A bedroom should above all be cosy and relaxing. It's where we want to feel truly comfortable, unwind and recover from the day. Atmospheric lighting is one of the easiest ways to achieve this. We show you how the right bedroom lighting can make your room feel cosy in no time.
Bedroom lighting – what to consider:
- Tips for planning bedroom lighting
- General lighting in the bedroom
- Adding accents with wall and table lamps
- Creating a cosy feel with indirect lighting
- Which light colour is best for sleep?
Tips for planning bedroom lighting
Work first, pleasure later – this applies to planning bedroom lighting too. Before choosing stylish bedroom lights, plan how many light sources you'll need to light the room properly.
Consider the size of the room. Allow for one or two light sources for every ten square metres of floor space, depending on the layout of your bedroom.
Think about the activities you need bedroom lighting for. Do you have a reading nook, a work area or a dressing area? You'll generally need direct light to illuminate these areas. Soft, dimmable, diffused light is enough above the bed and in seating areas.
Make sure there are suitable light points or sockets in the right places for the bedroom lamps you want. Are there still dark corners? Plan for portable lights.
Done planning? Start with general lighting in the bedroom.
General lighting in the bedroom
The ceiling light is the heart of bedroom lighting. It distributes light evenly throughout the room. Have high ceilings? Choose a pendant light as a focal point.
For lower ceilings, we recommend lights mounted close to the bedroom ceiling – otherwise, they'll only illuminate a limited area. A diffuser is particularly important for cosy bedroom lighting, as it spreads light softly and evenly.
Adding accents with wall and table lamps
Once general lighting is in place, add accent lighting. It not only illuminates specific areas, but also creates a cosy atmosphere when switched on by itself. A must in the bedroom: small lamps by the headboard. Whether you choose a table lamp or wall light, it highlights the sleeping area and gives you enough light for reading and getting ready for bed.
Selina Lauck (@selina.lauck) showed us how she highlights her bed with Artek's Golden Bell wall light. The interior blogger combines the black lamp with her minimalist interior in light natural tones, making it the focal point of the room – a small lamp with a big impact!
Creating a cosy feel with indirect lighting
Indirect lighting makes the bedroom especially cosy. A simple option is to use energy-saving LED strips under or behind shelves, cabinets or the bed. Wall lights with shields also provide lovely indirect lighting in the bedroom.
The ideal light colour for the bedroom
Once you've chosen the bedroom lamps, the next question is: which light colour is best for sleep? In general, yellow light is relaxing, so choose warm white bulbs with a colour temperature of 2,600 to 2,800 kelvin for your bedroom. The yellow light imitates sunlight, making it more pleasant to fall asleep and wake up.
Enjoy lighting your bedroom – and have many restful nights!
Photo credit: Selina Lauck (selina.lauck), Sandra Schubert (@karlas_view), Alex Schäler (@dieartige), Gesa Hansen, Sarah Van Peteghem (@sarah_cocolapine)
