Styles Of Bedroom Light Fixtures

Select bedroom lighting to complement your decor.

When selecting lighting for your bedroom, you needn't restrict yourself to the standard, squat table lamps, one placed on each side of the bed. Instead, explore the many lighting options that will simultaneously illuminate the room and expand or heighten its style. As you consider light fixtures, also keep in mind practical function; you may prefer a smaller lamp with a bedside switch and a larger one for full-room lighting.

Hanging Lamps

Hanging or pendant lamps are somewhat less common in bedrooms than in dining rooms or kitchens. However, the right hanging light fixture can draw the eye upward, adding a new dimension to your bedroom's style. A chandelier in the bedroom adds a touch of sophistication or glitz. By contrasting the opulence of a vintage chandelier with more contemporary furnishings, you can create a funky, artfully mismatched look. For a simple and restful bedroom, employ a limited color palette. For example, all-white linens and furnishings give an incredibly soothing feel. Add a colored-glass chandelier as a focal point. For a more modern approach, a hanging paper lantern provides a soft and simple overhead light source.

Bedside Table Lamps

There's some practical reasoning behind the traditional bedroom lighting arrangement; placing a table lamp on each bedside table gives ample light for reading and attractively frames the bed. However, if you want to give your bedroom a well-integrated, harmonious look, make sure that your bedside lamps play off the other furnishings. If your bed has minimalist lines, look for lamp bases that extend the clean or sinuous contours. If your bedroom has a boxy, contemporary feel, use square or rectangular lampshades instead of drum-shaped shades. A pair of lamps is an excellent opportunity to add small touches of color. If your color palette uses one or two main tones with a third accent, use the lamp shades to enliven the third accent. If you're building up a color palette for the room, try pulling a color from any patterned bed linens.

Floor Lamps

Generally, floor lamps work best as a secondary light fixture in the bedroom. You'll probably want at least one other lamp, bedside, for reading. If you don't want to install an overhead lamp, the floor lamp can serve as your general light source. In a large bedroom, you can position a floor lamp next to an easy chair, chaise or divan for a secondary space. A floor lamp that casts a smaller arc of light will help to divide up the room into smaller spaces. As a third option, if you're trying to break up the symmetry of two bedside tables and two table lamps, replace one of them with a floor lamp. Just make sure you use other design elements to balance out the look.

Tags: floor lamp, your bedroom, color palette, bedroom lighting, light fixture, light source