Perfect Light Fixtures

Gone are the days when bedrooms were meant solely for sleep. Today, they have become multi-purpose rooms and/or private sanctuaries for many members of the family. Sometimes, bedrooms are even entire suites that span several rooms for those lucky enough to have such space at their disposal. All this makes the lighting requirements in our bedrooms as varied and complex as any other living space in the home.

Just consider all the activities that take place in this room, from reading, writing and watching television to rummaging around for what to wear and dressing. All these activities, save sleeping, require a specific source of light and if two people are sharing the space, it calls for sources of light that are flexible enough to be adjusted to two activities at once. For instance, if one person wants to read or must get dressed while the other is sleeping, the lighting in the room should be deftly planned to accommodate such subtle or specialized adjustments. All this reinforces the idea that a bedroom needs both general illumination and task lighting. Often, accent lighting also comes into play as a decorative element.

So where to start? In fact, the traditional ceiling hung or mounted fixture is entirely inappropriate in the bedroom for many reasons. In this particular room, points of activity tend to be suited around the perimeter of the room rather than anchored in the center. Beds are usually positioned against the walls rather than in the center of a bedrooms; a reading area is often incorporated into the bed set-up with task lighting or sequestered in intimate corners with the aid of easy chairs and lamps; and dressers or bureaus are also placed against walls. All this necessitates lighting sources that are tied to the layout of the room and the needs of its users. Also, if there are translucent shades or drapes in a bedroom, ceiling mounted light fixtures can unwittingly silhouette intimate moments.

Ultimately, because of the nature of the bedroom and its most important activity, namely sleeping, this is one area of the home where flexibility is paramount. So it pays to increase the variability of light sources in the space by outfitting them all with dimmer switches. To read in bed, besides typical bedsides lamps, swing-arm light fixture can be mounted to the wall, or for the most maneuverability, affixed directly to the bedpost with screw-tightened vises so they can ride up and down for the best positioning. Or consider spotlights or reading lamps on clips that can be used on a headboard or bed frame. And finally, don’t forget to have two main light switches in the room: one by the door and one by the bed, since there is nothing more irritating than getting out of bed when you’re almost asleep to turn off the lights.

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