The first consideration you should make when decorating a room is lighting. It is an essential part of a room that can completely transform the space. So, where should you hang a light in a bedroom? Check out our tips before you get started!
When deciding where to hang and place lights in a bedroom, consider their functions. For example, will you use it to illuminate the entire room, to read or work under, or will it perhaps be used to light up an artwork? Hang or place a light in a bedroom to fulfill these functions.
If you want to turn your bedroom into a beautiful, comfortable, and functional space, lighting is essential and shouldn’t be treated as an afterthought like many people consider it. Keep reading to find out how to get the lighting right in your bedroom.
Where To Place Lights In A Bedroom
In most of our homes today, bedrooms are more than just a place to sleep. Many of us work from our bedrooms, spend time with our families, and use it as a place to settle down with a book before we go to sleep. So, identify the functions that you’re room will fulfill and use lighting to create flexibility with different lighting in different areas.
Ambient Lighting
Starting with general lighting, you want to create layers – typically, you want to anticipate the most frequent activities that you’ll be doing in your bedroom. The foundation of where you should hang a light in a bedroom is your ambient lighting or general lighting.
Your ambient lighting can also be natural light from large windows or skylights, as well as your artificial lighting. To get the best ambient light out of your artificial lighting, use ceiling fixtures such as flush mount ceiling fixtures, semi-flush ceiling fixtures, chandeliers, pendants, recessed lighting, track lighting, or ceiling fans.
Even a portable floor lamp can sometimes provide sufficient lighting for any bedroom activities that don’t require a lot of bright lighting. You want this light to reach as much of the room as possible. The best place to hang ceiling fixtures, like a chandelier, should be in the center of the room or above the bed. Floor lamps can be used to light up any dark corners that other ambient lights can’t light up.
Task Lighting
Task lights can be used for activities such as reading, working, or applying makeup – things that require more focus. You can use bedside table lamps, sconces, or low-hanging pendants on either side of the bed. Any other bedroom task spaces, such as a workspace, will function best with desk lamps, LED lights, track lighting, wall sconces, or ring lights.
Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is not intended to light the room up (although it does provide a light glow that can help you move around a room that would otherwise be completely dark). Rather, accent lighting highlights features in the bedroom, such as works of art, bookcases, or even family photographs. They will provide dim lighting that creates a glow and a sense of coziness.
You can use recessed lighting, wall sconces, tape lights, or other repurposed lights that can provide the desired dim glow that highlights this feature of your room.
Options For Bedroom Lighting
After running through your lighting plan, once you’ve figured out which part of your bedroom needs which kind of lighting, you can determine which lights you want to hang or place in a bedroom. Let’s explore your options.
Flush-Mount Ceiling Fixtures/Semi-Flush-Mount Fixturvvves
A flush-mount ceiling fixture is the most commonly used ambient lighting option that provides an overhead light source. They are typically the best choices for low ceilings of 9’ or less, and you should make sure that the lightbulb is covered to prevent looking at a bright bulb when in bed.
Semi-flush-mount fixtures are similar but drop a few inches below on short attachments. Many are more suited to other parts of the home like foyers or living spaces.
Pendant Lights
Pendant lights hang down from the ceiling on long chains or rods, giving a similar effect to a chandelier but more minimalist and modern. They are very trendy and versatile. They are best suited for rooms with high ceilings of ten feet or more. Drop two pendant lights on either side of the bed above the nightstands for good symmetry. This can provide both ambient lighting and task lighting.
Ceiling Fan Lights
On top of providing great ambient light, similar to that of a semi-flush-mount ceiling fixture, ceiling fans will also provide you with cool breezes during the summer, offering you an even more peaceful sleep. They work very well in casual or country rooms. Always buy a ceiling fan light with a remote, though, because it can be taxing to turn them off with a pull-chain if it’s above your bed, for example.
Track Lighting
Track lighting is lighting with multiple lights hanging from a metal track, mounted into the ceiling. They can be used as spotlights for artworks but are sometimes used for ambient lighting for the entrance to an ensuite bathroom or inside walk-in closets.
They work very well in contemporary, minimalist bedrooms with high ceilings and can come with various track heads, such as cans, traditional spotlights, and small pendant styles.
Floor Lamps
Floor lamps are large lamps that can be placed on the floor but still provide sufficient lighting for tasks, ambience, but not accent lighting. They are best used in the darkest corners of the room. Always get a nice lampshade, though, and make sure the seam is not visible facing the wall.
Bedside Lamps
Bedside lamps are great for task lighting, particularly if you like to read in bed.
Wall Sconces
Wall sconces are lights that are mounted to the wall and attached with rods. They provide great focus, ambiance, and accent lighting (if equipped with dim switches). They are also really beautiful when placed on either side of the bed, above the nightstands, to provide perfect symmetry.
Conclusion
So, where should you hang a light or lights in a bedroom? This article has shown you how to layer your lighting by considering the purposes they serve. Once you’ve identified this, pick the lights you like, and your room will be transformed.