Good bedroom lighting prepares us for sleep. Because we spend up to a third of our lives in the bedroom, lighting in this space has a significant impact on our general well-being.
Bedrooms are multipurpose spaces even though they are primarily designed for relaxation, rest and sleep. In addition, the needs of family members with different work schedules and sleep requirements must be taken into account. If you want to read for a while before sleeping, your reading light must be such that it does not disturb the person sleeping next to you.
Bedrooms are usually multipurpose spaces and they often house dressing tables, desks and wardrobes. Efficient bedroom lighting must be adjustable and serve all these purposes. If you pay attention to the various uses of the space and select an adjustable lighting solution, you will succeed in creating a beautiful lighting entity.
In the design of a lighting solution for new builds and renovated buildings, you should adhere to the principle that ‘more is better’. Designing a solution that can be expanded, changed and tweaked allows your imagination more freedom than retrofitting luminaires would. Light switches should also be installed near the bed and not only by the door so that you do not have to get out of bed to switch on the lights. Install spotlights in front of your wardrobe or even inside it. If you like the idea of having lights in your wardrobe but do not want to install cables, you can use battery-operated luminaires with a motion detector that can be fixed with screws or adhesive.
A ceiling luminaire or other general lighting solution should be positioned at the foot of the bed. Select a luminaire with a shade that covers the lamp and prevents glare. Various ceiling luminaires offer an ideal solution. If the bedroom is used solely for sleeping and windows let in abundant sunlight, a general lighting luminaire may not be required at all. Make use of the natural light and place the dressing table or desk in front of the window. Table lamps provide additional illumination. Bring in soft, indirect light that is reflected off the walls to create a soothing atmosphere. If you use an adjustable narrow-beam luminaire as a reading light, you will not disturb the person sleeping next to you.
With 3-step and smart lamps, you can dim lights and change colour temperature to suit the situation. A dimmable lamp also makes your mornings start more gently. As smart lamps and luminaires are easy to control via a smartphone, you do not have to get out of your bed to adjust lighting.
Light’s colour temperature has a significant impact on the hue of your walls and bedroom textiles. Compare the Kelvin values given on product packaging to decide which suits your home. In interior design lamps, a warm white light (3,000 K) is common but modern black-and-white decor can also take colder light. The lower the Kelvin value, the warmer the colour temperature. You should design your lighting so that luminaires switched on simultaneously in the same space are of the same colour temperature.
If you want to create a tranquil atmosphere in your bedroom, bear in mind that cold light increases alertness while warm light is restful.