Your Guide to Bedroom Lighting

Your bedroom is a multi-purpose space.

It’s where you get ready, where you read, where you relax.

A lighting scheme is the solution. Layer up with a range of heights, temperatures and designs.

Form and fashion meet functionality and flexibility.

Soft or harsh? White or warm? This blog will invite inspiration and, most importantly, answer your questions.

Bedroom Lighting: The Basics

Like a handcrafted iron bed, statement lighting can be the focal point of a bedroom. However, more often than not, your choices are down to a combination of interior styles and practical needs, including room size, window placement and period features.

Daylight affects where your furniture is positioned, but lighting has the ability to add height and depth to your room or draw attention to particular features. For example, if you wanted to showcase a piece of art, use downlights whilst darkening its surroundings.

Moreover, bedroom lighting should suit all seasons. From bright and airy summer mornings to dark winter evenings when you’re ready to hunker down, different times of day also have different purposes. Look at how light is reflected around the room. White walls will reflect, whereas dark furniture will absorb light. This means there will be less shadow too. Set your lighting accordingly.

Finally, how does the design complement the rest of the room? Is it classic or contemporary? A modern-new build or Victorian terrace? Architecture can sway your decision-making. Our nickel bed collection‘s sleek shimmer is more modern than the Edward iron bed’s traditional dormitory hoop. Curves will soften a space; Art-Deco geometry adds angles.

Lighting’s no different. Let it be a talking point. Explore colours, materials and shapes for visual stimulation. Try placing your pendant off-centre for a hint of quirkiness.

Light and Your Wellbeing

Did you know how your bedroom is lit can affect the quality of your sleep?

The right lighting is key to creating an ambience of peace and tranquillity. It can affect how your mind and body function, just like the right mattress. Poor quality? Expect a disruptive sleep. In comparison, a soft glow invites restful slumber. Making changes can transform your space and offer a certain mood. When it comes to sleeping, just don’t ignore the power of natural light.

Your natural body clock reacts to bright mornings and dark evenings every day, signalling it’s time to rest or wake up. This is called your circadian rhythm. It’s worth noting that interfering with your circadian rhythm can help and hinder your sleep. For example, blackout blinds disconnect us from sunrises, so it’s easier to sleep for longer, but harder to get out of bed.

Each morning, the sunrise stimulates neurotransmitters from your retina to your brain to produce the hormone serotonin. Serotonin regulates our mood and emotions, appetite and even digestion, all key factors that impact your sleep quality. In contrast, darker lighting stimulates the hormone melatonin which helps your sleep.

Our Tip: If you wake up before sunrise, particularly in winter, choose lights which are designed to turn on when you need and replicate natural light.

Bathe in a holistic ambience before bed. Pair with a natural fibre mattress for a breathable, hypoallergenic environment. Avoid bright and harsh lights as these stimulate your mind when you should be unwinding. Some glass pendants or bedside lamps with visible bulbs create glare. Keep your lamps at eye level to reduce this risk.

The type of bulb can affect light’s colour and intensity, but everyone’s preferences are different. This is why dimmers are useful. Turn them low when readying for bed; up the brightness when you’re getting dressed.

Colour Rendering Index

The Colour Rendering Index (CRI) is a measurement which determines the degree to which lighting represents natural daylight. This is not about temperature (blue vs yellow), but how a light reveals the colour spectrum. High CRI sources are used for applications such as art restoration, where matching correct pigments is integral. But they’re equally important for everyday activities, such as reading or dressing.

The average bulb in the UK is 82 on the CRI scale- an absolute representation of natural light is 100. This creates a dullness which alters the way colours will look in daylight and can strain your eyes, leading to headaches and the need for reading glasses. Moreover, CRI has been linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), often connected to the lack of sunlight during colder months. High CRI bulbs can help you adjust to seasonal light changes and look after your mental wellbeing.

However, this doesn’t restrict your bulbs’ temperature. Measured in Kelvins, warm yellows equal 1200K, whilst popular warm whites are 2700K. This is probably the most practical all-round temperature for your bedroom. For light that’s a bit cooler and more contemporary, look for bulbs at 4000K.

Types of Lighting

From dreamlike fairy lights to glamorous glass pendants, style and substance go hand in hand. Soften your steadfast iron bed frame or showcase the shimmer of its finish. Don’t compromise on aesthetics or functionality.

Pendants: Pendant lights offer an illuminating brightness. Opaque enamel finishes direct the light, while contemporary glass designs reflect and refract. Pair up and frame your bed for a sophisticated statement.  

Wall Lights: Wall lights better bedside table lamps when it comes to reading. When located on either side of the bed, they cater for early birds and night owls without disturbance. Adjustable designs offer optimal functionality. 

Table Lamps: The answer to cosiness. Traditional table lamps provide a soft glow, the diffused light basking your bedroom in warmth. Perhaps not the most practical, instead express yourself with textured shades and decorative bases.

Fairy Lights: Ideal accent lighting. Wrap around bed posts, decorate your mirror, or delicately hang down to create a feature wall. They may be impractical alone, but fairy lights never fail to add a bit of magic.

Downlighting: Downlighting is possibly the most common style, and not just for the bedroom. A minimalist design, fixed or tiltable, downlights brighten an entire space. For makeup vanities or dressing rooms though, they can create shadows.

Soho Lighting

Episode 7 of our podcast Two in a Bed sees Harry and Amanda in conversation with Lee Lovett, Founder of Soho Lighting, on all things bedroom lighting. 

Established in 2017, Soho Lighting merges interior design with the transformative power of carefully chosen lighting. In line with Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.’s eco-conscious ethos, Soho Lighting utilises the knowledge of local artisans to handcraft everything from switches and sockets to glass pendants and garden spotlights. Designed in London and handmade in Cornwall, they’re on the journey to B-Corp.

Lee Lovett’s passion is palpable in this episode. When it comes to bedroom lighting, she demonstrates how quality can meet aesthetics. Feel inspired and elevate your ideal scheme.

Our Top Tips

• Stop and think! Before you go headfirst into the world of lighting, think about your bedroom space. How do you use it? Where is your furniture placed? A window shouldn’t be behind you when you’re getting ready. Avoid the inevitable extension leads. Plan first. 
• Put it on a dimmer! Dimmers are essential to give you control over your lighting. Depending on your interior style or house’s period, consider more than your typical rounded knob. What about a toggle switch?
• Layer up. Lighting’s uses depend on your uses. Maybe you have an en-suite. Maybe you read in bed, or perhaps you prefer a reading nook. Avoid eyestrain and fashion faux pas: think different tones for different zones. 
• Don’t underestimate the utility of built-in mirror lights. Practicality reigns supreme, and you’ll glow while using it.

Styling your bedroom doesn’t end with lighting. Soft furnishings, ornaments and, of course, bedding can make or break your space. (Wool bridges the balance between summer weightlessness and winter cosiness.) Brighten up your bedroom further with the fresh finish of a powder coated metal frame.

Blend practicality with design when creating your ideal bedroom lighting scheme.