Lighting is often the part of a bedroom remodel that a person overlooks the most. However, lighting can have an impact in the way that a person feels when they walk through the door. Many people chooses to use a single overhead fixture and a couple of bedside lamps.
However, these option can lead to lighting that is either too harsh or too dim for the bedroom. When people use recessed lighting in their bedroom, they are able to add a variety of benefits to the lighting in that room. The goal for a bedroom is different than the goal for a kitchen.
People do not need bright lighting in their bedroom to perform certain tasks, such as cooking in the kitchen. However, people do need bright lighting to perform a task in their bedroom to transition from the energy of the day to the energy of the body when resting. There are a few different ways to implement recessed lighting in a bedroom to ensure that people has a variety of lighting options.
Effective Ways to Use Recessed Lighting
1. Perimeter Recessed Lighting
One of the options involve placing the recessed cans of light around the edges of the room instead of in the center of the bedroom. By placing the lights around the edges of the bedroom and not directly into the sleeping area, people can make the bedroom feel wider and they will not feel as if the light is directly on their face when they are sleeping. To avoid creating shadows on the walls with the recessed lights, the trick is to place the lights a few feet away from the walls.
If the recessed lighting is too close to the walls, people may end up with a scalloped effect on the wallpaper caused by the recessed lights. Additionally, if the lights are correctly place around the perimeter of the bedroom, they will create a soft glow on the bedroom that creates the feeling of airiness in the room. Another benefit of using recessed lighting in a bedroom is the use of gimbal or adjustable recessed lights.
2. Gimbal or Adjustable Recessed Lights
These lights allow individuals to tilt the light of the recessed bulb to direct it towards specific areas in the bedroom. For instance, if an individual’s bedroom is to be used as a home office area, the adjustable light can be directed towards the work area rather than the sleeping area. Adapting recessed lights to direct the light in specific areas is an ideal solution for individuals who want to use their bedroom for different purposes.
For instance, a bedroom can be used as both a sleeping area and a dressing area. The adjustable recessed lights will allow individuals to direct the light towards their dressing area rather than the sleeping area. The only negative aspect of using adjustable recessed lights is their cost and complexity relative to standard recessed lights.
3. Dimmable Zoning
Using dimmable zoning in a bedroom allows different areas of the bedroom to be lit up while other areas remains dark. For instance, the lights over the bed may be turned off while the lights over the closet and vanity are left on. Many individuals make the mistake of placing all of the lights within the bedroom under one switch.
This means that the bedroom will either be dark or excessively light. By using dimmable zoning, individuals can create different lighting scenarios for the bedroom. For instance, individuals may turn the lights up in the morning to match the rising sun, but turn them down in the evening.
Using dimmable lighting zones requires wiring the lights and receptacles in the bedroom, which adds to the cost of the project. Additionally, there will be an increase in the number of light switches required for the bedroom. The best option for color temperature for bedroom recessed lights is to use warm-colored temperature LEDs.
4. Warm Color Temperature LEDs
Using warm-colored recessed lights will prevent the bedroom from feeling like a hospital. Warm-colored LEDs range from 2700K to 3000K. These colors mimic the light of the sunset and trigger the brain to feel relaxed and ready for sleep. The color of the lights in a bedroom should not be the same as the blue-colored light that is common in offices.
A common mistake when installing recessed lighting is to purchase a mixed bag of light bulbs from various brands. Even with each light bulb of the same color temperature, they may not illuminate the same. They may emit a slightly different hue that is distracting in the bedroom.
It is best to stick to one brand of recessed lights for the bedroom. Another benefit of using recessed lighting in a bedroom is using cove recessed lighting. This is an installation where the lights are installed into the recessed ledge or the dropped ceiling to hide the light bulb.
5. Cove Recessed Lighting
When installed in this way, the bedroom will have a wash of light that comes from the ceiling in the bedroom. Additionally, the ceiling will have a high-end hotel vibe to it due to this lighting installation. Using cove recessed lighting is an excellent option for individuals who dislike the appearance of ceilings with numerous recessed lights.
The downside to this installation is that it requires a renovation of the ceiling. This is the most expensive option and the one that requires the most labor to implement into the bedroom. This lighting is an idea for those performing a gut renovation on their bedroom.
Smart integrated systems in recessed lights allow individuals to program the lights to change throughout the day. For instance, in the early morning the lights can be set to a bright cool white color to help individuals wake up. In the evening and into the night the lights can be set to a deep amber color to indicate to the individual that the day is over.
6. Smart Integrated Systems
Additionally, smart integrated systems are an ideal system for individuals who struggle with sleeping or who have a smart home ecosystem. Instead of having to remember to turn on the lights, individuals can turn the lights on their phone or even use voice commands to activate the lights. The downside of these systems is the initial installation and the need to have a stable internet connection to the lights.
A common mistake is to light the bedroom too much. Many individuals treat their bedroom lighting like their kitchen lighting. An excessive number of recessed lights can be installed in the bedroom.
If the bedroom features too many recessed lights, it may be impossible to hide the reflection from mirrors or TVs. The bedroom should feature different areas of lighting rather than an even blanket of light from the ceiling. It is important to balance the amount of recessed lighting in the bedroom with the number of lamps in the bedroom.
7. Balanced Lighting with Lamps
Recessed lights provide the main lighting in the bedroom while the lamps add another layer of lighting and intimacy to the room. Over-reliance on the recessed lighting will make the bedroom lose its cozy feeling. It is best to use more lamps than recessed lighting in the bedroom.
Additionally, the number of recessed lights should start with a minimum number and later be increased to balance the lighting in the bedroom. Lighting a bedroom involves a balancing act. There are various ways to provide lighting to the bedroom.
Each lighting option has its benefits. The lighting should provide the bedroom with a sense of comfort and warmth so that the bedroom becomes the retreat that it is meant to be.
