Experts Offer Lighting Tips for the Bedroom

by Aracontent

(ARA) - Whether you retire to a small alcove or grand master suite, you probably use your bedroom for more than simply slumber. Dark bedrooms are great for sleeping, but too little light hinders other activities taking place there.

“The bedroom has become a sanctuary, a haven,” says Kathy Knapp, lighting consultant and designer for Wabash Electric in Indiana. “People are watching television, reading, relaxing and spending alone time in their bedroom.”

Dan Blitzer agrees. “Bedrooms are getting larger,” says the American Lighting Association’s continuing education instructor. “And while the bed remains the focal point, it might be sharing its space with a television, workout equipment, a computer, or a sitting area,” adds Blitzer.

To illuminate its many sides, bedrooms need layers of diffused light. “You must have enough light to focus on particular areas, as well as permeate the corners and edges,” says Blitzer. “This means both overhead and portable lights throughout the room.”

Types and styles of lighting depend on bedroom occupants. Couples need individually controlled reading lights on each side of the bed. Children demand extra light for homework areas. The baby’s nursery requires an installed dimmer or subdued lamp that allows parents to check on their cherub without waking him up.

A senior citizen’s bedroom has special lighting needs as well. “Those over 50 need more light to see well,” says Blitzer. “Their eyes are more sensitive to glare.” For maximum comfort, seniors should make sure bedroom bulbs are bright enough and covered by shades or bowl-type fixtures.

Lighting showrooms offer something for every taste and pocketbook. Lamps range in style from neoclassic to contemporary. Rope lighting in cove molding lifts the eye. Recessed cans direct light to specific areas. “We are beginning to see the use of chandeliers in bedrooms, as well as semi-flush fixtures and ceiling fans, depending on ceiling height,” says Knapp.

Even in homes with contemporary baths and kitchens, bedroom trends tend toward the traditional. For warmth, look for bronze, brass and antique brass fixtures. Darker finishes and colors also predominate. Cream, textured white and brushed nickel offer a lighter bedside option.

“Bedroom lighting purchases are usually driven by the existing furniture decor,” says Howard Bernstein, vice-president of ARTCRAFT, a Canadian-based lighting manufacturer. “Bedroom furniture is a major purchase and lighting choices should coordinate with that style.”

To update an existing bedroom, replace a flush-mount ceiling fixture with a newer design or a ceiling fan. Change or add portable or table lamps for a quick, inexpensive face lift. Uplighting from the floor to highlight a plant or potted tree adds interest, as does directional lighting.

When building a new home, consider a pre-construction bedroom lighting plan. “At that point, you can install lighting exactly where it needs to be,” says Bernstein. “You can pre-program the outlets so you have them -- and enough of them -- where you want them.”

The Right Night Light

Bedroom lighting ranges from basic to bold, dimmed to dramatic. To help you properly light your bedroom, the American Lighting Association offers the following tips:

Be Size Wise: Before buying bedroom lighting, first determine the size of the room, says ARTCRAFT vice president Howard Bernstein. Take your room measurements, along with outlet locations and furniture placement to a lighting showroom. The experts there can help you fill in with just the right light.

Height Right: consider scale. Bedrooms typically have lower 8- or 9-foot-tall ceilings. Avoid fixtures with longer bodies in favor of shorter or flush-mounted fixtures. “You want a certain level for reading and enough lighting for dressing,” says Bernstein. “You also need light to be high enough to reach all the areas.”

Room to Glow: Decide what you want to do in the room, and then choose appropriate lighting. Home computers, sewing machines and exercise equipment in the bedroom need directed lighting. Sitting areas beg for softer, shaded fixtures. Makeup tables demand brighter light.