The bedroom is a special place in every home where, surprisingly, we spend a lot of time. We don't just sleep here; we also relax during the day or sneak away for a moment to read a book. The bedroom is a place that, in addition to being functional, should be cosy, atmospheric, and conducive to relaxation. A magical ambiance can be achieved through appropriate lighting. How do you choose bedroom lighting that is both functional and creates a pleasant, intimate, and secluded mood in this interior?
Bedroom and Lighting – What Role Does Light Play in This Space?
The bedroom is a private, intimate sanctuary, associated with sleep and rest. It’s the only room in the house that serves solely its occupants, a space where we don't entertain guests. A bedroom interior should be functional, aesthetically pleasing, and decorated according to our tastes. Lighting plays an enormous role in this space. Its primary purpose is to create an atmospheric ambiance and emphasise the room's character. The light should be slightly subdued and of low intensity, to encourage relaxation, unwinding, and rest. However, we mustn't forget its practical function. Appropriate lighting is also useful when getting ready for work in the morning or reading a book in the evening. So, what kind of lamps should you choose for your bedroom?
What Central Lighting Should You Choose?
One of the key elements of any bedroom is overhead lighting, which serves a multitude of functions and can take various forms. The choice of a specific fitting depends on the size of the bedroom, its decor, and the individual preferences of the household members. The most commonly used options include:
- Pendant lamps for the bedroom
Pendant lights for the bedroom enjoy widespread popularity and interest due to their diversity and ease of adaptation to any interior design style. What should a pendant lamp above the bed be like? First and foremost, it should have an intriguing design and a light form. In modern bedrooms, lamps equipped with light, fabric lampshades work wonderfully. Opal glass shades and striking glass spheres also prove excellent. However, you'll find ceiling lamps for bedrooms in various styles with us. A lamp in a Scandinavian, loft, or glamour style is just a few of the options available, making it easy for you to find the perfect lighting for your interior.
- Flush ceiling lights
This type of lighting works brilliantly in minimalist and smaller rooms. Flush ceiling lights allow you to save a lot of space, optically enlarge the room, and at the same time provide an adequate amount of light necessary for basic activities or comfortable movement.
- Chandeliers for the bedroom
You can find both traditional and modern chandelier models. The former usually have arms resembling candle holders and perfectly complement the character of interiors decorated in a classic style. Meanwhile, modern chandeliers have a simple form, making them ideal for loft or Scandinavian bedrooms, or a slightly more ornate design, e.g., a bedroom lamp with crystals is a fantastic choice for glamour interiors.
Pendant lamps in the bedroom are best when they have light-diffusing lampshades or emit light directed upwards. This way, we will receive a pleasant and relaxing reflected light. In this room, full, closed shades, preferably opaque, work perfectly, as they subtly and gently emphasise elements of the decor and reduce the undesirable impression of glare, which helps to create a cosy atmosphere. As for the light colour, it should be warm, gentle, and conducive to relaxation.
When choosing the right lamp, you need to consider its size. In small rooms, overly large, bulky, and expansive fittings can be overwhelming. Conversely, in spacious rooms, a small fitting will go unnoticed and won't be able to fulfil its decorative role.
Another important aspect is the height at which the light sources are placed. A low-mounted pendant lamp helps to create a cosy atmosphere in the interior; however, if it's in a passageway, it needs to be hung at a height that won't hinder free movement, ideally about 2 metres from the floor.
A well-chosen lamp will brilliantly illuminate and decorate the bedroom and will form the perfect complement to the lighting in this space.
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Bedside Lamps for the Bedroom – Why Are They Indispensable?
Bedside lamps placed on bedside tables right next to the bed are the most popular type of bedroom lighting. They should not only be functional but also aesthetically pleasing, after all, they form an important element of the bedroom's decor. Bedside lamps usually have shades from which light is emitted only downwards or both upwards and downwards, is soft, diffused and, most importantly, does not glare. When choosing this type of fitting, remember that the bottom edge of the lampshade should be no higher than 50 cm from the level of the bed. This way, you won't strain your eyes, for example, when reading a book or your favourite magazine before bed. An interesting option is wireless lamps, which do not require a power connection, allowing them to be freely moved and always kept within reach.
What bulb should you choose for a bedside lamp? One that emits a diffused, gentle, warm light, making it easier to unwind and relax before sleep, ideally with a low wattage of 10-20W. However, if you enjoy reading in bed, opt for a 40W bulb. A reading lamp in bed should illuminate the pages of a book well and emit light bright enough for reading, but on the other hand, it must not glare at the person lying on the other side of the bed.
Decorative bedside lamp bases will perfectly complement the bedroom's decor, and their stylistic diversity means that you can easily match a lamp to your bedroom's interior.
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Wall Lights for the Bedroom – What Function Do They Serve?
Another excellent idea for lighting is wall lights for the bedroom. Small, stylish wall lights serving as auxiliary lighting make a splendid decoration for the space and help to create an intimate, cosy, and private atmosphere in the bedroom. Wall lights emit directional light, yet they work perfectly well in a bedroom too.
However, it’s worth noting that if we direct the light upwards, we will make the bedroom appear taller. Conversely, by directing the light downwards, we will optically lower the room, but we will create a romantic atmosphere. Wall lights can successfully replace classic bedside lamps, especially if there isn't space for bedside tables in your bedroom.
An ideal place to mount wall lights is the space above the bed. When installing lighting directly above the bed, care must be taken to ensure the appropriate angle of the light beam. This way, the wall lights will guarantee excellent illumination of a specific area, and the light emitted will not glare. The distance of the fitting from the mattress is also important. It is suggested that the light source above the bed in the bedroom should be at a height of about 75 cm. This will ensure a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere or comfortable light for reading a book before bed.
An important consideration when choosing wall lights is matching them with the right bulb. The best solution is bulbs that emit a warm and atmospheric light, creating a unique ambiance in the interior, with a wattage of 25W or 40W.
Black wall lights, white lamps, wall lights with a glass shade, or perhaps a wall light with an adjustable arm, allowing you to freely decide which area you want to illuminate at any given moment? At FormAdore, you will easily find functional and aesthetic fittings for your bedroom.
Bedroom lighting should be warm, atmospheric, romantic, intimate, and conducive to relaxation, and when necessary, appropriately focused and sharp to ensure comfort while reading a book or performing other activities that require good illumination.
