10 Bedroom Lighting Ideas to Create the Perfect Ambiance

Lighting quality can make or break a living space. If we neglect to put much thought in our home lighting, we risk creating dim, dreary rooms that strain our eyes or harsh, overly bright spaces that feel cold and clinical.

This article will focus on lighting for bedrooms. As a rule, you want to think of your lighting as part of the room’s overall décor. You also want to invest in bedroom light fixtures and technologies that give you substantial control over your lighting at any given moment. We’ll show you how to do exactly that.

Lighting Bedroom Design: How to Work with Lighting to Create a Relaxing Space

1. Purchase smart light bulbs.

One of the cheapest upgrades you can make to your bedroom lighting is installing smart light bulbs. You can find a smart light bulb that is compatible with virtually any light fixture in your home, from a small bedside table lamp to your in-ceiling bedroom overhead lighting.

Some smart light bulbs use Bluetooth technology while others can connect to your Wi-Fi network. With an app on your phone, you can control the brightness, temperature, and color of any smart light bulb to strike just the right mood. Cool blue, warm yellow, garish green, purple, or hot pink light—anything is possible.

Smart light bulb apps also enable lighting schedules and allow you to control your lighting even when you are away from home. If you buy multiple bulbs from the same manufacturer, you can control each bulb individually or group them to control them together.

Ultimately, smart light bulbs give you total control to personalize your bedroom lighting at an exceptionally affordable price.

2. Install LED strip lighting.

LED strip lighting can provide an ambient glow to elevate your bedroom lighting design. One design method to consider is framing fixtures or architectural features with LED strips. You can use LEDs to outline your closet, doors, or windows, for instance. You can also run them along the perimeter of your bedroom on the floor or ceiling.

If you want the LED strips to be less visible, you can install them in hidden places that will still allow for an ambient glow. Strips can go behind your bed’s headboard or mounted television. They can go under your bed frame or nightstands. If you have large cabinets or closets, consider installing strips underneath the shelving.

LED strip lighting is easy to install, and you can find smart varieties that allow for brightness, color, and temperature control.

3. Upgrade your window treatments to control natural light.

Artificial light is not the only consideration when it comes to bedroom lighting schemes. Natural light also plays a large role in establishing the ambiance of a room. White sheer curtains, for instance, will lend a clean, crisp look to your bedroom. They will admit natural light into the room but temper the harsh glare. Introducing a bit of color to your sheer curtains—a dusty blue or sage green for instance—can imbue your room with soft and soothing shades as the sun shines through.

For bedrooms that get a lot of bright natural light, semi-opaque blinds or curtains may be the way to go. These will mute stark sunlight without casting your room in total darkness. If you prefer a darker, moodier room, drapery panels and other darkening treatments will help you achieve your desired effect.

4. Consider wall-mounted sconces or lamps.

Ceiling lamps and floor lamps aren’t your only options. Wall-mounted lighting can provide a sophisticated, stylish look. Twin wall sconces or a horizontal lightbar are great choices for over-bed light fixtures. Wall-mounted lamps also look great above vanities or beside doors and windows. With countless styles to choose from, the possibilities abound.

5. Experiment with temperatures and hues.

There is no shortage of options when it comes to quality of light. Experiment with LED, halogen, CFL, incandescent, and even fluorescent lighting. Introduce smart light bulbs into the mix and you can achieve any lighting style you can dream of.

Cool lighting with blueish hues will have a crisp, clean look, which you might like for a winter morning or when cleaning or applying makeup. As you get ready for bed, however, cool lighting might feel harsh and unrelaxing. You may find soft, warm, yellow light better suited for your evenings. With the right lighting setup, you can achieve either style whenever it feels appropriate.

6. Invest in task lighting.

Task-specific lamps can be both stylish and functional. Consider a swinging bedside reading lamp, closet or wardrobe lighting, and vanity lighting. Often, the default lighting in your bedroom is insufficient or inappropriate when you are doing something that demands your focused vision and attention.

7. Swap regular light switches for dimmers.

Built-in lighting is often much too bright. If your bedroom is fitted with regular light switches, have an electrician fit in dimmers. This is generally inexpensive and will allow you to control the brightness of your bedroom ceiling lamp or other fixtures. Again, the more control you have over your lighting, the better.

8. Buy the right lampshade.

Lampshades are significant in shaping the quality of light in your bedroom. Color, texture, shape, and transparency work together to establish a certain tone. A wicker or rattan lampshade will allow more light to filter through. Thin lampshades made of rice paper or fabric can contribute to more diffuse lighting.

9. Play with shadows.

Much as negative space is an important component of visual art, so too are shadows important to home lighting schemes. Work with lighting placement, fixtures, and covers to arrange shadows in interesting or appropriate ways. You can use shadows to create interesting shapes, for instance, or to cut down on glare. You can also work your lighting so that shadows are cast in corners or unused spaces.

10. Use reflection to your advantage.

Remember the reflective properties of light. Painting your walls a light color will allow for greater reflection and create a brighter room. Decorating your room with dark furniture, curtains, or linens will absorb more light and create a different effect.

Mirrors, too, can be used to your advantage to increase the amount of light in a room. If your natural light is limited, you can make the most of it by mounting a mirror over your bed or hanging accent mirrors around your room.

While it may take a bit of time and trial and error, you can mix and match the above strategies to create a bedroom that is as relaxing and inviting as it is functional.