Bedroom lighting: ceiling, bed and atmosphere
The bedroom is the one room where light should mainly help you wind down. Yet there is often a single bright ceiling light. The answer is not more light, but light in several places and at several heights that you can operate separately.
Layer 1: the ceiling light
For overview: tidying the wardrobe, vacuuming, finding something. In a bedroom with a standard ceiling height, a ceiling light or a compact pendant works better than a long hanging fitting over the bed. Choose a model that spreads or shields the light, so you do not look into a bright point from bed. Undecided between ceiling and pendant? See ceiling light or pendant: when to choose which.
With a low ceiling, read lighting for a low ceiling.
Layer 2: light beside the bed
For reading and for not searching in the dark at night. You can choose between:
- Wall lights beside the bed: no space needed on the bedside table, and the light falls on the book. Hang them 55 to 65 centimetres above the mattress. See how high a lamp hangs beside the bed.
- Pendant lamps beside the bed: a small pendant on each side of the bed, low above the bedside table. It looks like a hotel and keeps the bedside table free.
- A lamp on the bedside table: the simplest option, without a wall connection.
Choose models with a switch on the lamp, so you do not have to get out of bed.
Layer 3: atmosphere for the evening
A floor lamp in the corner, a lamp on a chest of drawers or indirect light behind the headboard. Soft and low, so the room becomes calm in the evening. This is the light you use most, even though it seems the least important.
Which light colour?
Warm white, 2700 kelvin. Cooler light keeps you alert, and that is exactly what you do not want in a bedroom. See which light colour per room.
Dimming
A dimmable ceiling light makes the difference between getting dressed in the morning and winding down at night. See which dimmer works with LED lighting.
How much light?
Less than in the living room. It is about several soft sources rather than one strong one. See how many lumens you need per room.
Frequently asked questions
Which lamp suits a bedroom best?
A combination: a ceiling light for overview and wall lights or bedside lamps for reading.
Pendant or wall light beside the bed?
A wall light keeps the light on the book and takes up no space. A pendant beside the bed adds more atmosphere. Both work, as long as the switch is within reach.
Can I hang a chandelier in the bedroom?
Yes, with enough ceiling height. Hang it above the foot of the bed or in the middle of the room, not directly above your head. See choosing a chandelier.
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