20 Bedroom Lighting Ideas That Work From Day to Night
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Lighting can change the whole vibe of a room, and in no spot is it more important to get it right than in the bedroom. After all, who can properly wind down at the end of the day under the glare of can lights or too-cool Kelvins? (Answer: Not us). When it comes to finding the best bedroom lighting ideas for your space, think about how you want the room to function and feel. Should it act as a tranquil escape at the end of a long day? A sunny space where you also get work done? Whatever your needs, the right bedroom lighting scheme can help you achieve it.
Layering your lighting is also important in a bedroom, as it can allow you to transition the room as your evening progresses. First, adjusting overhead lights lets you swap your work gear for loungewear, while softer bedside table lamps make your evening routine downright serene. Finally, there are the sconces on either side of the headboard, perfect for reading by low light without disturbing your partner.
Ready to formulate the perfect lighting scheme for your sleep space? Look no further. Below, we're rounding up 20 designer bedrooms, each with a unique take on lighting. In some, several fixtures are layered; in others, a standout chandelier holds court over the bed. Whatever your style, there's an illuminating bedroom lighting idea below to suit your space.
Get inspired by these beautiful bedroom ideas:
Make It Mobile
Oftentimes, bedroom lighting necessitates flexibility, whether you need to shine a light on a tough zipper or illuminate your evening read. The solution? A swing-arm sconce that you can angle in any direction you need. In this home designed by Wendy Labrum with Michael Abraham Architecture, a midcentury-inspired sconce lends weight and function to an English country bedroom.
Select a Sculptural Piece
Bedroom lighting ideas can be a great way to inject personality into a space, especially when you select a fixture with a presence. To make a worthy statement in your bedroom, keep the majority of your room simple and minimalist, then select a fixture that sings. In this room by Marina Hanisch, a post-modern–inspired hanging basket lamp doubles as sculptural art hanging above the sleek nightstands.
Go Bold With Color
Your bedroom lighting scheme can be a fun and unexpected way to work in a pop of color, especially if you choose a bright or contrasting hue. In this cool-toned primary bedroom by Cecilia Casagrande, blues, greens, and grays reign supreme, standing in stark contrast to the vibrant citron pendants hanging on either side of the bed frame and catching light from the nearby window.
Personalize Your Picks
If the bedroom you're designing boasts more than one bed—like in the case of a bunk room or shared children's bedroom—then it too should tout individual bedroom lighting ideas. In this guest bunk space by Amy Knerr of Of Place Studio, unobtrusive pull-chain sconces illuminate each bunk, allowing dwellers to read or relax on their own accord.
Hang an Unexpected Piece
Upon first glance, the glam chandelier seen hanging in this Georgian home by Charlotte Lucas Design seems better suited to a dining room or formal living room. By placing it into the primary suite instead, Lucas creates an unexpected juxtaposition and adds a touch of whimsy and playfulness to this space.
Blend Into the Surroundings
Prefer your bedroom lighting ideas to whisper instead of yell? Choose a colorway or material that blends into the rest of your room for a serene and layered effect. In this guest room by designer Elaine Stantos, that means a powder-coated metal sconce that blends seamlessly with the inky charcoal walls and corresponding bedding.
Add Subtle Softness
Bedrooms are all about the cozy factor, so any light fixture that promotes that same softness is a no-brainer for a sleep space. To bring an extra dose of femininity and airiness to this nursery, designer Allison Willson chose a gauzy light from Pinch Design, which brought some flowy texture to the ceiling.
Spotlight a Hobby
A successful bedroom lighting idea is all about finding a combination that suits your daily habits, whether that means using the space for morning workouts or evening meditations. To help the homeowner feel more at home cracking open an evening read, designer Liz Bonesio layered a bedside lamp with a spotlight sconce to make targeted ambient light easy to achieve.
Fill Visual Space
If clean lines and minimalist decor are more your style, look for a light fixture that embodies that ethos. In this San Francisco townhouse designed by Studio Plow, that meant an elegant DWR ceiling fixture that fills the negative space on the ceiling in a quiet and streamlined way, mimicking the streamlined aesthetic seen throughout the rest of the room.
