40 Bright Bedroom Lighting Ideas

Lamps, sconces, and chandeliers to delight in.

The lights in your bedroom signal the start and end to the day, and choosing the right light is important. Odds are, you’re going to want to take a layered approach to your lighting strategy. Having multiple layers of ambient light, or having your main light source on a dimmer, allows you to adjust the mood of your bedroom, from light and bright midday to dusky but visible as you get ready to retire for the night. A lamp or sconce that can be switched on and off directly from bed is essential. This way, you won’t have to wander from the light switch near the door to your bed in pitch black every night, and you can relax in bed, reading a good book without straining your eyes against the dark. From lamps to sconces, chandeliers, and other unique fixtures, these are our favorite ideas for lighting your bedroom.

Layered Lighting

While natural light is abundant in this Fairhope, Alabama, bedroom, it's the multiple manufactured light sources—from the coastal chandelier overhead to the pair of lamps on the nightstands and the cozy sconces tucked within the canopy—that help create ambiance at all hours.

Space-Saving Sconces

Given that this James Island, South Carolina, primary bedroom was tight on square footage, designer Laura Jenkins skipped traditional nightstands with lamps and instead installed swing-arm sconces over the bed, allowing for plenty of light without sacrificing space.

Nostalgic Lantern

Old-house selections rule this Richmond, Virginia, bedroom, from the classic and versatile Cole & Son striped wallpaper to the ginger jar lamp on the bedside table and the bell jar fixture hanging overhead.

Lamp Trio

Given this Inlet Beach, Florida, home's island-inspired aesthetic and warm locale, a fan was a welcome fixture on the primary bedroom's vaulted ceiling, so design studio Bohlert Massey relied on a group of lamps—a matching pair on the nightstands and a third contrasting one on a corner table—to bring the light.

Oversize Pendant

Everything's bigger in Texas, and in the case of this Dripping Springs farmhouse, that includes the lighting in the guest room, where a woven globe pendant delivers a sculptural dose of unfussy texture.

Character Boost

Given the West Palm Beach locale and the homeowners' love of all things Old Florida, it's fitting that a beachy vintage chandelier found its way into the welcoming guest room.

Easy Winner

Because their guest room sees lots of visitors (and is visible from the top of the stairs), designer Maggie Dillon didn't want it to feel like an afterthought, so she chose Georges’ raffia chandelier for a can't-miss-it statement.

Simple Sophistication

Designer Hannah Maple wanted her historic Lexington, Kentucky, house's primary bedroom to feel like a quiet retreat from the rest of the place, so she dialed down the layers, relying on clean lines and streamlined silhouettes, like the modern table lamp she chose for the side table.

Focal Point

While designer Laura Hodges dealt primarily in cozy, warm textures in the primary bedroom of our 2023 Idea House (where she wrapped the bed alcove in velvet and layered plush pillows and linens), she created bold contrast by hanging an artful, more contemporary fixture overhead.

Pop of Color

While designer Lindsey Ellis Beatty rarely deals in neutrals, she made her beige-wrapped bed work, relying on the room's accessories, like the window treatments, pillows, and the bamboo chandelier, to incorporate the punchier hues she loves best.

Twin Lamps

A set of matching lamps on either set of the bed is a classically stylish way to brighten a bedroom. Set the twin lamps atop identical side tables for the perfect mirrored pair.

Modest Chandelier

We love how this chandelier is eye-catching and beautiful without being too flashy. Choose a casual chandelier like this one, rather than a fancier one dripping in metallics or crystals, for a lovely laid-back look.

Fan Light

A fan smack dab in the middle of the room with a light in its center is a practical and pretty way to cool down and light up the bedroom. Don't forget to add lamps or sconces for additional levels of ambient light.

Whimsical Hanging

From its ornate leaf-like design to the candles and white paint, we can't get enough of this chandelier. It's the pretty and playful focal point to brighten up the most cheerful of rooms.

Shaded Sconces

Choosing the shade for your sconce or lamp can make or break the overall look. Be thoughtful in your decision of a shade that will look spectacular and disperse the light prettily across the room to suit your lighting needs.

Burlap Inspired

If your home style leans decidedly towards boho or rustic, that doesn't mean that your lighting needs to stick to simple. Choose a homey yet gorgeous centerpiece like this sack-inspired hanging.

