20 Bedroom Lighting Ideas That Work From Day to Night

house beautiful whole home 2023 1906 hinsdale\, illinois house
Bedroom Lighting Ideas That Work From Day to Night KEVIN J. MIYAZAKI


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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.

hold the line elegant design, neutral color palette chicago home designed by wendy labrum with michael abraham architecture inspiration english country estate with a contemporary twist guest bedroom using a single fabricut fabric on the walls, bed, and shade ldquo added a bit of traditional whimsy in an impactful way rdquo labrum says the contemporary pierre guariche wall lamp enlivens the space
Aimée Mazzenga


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.

stylish bedroom with modern decor
Marina Hanisch


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.

1919 brookline\, massachusetts\, home designed by cecilia casagrande of casagrande studio primary bedroom
Jared Kuzia


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.

bunk room, guest room, kid's room, sleepovers blue paint summer shower, benjamin moore sconces schoolhouse bedding garnet hill rug serena lily quiet time warm tones and natural textures took this indiana home from cavernous to cozy warm neutrals, williams creek, indiana, georgian style residence, natural materials, wood accents
Nicole Franzen


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.

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georgian home\, in raleigh\, north carolina designed by charlotte lucas design primary bedroom
Chris Edwards


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.

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1880s townhouse near van vorst park in jersey city\, new jersey\, designed by elaine santos guest bedroom
Haris Kenjar


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.

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designer allison willson's new built farmhouse home near toronto\, canada girl rsquo s room nursery
Patrick Biller


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.

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painter elizabeth stern's nashville ranch home designed by liz bonesio interiors primary bedroom
ALI HARPER


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.

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san francisco townhouse designed by studio plow
Nicole Franzen


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.

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home designed by winsome interior design in the beach town of nags head\, north carolina guest room
Stacy Zarin Goldberg


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.

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georgian home\, in raleigh\, north carolina designed by charlotte lucas design daughter's sunroom girl's bedroom
Chris Edwards


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.

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house beautiful whole home 2023 1906 hinsdale\, illinois house
KEVIN J. MIYAZAKI


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.

a cozy bedroom corner with a bed bedside table and decorative elements
Brie Williams Photography


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.

jonathan bond for elizabeth hay
Jonathan Bond


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.

cozy bedroom with natural light and minimalist decor
Seth Smoot


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.

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kevin scott for studio diaa bedroom
Kevin Scott


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.

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chris and lynsey synek's dallas, texas home designed by interior designer, philip thomas vanderford of studio thomas james, and janson luter architects primary bedroom
Nathan Schroder


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.

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oceanfront home in rosemary beach, florida designed by ashley gilbreath interior design
Emily J Followill


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.

courtesy of heidi caillier bedroom
Courtesy of 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.

decorated bedroom featuring a patterned wall ornate picture frame and stylish bedding photo by simon watson for ellen niven
Simon Watson

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