Luxury Home Goods

Illuminating Elegance: A Guide to Luxury Bedroom Lighting

By Peacock Alley May 31, 2024

Luxury bedroom lighting plays a significant role in functionality, style, and sleep quality. For example, the right lighting can set the mood in your bedroom, creating a calming and relaxing atmosphere before bed. You also need adequate lighting to complete daily tasks, like getting ready in the morning or working at your desk. Plus, the right bedroom lighting system can mimic the natural order of light, helping support our circadian rhythm.

But before installing new lighting, there are a few things to consider. We've compiled a list of questions to ask before adding new luxury lighting in your bedroom. We'll also explore the different types of lighting and how to add a touch of luxury to your bedroom. These details and more are in our comprehensive guide below.

What to Consider Before Adding Luxury Lighting To Your Bedroom

Before adding new luxury lighting to your bedroom, here are some essential questions to ask yourself.

What's the size and layout of your bedroom?
Revisit the dimensions of your room, noting the height of your ceiling and the location of your sockets and switches. Knowing these details will help determine where to place your lighting and how many items you can install. You'll also want to ensure where you plan to install your lights coordinates with your furniture placement and décor.

Whose bedroom is it?
Who uses the bedroom will also determine what type of luxury lighting you'll install. For example, when adding new lighting to a child's bedroom, go brighter and more cheerful. Or, create a relaxing ambiance in guest bedrooms with dimming options and warm lamp lighting. And, if you share the bedroom, consider each individual's needs (like reading lamps on both sides of the bed).

How is the room used?
You'll also want to consider the different functions of your room in the space that you have. For instance, if you work from home and have a small office in the corner, you'll likely need functional lighting around the room's perimeter. Conversely, if you have a separate office area, a single decorative lighting fixture in the center should provide ample light.

What's the proper scale?
Luxurious ceiling lighting, like chandeliers, can be especially difficult to scale correctly. Before you buy decorative lighting for your bedroom, replicate the fixture with a full-size template and try it out in your space. That way, you can see firsthand if the piece will be too big or too small before you've installed it.

What will the maintenance be?
Some crystal and decorative lighting fixtures may require more cleaning and maintenance than recessed lighting or simple sconces. Consider your lifestyle and how much time you're willing to dedicate to cleaning.

What does your bedroom's style look like?
Most importantly, whatever lighting you add, ensure it matches your bedroom's style. Choose finishes that complement your existing hardware and décor. This could look like a chandelier over luxury bedding, ceramic lamps on vintage bedside tables, or wall sconces beside your favorite art pieces.

Understanding the Elements of Interior Lighting

Once you've considered how new lighting will fit into your sleeping space, one of the best ways to create luxury with your lighting is to understand the three main types of lighting. Here's a look at how these three different lighting types meet a particular need, along with some design tips.

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting, or general lighting, is the foundation of your bedroom's lighting scheme. Its primary purpose is to create functional light throughout your space. Examples of ambient lighting include ceiling-mounted or recessed fixtures that direct light downward, wall sconces that fill the walls with light, and cove and valence lighting to bounce light off the ceilings and walls.

Luxury ambient lighting idea: Dress up your overhead lighting with a fancy crystal chandelier or a hanging light sculpture. Multi-tiered lighting, like a double rope-wrapped lantern, can also add a dramatic statement piece.

Task Lighting

As its name suggests, task lighting is meant to help you carry out a specific purpose, such as reading, writing, crafting, or other intricate work. This lighting adds visibility to a small area in your bedroom, providing enough light so you don't have to strain to see small details. Think: a lamp on your office desk for work, wall-mounted lighting next to your bed for reading, and under-cabinet lighting to illuminate a bookshelf.

Luxury task lighting idea: Free up the space on your bedside table with a lamp-like sconce next to your bed. This can be especially helpful in a guest bedroom, giving visitors more nightstand space.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting, on the other hand, draws attention to a particular area or object in your bedroom. For example, wall sconces and pendant lighting can highlight your room's artwork, sculptures, plants, or bookcases.

Luxury accent lighting idea: Add a geometric pop for visual appeal. Hang a cluster of pendant globe lights between your bed frame and bedside tables to balance out the empty space and add a fun shape to your room.

Synchronize Your Light With Your Circadian Rhythm

What’s more luxurious than getting a good night’s sleep? Using circadian rhythm-friendly lighting can mimic the natural progression of daylight to night, promoting better sleep patterns and overall health. Here are a few options to consider.

General lighting with dimming capabilities - Opt for center light pieces, recessed lighting, and decorative lighting fixtures that have dimming capabilities. That way, you can adjust the lighting settings based on the time of day.
Bedside lighting - For a more affordable option, add a sunrise alarm clock to your bedside table. These alarm systems simulate a sunrise, gradually increasing the light levels in the morning so you can wake up more naturally.
Circadian lighting systems - These lighting systems mimic the natural daylight spectrum, switching from brighter, cooler light tones in the morning (promoting wakefulness) to warmer light tones in the evening (promoting relaxation).

Find More Luxury Bedroom Inspiration via Peacock Alley

Along with the right lighting, selecting high-end bedding is crucial to creating a luxurious sleeping space. Our beautiful bedding, sheets, and accessories deliver classic and current looks to stand the test of time.

We also offer stylish bedroom décor collections to replicate the latest design trends within your own home. When visiting one of our retail locations, our style team will help you build the best look for your bedroom. And if our stores aren’t around the corner, just hop onto our online chat. You’ll find the same top-notch advice from our experts there.