Bedroom Lighting Effects

Your bedroom is a sanctuary in your home, but often has other important roles to play as well. Bedrooms often serve as the home office, dressing room and romance nest. To accomplish all these roles with effective lighting requires the use of several kinds of lights. Does this Spark an idea?

Bedside Task Lamps

Bedrooms need lighting right next to the bed in the form of table lamps. Ideally, lamps need to be on either side of the bed to accommodate sleepers' need for reading light. Lamps or sconces should throw their light downward. You'll want to use white or light lampshades to allow for the most light while also employing three-way bulbs to control light intensity.

Easy Mood Changers

To create a different lighting effect with bedside lamps use colored light bulbs like red or green. A nylon or silk scarf thrown over a light colored lampshade creates an interesting abstract look in the whole room if the scarf is translucent. Care should be taken when using a scarf as it could pose a fire hazard. Use energy-saving light bulbs.

Overhead Lighting

Overhead lighting in the bedroom comes in a variety of forms, from dome milk glass or clear bucket covers over bare lightbulbs to lighted ceiling fans, chandeliers and even exquisite silk shades for hanging ceiling fixtures. Overhead lights act as general room lighting and can contribute to the design scheme of the room. Use dimmers on overhead lights to brighten or reduce light intensity.

Dressing Table Lighting

Dressing tables need special lighting if this area is used for applying makeup or combing hair. Look for magnified and lighted mirrors that stand alone or can clip to the side of a dresser for added light and sight.

Tray Ceiling Lighting

The refracted light from lighted tray ceilings looks beautiful in bedrooms with high ceilings. Tray lighting brings attention to this often neglected area of a room, and a dimmer can create a soft overhead glow reminiscent of dawn or dusk.

Sleeper's Room

Some people like a super dark bedroom, and others who work at night need to have a dark room conducive to sleep even in the daytime. Look for light-dampening drapes or blinds to create a sleeper's bedroom. Ideally, drapes would extend pass the window frame on either end and even lapse over one another at the moving, opposite end for complete blackout effect.