifully illuminated ceiling can become a real decoration for a room, as well as for the complete relaxation of its owners. If its design consists of several levels, then each of them, as a rule, has its own backlight. For example, the central part, consisting of a stretched fabric, can imitate the starry sky in the evening and night hours.
- The tone of the light is also important. Warm shades are well suited for a bedroom, as it will have a calming effect on the psyche of a person getting ready for bed. While cool shades, on the contrary, invigorate, knocking down a sleepy mood. It is clear that their abundance in decoration and lighting becomes undesirable.
What to consider at the lighting planning stage
The room definitely needs adjustable light to increase or decrease the illumination if necessary. If it is a small room, install a switch with a regulator, another option is a ceiling and bedside light.
If the bedroom windows face north or west, the lack of light in the morning can disrupt the natural rhythm of a person’s life.
When lighting a dressing table, the source should be positioned so that it is not reflected in the mirror or hurts the eyes. As additional lighting, it is convenient to place lamps in cabinets and deep bedside tables. It is worth thinking about bedside lamps; it is better to choose rotating ones to change the direction of the beam.
The number of lighting fixtures depends on what exactly the owner plans to do in the bedroom: whether an office will be organized in it.
Important! Indicator lights for household appliances or dim night lights help you navigate your space without turning on the electricity.
How to choose the right concept and color scheme for a room
The easiest way to colorize a volume is with colored lamps, shades, lampshades or diffusers. It has long been proven that color creates a special atmosphere and affects mood.
There should be several switches in the bedroom.
A few observations:
- Cool bluish stimulates mental activity, suitable for lovers of reading.
- Blue creates a feeling of cold, recommended in hot weather. If there are thick curtains on the windows, such lighting will save you from the heat at noon.
- Green natural shades are conducive to a relaxing holiday; in the middle of the last century, lamps with green lampshades were popular.
- Warm yellow, close to sunny, causes an unconscious feeling of anxiety due to the discrepancy between the internal mood and the physiological state.
- Bright red and alarming pink lighting increases the sex drive of couples in love.
Now shades of purple are trending; it is the color of meditation, relaxation, it has a calming effect on creative people, and helps to relax.
The modern market is replete with a variety of lighting devices.
Important! Colored lighting often changes the usual perception of objects, adjusts the space, and the room is perceived differently.
Lighting without a chandelier: what you should pay attention to
With low ceilings it is difficult to choose a chandelier. A good alternative would be ceiling chandeliers-screens, covered with thick textiles that transmit soft light. There are many prints and shades of the fabric that hides the LEDs, so you can always find the right shade.
It is recommended to choose the size of the chandelier according to the area of the room.
Variations of square and linear lamps in the bedroom will fill the room with light. Another option for the main light is an aluminum profile built into the ceiling with an LED cord. Such light in the bedroom will visually expand the walls and add airiness.
Spot lamps are very popular among designers for their simplicity and functionality.
There are other types of lamps that successfully replace multi-arm chandeliers in terms of illumination. The main thing is that all corners of the room are well lit.
To calculate the size of the chandelier, the designers came up with a simple formula: the length of the room is added to the width and multiplied by 10.
Lighting in the bedroom: main types
The design of the location of light sources is made taking into account the arrangement of furniture. Two types of lighting in the bedroom are recommended:
- the main thing is included in the morning hours or when you need to tidy things up or pack your suitcases;
- the additional one is made point-like, highlighting one of the zones of the room.
The photo shows a laconic bedroom in a modern style with an airy chandelier providing soft light.
Lamps are selected according to the level of illumination of the space.
General bedroom ceiling lighting
You should not make the main light falling from the ceiling too bright; high power Ilyich light bulbs are not the best choice. Monochrome rays that evenly fill the space are more pleasant. Depending on the area of the room, light sources are placed in the center or along the perimeter of the ceiling.
This lighting suits most modern interiors, appropriate in a Scandinavian setting, as well as in a modern-style bedroom.
Decorative bedroom lighting
The trend is strip lighting in the bedroom along the baseboard or the junction of the ceiling and walls. When choosing lighting, they are guided by style, but do not forget about a comfortable stay in the relaxation room.
Such lighting is used as an alternative to a chandelier or acts as additional lighting.
LED lights
Economical lamps are installed in ceiling frames, above the head of the bed, inside cabinets. For LED lighting in the bedroom, choose LED panels or low-power elements.
The photo shows a room with an interesting embodiment of a design idea: there is no chandelier, and the suspended ceiling is illuminated with LED strips.
Spot lighting without chandelier
It is important to consider the lighting system above the bed in the bedroom. Spot designs are suitable for any style; recessed or overhead lamps are installed above the bed, depending on the ceiling finish. It is convenient to use rotating spots; they are adjusted to the desired zone.
They can be turned on all at once or in separate groups, which means that in a matter of seconds you can adjust the level of illumination, creating the desired mood.
And others
As before, sconces, bedside decorative lamps, and wall light panels are popular for additional light.
The geometric center of the room is considered the most correct location for the chandelier.
Important! It is necessary to consider the location of the switch. If the push-button and rope ones are located inconveniently, a network toggle switch is placed closer to the bed, turning off the power to the outlet.
Which lamps to choose for the bedroom?
The modern market is replete with a variety of lighting devices. Each of them is designed for specific purposes, and choosing products for comfortable lighting of the room is not difficult.
Chandelier
It is considered the most popular and most necessary electrical appliance for creating basic lighting. It is recommended to choose the size of the chandelier according to the area of the room. In a small room, a multi-tiered model will be inappropriate: most likely, a disproportionate chandelier will put pressure psychologically. By the way, Feng Shui experts share the same opinion: it is believed that a product with an abundance of various decorative elements above the bed interferes with a restful sleep.