Work in Natural Textures
Most lighting fixtures are metal, which can make it hard to find something softer or more subtle if your room needs a boost of natural textures. Instead, opt for a bedroom lighting idea that includes a rattan or seagrass shade, which will lend a casual air to the space and warm the room up with a cozy glow. In this home designed by Winsome Interiors, a guest bedroom gets some quaint country charm with the help of botanical wallpaper and a rattan semi-flush mount.
Tighten Your Palette
Not every room is meant to have a light fixture that steals the spotlight. If you're looking to bridge the gap between a special piece that contributes to—but doesn't overwhelm—your overall design scheme, look to play into a singular palette throughout the entire space. Here, designer Charlotte Lucas turned to shades of dusty rose and bubblegum pink—including in a vintage chandelier—to bring a sophisticated aesthetic to her daughter's bedroom.
Hide the Mechanics
Upholstery and fabric treatments are a great way to bring softness to the coziest room in the house—and they can also be ace at hiding any fixture mechanics you don't want to see. In the bedroom of the 2023 House Beautiful Whole Home, designer Roxy Owens commissioned a custom canopy to drape above the headboard, which conveniently also hides much of the swing arm sconces, allowing them to appear as if they are "floating" on either side of the headboard.
Combine Design Eras
Bedroom lighting ideas can be a great way to anchor your design scheme in a certain era, but no rule states you can't have a little fun traveling through time. By mixing pieces indicative of a specific design era—like the reproduction candle sconce and more modern ceramic lamp seen here in a project by Heidi Woodman—you'll create a lighting scheme (and bedroom) that transcends trends.
Pull Out an Accent Color
Stumped on what color to choose for your lighting? Pick a subtle shade throughout your scheme and run with it. Your fixtures already work to punctuate your design scene, so opting for them in an accent hue instead of the main shade can be a great way to balance the room. Here, designer Elizabeth Hay pulled a soft sage green in to enliven the mostly neutral space.
Try an Unexpected Placement
Sometimes, it's less about choosing an unexpected bedroom lighting idea and more about doing something unexpected with it. Dangling pendant lights are nothing new, but orienting a pair of them over each nightstand offers a graphic twist on the traditional placement. In this bedroom by designer Lauren Nelson, the treatment adds a decidedly modern and graphic touch to an otherwise serene space.
Accent an Airy Space
When light and airy is the goal, nothing achieves it better than a paper lantern. A blessedly simple (and inexpensive) mainstay of design, these effortlessly chic features became popular around the midcentury era and continue to bring an element of cool to rooms of every style today. Here, the Studio DIAA team accented the bedroom of a floating home with an appropriately light-as-air fixture that feels cloud-like.
Combine Contrasting Styles
There's something to be said about the visual interest that contrast creates. Instead of going bold with in-your-face clashing hues—which can often read too busy in a bedroom—look to a quieter form of contrast with an unexpected bedroom lighting idea. In this Texas home designed by Philip Thomas Vanderford of Studio Thomas James, that meant pairing an MCM-inspired light fixture with a room that's much more transitional—even contemporary—in nature.
Avoid Visual Clutter
A lot of things can add visual clutter to a room, chief among them fixtures, finishes, or furniture that feel too heavy in design. To keep a small bedroom feeling open and spacious, hang a light fixture that's nearly invisible in nature. For this oceanfront primary bedroom by designer Ashley Gilbreath, that took the form of a white rope pendant that fades seamlessly into the striped wallpaper, linen curtains, and sea beyond.
Give Vintage New Life
Antique or vintage pieces are an essential addition to any space—and they're easier to add than you might think in the bedroom! If the idea of sleeping in someone's former bed isn't for you (fair), try antique lighting on for size instead. The right fixture can create a standout moment that totally steals the show—like the vintage sconces seen here in a project by designer Heidi Caillier.
Pile on the Pattern
Pattern-drenching may be all the rage in design right now, but it's also a time-worn trend that has been around for ages and, thus, boasts serious staying power. To get in on the fun, consider matching the shades of your bedside table lamps to the pattern on your headboard or wallpaper (or both!). Here, designer Ellen Niven opted for a punchy blue print from Pierre Frey for a scene that will leave anyone waking up happy.
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