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Bedroom Lighting
Guidelines
Good bedroom lighting considers a careful mixture of practical
and psychological factors. The average bedroom has so many
different uses - relaxation, intimacy, study, morning
preparation - that covering them all can be tricky.
We associate the bedroom with, among other things, sleep. That
usually means no lights at all. That suggests that turning them
off should not be a chore. If you've been lying in bed reading
it can be inconvenient to turn them off, especially if you've
grown sleepy. A master switch within easy reach is a great idea
here.
That nighttime reading can be a strain on the eyes, leading to
fatigue and headaches. Banish the problem by installing lights
in the proper places with the correct color.
Color? Does that mean you should get pink or blue light bulbs?
No. Color, here, means 'color temperature'. Good reading lights
are designed to emulate the range of wavelengths given off by
natural sunlight, which is determined in part by the
temperature of the sun's surface. Humans' eyes evolved to be
sharpest under those conditions. Getting bulbs and lamps
labeled as close to that will provide comfortable reading
conditions.
But sometimes, you just want a pleasant ambiance, not a
practical light. That, too, should be taken into consideration
when designing the bedroom lighting scheme.
Select and place lamps about a foot higher than where your eyes
are, and allow them to reflect light off surfaces. That
provides the well-known indirect light effect that gives a
subdued atmosphere. Whether for romance or just a quiet time
away from distractions, that produces a calming effect that is
just right in the bedroom.
Morning time is when most people, both kids and adults, will be
up and preparing to meet the day. But, depending on the time of
the day and season of the year, the sun doesn't always
cooperate to provide the illumination needed. The orientation
of the house plays a role, too, as do any curtains, exterior
overhangs and so forth.
To provide a cheery atmosphere that also provides needed light
to tie shoes, connect a tricky clasp, brush hair or do any
other common task, place lamps appropriately. Here again keep
the light above the eyes, but let it shine directly down.
Raising it too high creates deep shadows that can hinder makeup
application, make clothing color judgment more difficult and so
on. Too low and it shines in your eyes, making those tasks
harder. Choose a pleasing middle level.
For overall illumination - for entering the room, vacuuming and
a hundred other common tasks - a broad ambient lighting scheme
is needed. A central fixture with a strong lamp and a diffusing
cover is often just the thing. For other bedroom designs
supplemental lighting fixtures will be needed. There are often
lots of corners, nooks and other areas of a bedroom that can
have deep shadows.
For all of the above applications a dimmer switch, or at least
multi-level bulbs, can allow for finer control of light and
shadow. They can also allow for some small electricity savings
if the light stays on for extended periods. A 300-watt halogen
bulb can contribute a chunk to the monthly bill. Dimming it
when lower illumination is enough slices that down.
Consider all the ways you use your bedroom and light
accordingly.
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