Bedroom light fittings: How to choose the best bedroom lighting (2024)

As well as a place to sleep in peace, our bedrooms often double up as a dressing room, home office and relaxation spot, so bedroom lighting has to work hard to create the right atmosphere.

Having multiple light sources gives you the widest possible range of uses for the bedroom at all hours of the day and night. Lighting experts recommend 'layering,' or using different sources of light to perform individual functions. 'The key to producing the right balance is to layer your lighting correctly to provide a mixture of task, ambient and accent points, which are crucial in creating a calming space,' says Peter Legg, new products development manager for där lighting group.

Bedroom light fittings: 3 types of lighting layers

Task

Provides illumination for specific activities such as reading or applying make-up. 'For example, if you're a book lover, directional wall lights are far more effective than wall or table lamps with lampshades,' says Rohan Blacker at Pooky.

Ambient

Evokes a specific atmosphere and is achieved through use of shades, dimmer switches and coloured light bulbs. 'Invest in good-quality light bulbs and be mindful of the wattage – 40 watts and below is ideal for creating a soft mood lighting,' says Ben Stokes, founder and interior designer at KAGU Interiors.

Accent

Draws the eye to a particular feature such as an attractive plant, artwork or mirror. For quick, affordable and stylish impact, drape fairy lights through foliage or around a frame.

TOP TIP: Always consider how much natural light is already available. Too many light fittings in a bedroom scheme can make the space appear cluttered and overwhelmed.

1) Bedroom light fittings: ceiling lights

The ceiling light is usually the principal source of light in the bedroom. 'The colour of the shade and bulb is very important as this really sets the mood,' says Joel Chudleigh, director at Made to Last. 'Black and dark colours give a sensual mood, blues and greens are relaxing and light-hearted. Pinks and reds bring energy and can also be relaxing and warm.'

The main light is often a central pendant, but for a streamlined minimalist look, consider recessed spotlights or downlights. Jamie Moxey, business development manager at Dusk Lighting says that white fittings are easy to blend into the ceiling for a subtle look, whilst brushed or polished chrome recessed downlights make more of an impact.

Meanwhile, pendants are moving away from their central position. 'Utilising pendants next to your bed is a bold style statement that offers a new element to bedroom décor, saving you from the clunky lamps that take up valuable space on the bedside table,' says Marketa Rypacek, managing director at lighting company Industville Ltd.

Try hanging multiple pendants too, suggests Peter Legg: 'The striking waterfall look will bring an ethereal and relaxing feeling to bedtime.'

2) Bedroom light fittings: wall lights

Wall lights can reduce clutter on your bedside table, and they are great space-savers in small bedrooms with low ceilings. Fitted either side of the bed, they create an elegant symmetrical look and draw the eye to the centrepiece; the bed. Functional directional downlighter wall lights can sometimes be more effective for reading than table lamps with lampshades. Fit dimmer switches to wall lights to avoid a constant harsh glare.

'Let the individual designs speak for themselves and think of wall lights as pieces of art,' says Ally Dowsing-Reynolds at home décor store Dowsing & Reynolds. 'This could be an antique-looking curved wall sconce or a glamorous brass design with sharp angles.'

Think about colour and texture. 'Don’t necessarily go for light-coloured shades, you really only need light to shine downwards by the bed so it's a good place to use darker shades to create a comforting and relaxing atmosphere,' says textiles expert Caroline Inchyra. She likes making a subtle statement with gathered and softly-pleated shades for bedside lights: 'This is also a clever way to introduce different patterns into the room.'

Switches should always be easy to reach, so you can turn them off when sleep beckons, adds Chris Jordan, managing director at Christopher Wray: 'Ensure that bedside lamps or wall lights and bedside lamps have an easily accessible switch to avoid inconvenience.'

3) Bedroom light fittings: LED strip lights

LED strip lighting is an easy and cost-effective way to create ambience, as well as providing functional lighting for activities such as reading.

'It’s no longer harsh and bright, it's warm, cosy and welcoming,' says Ally Dowsing-Reynolds. 'LEDs are also dimmable, meaning you can show off stylish filament bulbs and control their brightness with the turn of a switch. Also, they're better for the environment as they consume less energy.'

Backlighting a dressing table or full-length mirror with LED strip lighting is a modern take on the traditional vanity mirror bulbs, providing a soft glow and giving a flattering even level of lighting.

LED strip lighting can also be used to create a statement feature around a headboard. The soft glow will be bright enough to illuminate the floor around the bed and guide you in the darkness. You can buy motion-sensored LED strip lighting set on a timer, typically from 30 seconds up to 10 minutes, giving you enough time to go to the bathroom or grab a glass of water.

LED strip lighting is also invaluable fitted inside dark cupboards and wardrobes, making it quick and easy to find things, even in the middle of the night. It now comes in a range of colour-correlated 'temperatures' – usually ranging from around 2,200K to 6,000K – which refers to the shade of light emitted.

In the bedroom, opt for the lower end of the scale, around 2,000-3,000K, which will produce a warm, yellowish light. Michael Meiser, president of LED specialists Lumilum, says this will mimic the hues of sunset and boosts levels of sleep-inducing melatonin. He warns that bright blue lights of any kind is a no-no in the bedroom: 'These disrupt your circadian rhythm, as they give off a similar brightness to daylight, making you feel awake and alert.'

4) Bedroom light fittings: bedside lamps

Getting your beside lamp right is vitally important to help you wind down and relax of an evening. Most experts recommend a lamp with a shade to disperse harsh lighting, or a frosted glass globe to give off a warm glow.

When selecting your design, think about the atmosphere you wish to create. If you opt for a lamp with a shade, a darker design will absorb some light, whilst white and lighter colours will bounce it around the room. 'If you prefer a bedside lighting option with a shade, try a warm-toned dusky pink, rich red or opulent ochre,' says Wayfair's Resident Style Advisor, Nadia McCowan Hill. 'These colour pops make a statement while bathing your bed in a rosy glow.'

Also consider materials. 'Bone china gives a gentle, ambient glow, prismatic glass exaggerates and intensifies light, while aluminium or other metals bring a more industrial flavour and greater visual impact,' says Peter Bowles, founder and managing director at Original BTC

Another benefit of using shades is that they are easy to swap out as your mood changes. 'Bedrooms are the perfect room to experiment with shades, using brighter colours or patterns to add accent tones to your scheme, perhaps to match a throw or a scatter cushion,' says Rohan Blacker.

5) Bedroom fairy lights

Fairy lights are one of the simplest and cheapest ways to add impact to a bedroom lighting scheme. Choose from mains-operated, which will generally provide a brighter, more consistent light, or battery-powered for more flexibility.

'Adding fairy lights to your bedroom will help create a calm and inviting space – particularly in the darker, winter months,' says Becker Tasker, spokesperson for online retailers Lights4Fun. 'Bedroom windows are ideal for dressing with curtain lights as the sparkling LEDs reflect on the window panes, creating a lovely glow.'

She suggests choosing micro LEDs over regular bulbs if you prefer your bedroom lighting to be subtle and relaxing: 'Micro fairy lights or firefly-like lights look stunning placed on bedside tables inside a small glass lantern, bell jar or vase, this is a great alternative to a super bright bedside table lamp.'

Look out for fairy lights with a timer. This will typically run on a six-hour cycle, so you can switch your lights on when darkness falls around 5pm, and have them automatically switch off around the time you go to sleep.

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