Lighting your bedroom:

It’s easy to think when it comes to setting up the lights for your room, all you need is one solitary overhead bulb and that’s it. Allow us to tell you how your bedroom experience can transform by the simple power of intentional lighting.

When it’s time to go to the bedroom it isn't necessarily to sleep, there is so much more you could be doing in there like catching up on your favourite book, relaxing after a hard day’s work or even getting intimate. It would be far-fetched to think different types of lights can emphasize these experiences but let’s assure you, they do.

Now we aren’t exactly asking you to unscrew the main light of the room or throw away your bedroom chandelier, what we are saying is for you to consider layering your lights. 

Lighting fixtures to consider:

Photo Credit: Dim Hou

 Mood lights: These can go from colourful LED light strips to lamps with dimmer light output and even cute galaxy projecting lamps. This gives an air of relaxation and an immediate suggestion to drop your shoulders, unclench your jaw and breathe out. These can be placed anywhere within the room, but it is advisable to have them within arms-reach of the bed in case you need total darkness to sleep. Some of these lights are so inconspicuous that they may not interfere with your sleep at all. 

Photo Credit: Laurence Katz

 General Lighting: this usually falls into two categories (artificial lighting and natural lighting) that enables you undertake general tasks in the bedroom i.e cleaning, organizing clothes in the wardrobe. For natural lighting it is best achieved via large windows or sky lights and artificial lighting on the other hand is best achieved with ceiling fixtures (pendant lights, flush mount ceiling lights, chandeliers) or wall fixtures (wall lights) these all provide sufficient lighting for activities. 

Photo Credit: Zaun Persaud

Bedside light: in case you share the room with someone, it makes sense to have a smaller light fixture by your bedside. This serves many purposes, but the number one thing is being considerate to your roommate. In case you had just one more chapter to finish of your book but they had an early morning, a bedside lamp would make it easier for them to tune out and not be disturbed by the light.

Photo Credit: Jean Philippe

 Dimmers: Some lights have the ability to adjust the levels of brightness through the help of dimmer switches. This means as you need the light you can adjust it accordingly. This is super helpful if you are not particularly keen on layering different light fixtures in a single room, so it can go from wide awake, to intimate, to completely off with a turn of a knob. Handy!

Photo Credit: Taylor Hernandez

Desk light/task light: In case you have a desk in your room dedicated to working from, a task light is very important. While we have mentioned the importance of dimmer, moodier light, a desk light is allowed to be a little brighter to help you focus on the task at hand. Whether it is finalizing a work project, studying late or working on your craft, a desk light allows you that alert brightness without dictating that on the other times you may need your bedroom. Task light can also be inform of low hanging pendant lighting on either side of the bed, wall mounted lighting on either side of the bed or head board. Task lighting can take any form or size as long as there is ample lighting provided.

Choosing the right bulbs:

One thing to always note is the type of bulb you will use for your bedroom lighting. There are different functions in the bedroom which come with the need of proper lighting to support these functions. 

When acquiring bulbs, white and blue light colour bulbs usually promote alertness and this light is usually used with task lighting to support activities that require focus. 

Warmer light (yellow) aids in relaxation, doctors even confirm that they do not interfere with your melatonin, the hormone that is produced by your body to prepare for a good night’s sleep. You may even self-diagnose your insomnia when a bulb is the easy fix! Getting warmer light can significantly improve the quality of your sleep over time. 

If you realize your bedroom may not be lit according to your specific needs, consider layering your lights, or using dimmers that enable you adjust the lighting depending on the mood. For more interior design needs, contact us at K’wanzi Accents because we can help you transform your space in a seamless, stress-free way.

K’wanzi Accents is a small interior design firm based in Rwanda and Uganda & you can contact us via email: info@kwanziaccents.com