Twin Sconces

Like lamps on either side of the bed, a matching pair of sconces framing the bed frame has timeless style. Plus, this lighting solution frees up valuable real estate on the bedside tables.

Eclectic Lamps

Choose a decorative lamp that's effortlessly funky and functional. This is a simple way to create a big design impact for the whole room.

Formal Chandelier

Dining rooms aren't the only spaces where a full-blown crystal chandelier can shine. Elevate your bedroom with a stunningly elegant and ornate chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

Easily Adjustable

For even more ease, install sconces on arms that can bend and swivel. This way, you can move them to meet you lighting needs, then tuck them in neatly when it's time for bed.

Disco Adjacent

While a disco ball might be a bit far-out in an adult bedroom, we love that this fixture has the same groovy feel but with an elevated aesthetic. With a pseudo disco ball at its helm, the mood for this bedroom is lively yet elegant.

Caged-In

Choose a structural, lineal light fixture for a bedroom in need of hard lines and clean design. It's the ideal balance between decorative and straightforward.

Candelabra

Whether or not you actually plan on lighting it, a candelabra is a stunning touch. Place one on a side table or dresser to create a whimsical, romantic room.

Subtle Studs

Sometimes, you just can't beat clean simplicity. Hide bright lights away in the ceiling but be sure to include a lamp or two for layers.

Nautical Themed

You don't need to live by the beach to have a coastal-inspired light design. This seashell shaped fixture is pretty as can be in this blue and beige bedroom.

A Pop Of Color

For a bedroom with a neutral color scheme, the a colorful light fixture might be just what you need to built interest. Choose a bold, beautiful light that will be a burst of color in the bedroom.

Matchy-Matchy

When layering lights, you can go for coordination, or step up your lighting game for a full match. Here, the glass theme that flows through both the chandelier and the bedside lamp really pulls the whole room together.

Curved Lamp

This classically-shaped lamp has just the right amount of curve to help your eyes see as you lounge in bed.

Light From Above

The lights on your ceiling don't have to be the only overhead lighting in the room. Placing a stunning lamp on a tall surface, like a vertical dresser or chest, will have a gorgeous effect for the overall light design.

Every Nook And Cranny

If there's a corner, crevice, or nook in the bedroom where you enjoy cozying up, be sure that space has light. Add an additional sconce into spaces such as reading nooks so that they can fulfill their purpose once the sun sets.

Between Beds

A twin set of sconces or lamps between two beds is the double room equivalent to a matching pair on either side of a single bed. It's classically elegant and ensures that there's no fighting over turning off a single central light.

Geometric Light

A structural, shapely light fixture will always be a stunner. Choose a geometric shape for clean lines and interesting form.

Modern Design

A Sputnik-style light like this one is fun and interesting, yet clean and sophisticated for the bedroom. Choose an ornate one with a whole swarm of bulbs or a simpler, more angular one with just a select few to light the room.

Metallic Magic

Just as the lightbulb within will shine, so too can the rest of the light. A metallic finish on a lamp stand or light fixture is sure to be graceful and attractive.

Floral Fixture

If your room has a floral theme going on, why stop at the lights? In addition to a floral patterned lamp shade, try a petalled chandelier as well.

Inside And Out

For a canopy bed, getting creative with the lights is a must. Include lights both inside and outside the curtains so that the lighting is practical whether or not they're drawn.

Statement Piece

Allow your lighting to be the focal point of the room. Choose something grand or statuesque to sit center stage and be its own spotlight.

Repurposed Antiques

We're pro-antiques from top to bottom, and lights are no exception. If you can, find a lovely vintage lamp, or pair your brand new one on a creatively repurposed thrifted piece of furniture.

Style Guide

When shopping for a lamp, it can be tempting to get the first gorgeous one you see, but remember that it's part of the design for a whole room. Take your time finding a lamp and a shade that suit the color scheme, style, and aesthetic of the overall space.

Unlacquered Brass Lights

If your light fixtures include metal, unlacquered brass is a fashionable way to go. Popular also for hardware and finishings, this stylish metal adds warmth and character to every room it graces.

For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Southern Living.