Bedroom Lighting Tips and Ideas

The first step is to decide how much you would like to spend on artificial lights. There is a diverse range of models from which to choose. At one level, competitively priced models can be sourced from a local hardware shop, and at the other a lighting designer could be commissioned to plan and install the latest technological developments.

The following guide and tips to bedroom lighting can also be used for most bedroom and can even included as part of small bedroom decor tips.

Bedroom Lighting Tips: Task Lighting vs Background Lighting

Have a good mix of task and background lighting so you won’t leave the house with one brown shoe and one black shoe.

Tungsten and halogen are the principal types of light used in the bedroom. Tungsten is a traditional, soft, and gold-tinted light, while halogen light is newer, crisper, and whiter.

Comparatively, tungsten light is perfect for warm background lighting, while halogen works well in low- and main-voltage lights. It is especially suitable for task lighting, often working better than traditional tungsten lamps for reading in bed, particularly in fittings mounted on the wall or attached to the bed head.

The bedroom below illustrates the benefits of both ambient lighting and task lighting; behind the bed is a window with a white blind that creates soft, diffused light while the bedside lights on either side provides a task lighting and a pleasing symmetry to the scheme.

Now, get ready for…

Practical Bedroom Lighting Tips

Try these bedroom lighting tips to create a relaxing atmosphere while providing bright spots for reading and other activities:

• Dim it – Try not to have too many lights in the bedroom. Sometimes all you need to prepare fo bed are soft lights from matching bedroom lamps.

• Blind it – When natural light gets too bright, like the tropics, use well-designed blinds to diffuse and control the light.

• Light color - The color of the bedroom walls will affect how much lighting is needed, so bear in mind that dark tones absorb light, and pale colors reflect it.

• Bed switch – Just as you can switch lights on at the door, you should also be able to switch them off from the bed. This is to prevent the need to get out of bed prior to nodding off.

More bedroom lighting tips?


• Center light – If the bedroom has a center light, take the time to find a shade that fits the atmosphere of the room.

• Chandelier bright – Drop chandeliers are available in many designs and back in fashion. Use them to inject an atmosphere of frivolity and femininity into any bedroom.

• Starry night – For slumber under ‘starlit nights’, try this: fibre optic lights light with Swarovski crystals replicate the night sky. Panels on both sides of the bed enhances the effect and also provide light for play and reading activities.

• Face forward – Lighting at the dressing table should be soft and even. Ideally, the light should be placed above the mirror, on both sides, or even all around like Hollywood lights. Use halogen and incandescent bulbs over fluorescent ones. Note from bedroom lighting tips: when applying make-up, what looks just right under halogen lights will seem heavy in fluorescent light and vice versa.

• Private reading – For reading in bed, use an adjustable glare-free wall-mounted lamp that casts the light where you want it, so you don’t disturb your sleeping partner. A table lamp with an adjustable arm and shade will also do. Just make sure the lamps are compatible with your room decor.

Here’re some more home lighting tips for the other rooms:

Living room lighting tips



Dining room lighting tips

Kitchen lighting tips

Bathroom lighting tips


Click on highlighted text to return to the top of bedroom lighting tips

Like to know more? Click on the following:

Door | Flooring | Walls |

Living Room | Dining Room | Bedroom | Kitchen | Bathroom |

Space Organization | Home Lighting | Home Decor Fabric |