To calculate the size of the chandelier, the designers came up with a simple formula: the length of the room is added to the width and multiplied by 10. That is, for a bedroom with parameters of 4x4 m, it is recommended to buy a product with a diameter of approximately 80 cm.
The photo shows a laconic bedroom in a modern style with an airy round chandelier that provides soft light.
In a bedroom with a high ceiling, the use of products on chains or pendants is functional: the light becomes more directional if it is closer to the bottom of the room. But flat ceiling chandeliers without frills are more appropriate in rooms with low ceilings.
Sconce
Wall lights with a horn (a long tube with a socket attached to the end) that provide subdued light are usually located on either side of the bed. The optimal distance from the floor is 1.5 m. Sconces with lampshades fit best into Provence and classic style. Perfect for those who like to read before bed. Sometimes they are used to avoid turning on the general light when getting out of bed.
The photo shows sconces installed at the headboard, which harmoniously fit into the delicate interior.
Spots
These inexpensive and stylish lamps are very much loved by designers for their simplicity and functionality. They help illuminate the desired areas by directing the beam of light using rotating arms. Recently, spotlights on track guides have become fashionable, which in exceptional cases can replace a chandelier. They suit most modern interiors and are appropriate in a Scandinavian setting, as well as in a loft-style bedroom.
Spot lighting
Typically represented by built-in ceiling lights. They are chosen as an alternative to a chandelier or act as additional lighting. They can be turned on all at once or in separate groups, which means that in a matter of seconds you can adjust the level of illumination, creating the desired mood.
The photo shows a room with an interesting embodiment of the design idea: there is no chandelier, and the black stretch ceiling is illuminated by large spotlights.
The number of products must be determined before installing the stretch ceiling. The minimum distance between them should be 30 cm.
Backlight
As a rule, an excessive amount of light in the bedroom turns the relaxation room into an uncomfortable room, reminiscent of a shop window. Of course, if the apartment owner is a fan of high-tech style, such a scenario will not stop him. In other cases, it is better to maintain a balance and limit yourself to a couple of zones highlighted with light.
LED strip is usually used for illumination. Its price is low, and installation does not take time or effort. If you have a TV in your bedroom, you should use a tape behind the TV to prevent your eyes from straining while watching a movie.
The photo shows a stylish bedroom, the ceiling of which is bordered by a blue LED strip.
Backlighting is indispensable when you need to highlight a particular area without cluttering the space with lamps. It can be easily combined with other types of lighting devices.
The photo shows a good example of a combination of spotlights in the bedroom and backlighting.
Light over the bed
The lighting design in the bedroom provides illumination of the area at the head of the bed. The chandelier is not placed above the center of the bed, the spots are opposite the eyes of the sleeper. Wall lamps should not be placed too low, the optimal distance is 120-160 cm.
Additional lights are needed at other levels.
Lighting options above the bed
Colorless and colored lighting is possible above the bed in the bedroom at floor level or on a cantilever structure, which can be used as a shelf for light items. A good choice is ceiling chandeliers-screens, covered with thick textiles that transmit soft light.
The best option for the bedroom is indirect diffused light that does not hit the eyes.
Lighting in a small bedroom: techniques
There are unshakable rules for installing lighting in a small bedroom:
- choose the right color of lamps, too bright, cold ones eat up space, soft yellow expands;
- when placing several lamps on the ceiling, the room seems wider;
- chandeliers are chosen with directional light so that the corners are well illuminated;
- Additionally, garlands are used.
Stretch ceiling for a small bedroom
The interior of small-sized rooms has a lot of features, ranging from colors to the choice of lighting.
There are several examples:
- It is better to choose not a matte, but a glossy canvas. It reflects light, making a small bedroom appear larger.
- Another option for increasing space is installing a matte ceiling with glossy inserts. They are designed in the form of a rhombus or a square.
- You can adjust the shape of a narrow, elongated bedroom using separate sections that differ in color.
- An insert in the shape of a rectangle, decorated with photo printing or an unusual print, visually expands a narrow room.
Lighting for a small bedroom varies. It is equipped using one large chandelier located in the center, spotlights (built-in or overhead), and LED strip. The latter is installed on picture frames or around the perimeter of mirrors.
An excellent lighting option is spotlights directed in the right direction. They are installed directly into the suspended ceiling or on the walls. Thanks to this, you can highlight certain zones or details.
Where to place switches and sockets in the bedroom
When thinking through interior design, the role of lighting in the bedroom, as in the photo, cannot be underestimated; for ease of use of electrical appliances, duplicate switches are made, and additional circuit breakers are installed in a convenient place. Sockets are located at bedside tables, in the access area, and by the bed so that you can charge your phone. Blocks of sockets and switches are popular.
The organization of lighting requires thoughtfulness on the part of the bedroom owner.
Lighting with a suspended ceiling
If you have a stretch ceiling, you can safely take on the implementation of even the most daring design ideas. The coating goes well with decorative chandeliers and lamps.
However, you will need to pay attention to the fastening method; it must be quite reliable
The lighting device can also highlight the positive aspects of the interior. Using a spotlight, you can highlight individual decorative elements.
When using a beveled version of the shelves, you will need to carefully illuminate every corner of them. If you install light sources around the entire perimeter, you will be able to significantly expand the space.
Lighting in the bedroom must be planned in advance, since after installing the stretch ceiling it will be problematic
The combination of a plasterboard ceiling and lighting fixtures along its perimeter is very popular. You can also complement the picture with the help of a chandelier. We should not forget that light is necessary to create comfort. However, a person should also not be afraid to experiment.
