Tips On Lighting A Bedroom

Tips on Lighting a Bedroom

Choosing the right lighting for the bedroom can be difficult. The room should be calm and dark enough so that you can sleep in it, but it should also be functional enough for reading and all other activities (a lot of people use the bedroom as a study as well). The best solution of course, is to have enough windows and natural light. However, this isn’t an option for most apartments and balancing enough light sources is the second best option.

The size

The size of the room is the most important factor in getting the lighting right. Before you decide on any lamps of fixtures, measure the whole room and get an idea how much space the large furniture will take. There’s a basic formula (but it can be changed if the room has curved walls): the square footage of the room x 1.5 = the amount of wattage needed. Also, have in mind that bedrooms typically have lower ceilings, which is why you should avoid fixtures with longer bodies.

Wall sconces

Wall-mounted scones are an excellent solution for smaller and crowded rooms since they take up least space. Lighting fixtures could be categorized as ambient, task or accent. Scones could be used as both task and accent lighting, depending on the type and placement of the light. Crystal wall sconces could be used to add accent to artwork or other memorabilia. They are a bit more sparkly than the average light, which means they won’t go well with all wall colors, but yellow and beige could be a good match. Also, a sconce with a wide rim could also be used as reading task light and it fit in with both modern and classic room design.

Hanging lights

String lights are a more decorative solution and they leave you with more space for the furniture. It’s also a good idea for those who like to rearrange the furniture often because they can work well with any setup and they don’t interfere with the moving. Sydney Local Electricians could help you set these up in no time and the work won’t leave a mess. It might be a good idea to position the large pieces of furniture before you get the light installed, just to see how they work with the room.

Floor lamps

Floor lamps are mostly decorative and they are designed to create a mood and atmosphere in your bedroom.  Think about the placement of these lamps only once you’ve placed large (or at least most important) decorative pieces. Also, with decorative lights – shadows are as important as the illuminated areas. They should add drama and tension to the décor. The top of the floor lamp should be about 40 inches from the floor and if the lamp is more than 15 inches wide it could be used for reading like any other task light.

High tech

This may not be an option for everyone, but wireless technology can be a great addition to bedroom lighting. Turning the lights on and off from your bed makes things easier and more comfortable, but there’s more to it than that. You can set up different levels of illumination and have pre-prepared mood option that can also be activated from your phone or a mobile device. There are also gadgets that turn off the lights when the room is empty for a while and turn them one when someone enters, but these take a while to be installed and fully operational.

Choosing a perfect lighting can make your bedroom infinitely more cozy and pleasant to be in. Plan the lighting as carefully as all other aspects of the design because it is equally important. In the end, consult a professional electrician for any work that you might find overwhelming.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

How to Choose The Perfect Lighting for Your Bathroom

How to Choose The Perfect Lighting for Your Bathroom

Bathrooms are usually overlooked when it comes to design. Details, like lighting, are probably the most neglected part. People tend to choose the least expensive option, or the one that’s the easiest to install. However, bathrooms are an important part of our daily routines. Therefore, choose your lighting solutions meticulously, and you will immediately notice a difference in the overall ambiance.

Main light source

The best light source for any room is always natural light. It isn’t an option for many, but try to have as much of it as possible. If there is no chance to introduce natural light to your bathroom, think about installing a nice chandelier which will make the room appear spacious and inviting. However, with all that water running around this can be a bit dangerous if not done properly. Therefore, make sure you place it at least 3 feet away from the tub. Also, add a dimmer to this solution as you might want to dim the light by about 20 percent during the day.

Task lights

It’s important to have proper lighting for mundane bathroom tasks (like applying makeup, flossing or shaving). Mirror and vanities are the best places to hide a couple of stronger (75 to 100 watt) light bulbs. Put one light on each side of the mirror at about face level. If you place it higher than, you might not like the results. Use LED lights because they are much easier to control and dim. Don’t forget to place a small light above your storage area as well – it might come in handy.

Bathtub and shower

Bathtubs can be a bit tricky to properly illuminate. Aside from the various technicalities you’ll need to consider, this area is very private so keep that in mind as well when choosing the best lighting option. Furthermore, putting fixtures too close to the tub can be pretty dangerous. Most people decide to usewet location downlights, but those who have big bathrooms may also install spotlights. Trim lights which are pretty bright and cast a large shadow are the best solution for open showers. Since these come in direct contact with water, you should maybe consider having an electrician 24 hours at your disposal. 

Light bulbs

When choosing the right light bulbs, your primary concern should be the way their light affects your skin tone. Also, you should consider the impact they have on the environment and the amount of electricity they consume. Halogen bulbs are definitely a smart choice, but they are a bit pricey. On the other hand, you won’t have to change them very often which means that you might even end up saving some money in the long run. Fluorescent light bulbs are a close second when it comes to tone, and they consume 10 times less energy than other bulbs. It’s also important to check if the new light bulbs fit the traditional fixtures.

A new ambiance

It’s important to note that by changing the lighting, you might feel the need to change some other things in your bathroom, as well. This change may expose a problem with your paint, or make the old paint feel inadequate. Also, by introducing a different light a room can seem more spacious, so you might want to add mirrors or a couple of other smaller decorative items.

Choosing the right lighting solution for your bathroom is much more art, than it is science. It’s good to have an overall vision of the atmosphere you wish to create, but unless you try a few ideas out, you won’t be sure which of them actually work.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith