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For the average homeowner, bedroom lighting can be a hard nut to crack. Every space in your [city] home requires a certain specific touch or style, and the bedroom is no different.

We want the bedroom to be welcoming and relaxing, but we also want for there to be enough light for the space to be functional and efficient. This is where the different elements of bedroom lighting come in, with each element complementing one another by providing a specific “layer” of light through careful positioning and different brightness levels.

In the guide below, we take a closer look at each of these lighting elements and how they come together to illuminate your bedroom.

1. Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting, also known as general lighting, is the most important lighting element in your room. It forms the foundation of the lighting scheme and is usually the most used light source in the bedroom.

Ambient lighting for bedrooms should provide a soft light that’s bright enough to illuminate the entire spaces. Choices range from the usual flushmount fixtures and recessed lights to pendant lights and the sophisticated chandelier. You don’t have to limit yourself to these fixtures though; you can always switch things up by adding floor lamps or even track lights. This will give you more options to play around with when it comes to placement, angles, and visuals.

2. Task Lighting

We all have that one corner in the bedroom where we like to work or read. Often times, ambient light is not enough to help you see what you’re doing, which is where task lights come in.

A classic task light for bedroom is a desk lamp; other options include wall sconces, pendants, and cleverly placed floor lamps. Swing-arm fixtures have also become popular in recent years, and they’re a great choice for focused reading since you can move them around and direct the light exactly where you need it.

3. Accent Lighting

Accent lights add that extra brightness to your bedroom without being too overpowering. Ideally, you want to add accent lights only after you’ve established your ambient lighting and task lighting in the bedroom. Once these foundations are in place, you can look for fixtures that give a soft, relaxing glow to create that cozy atmosphere. Accent lights also help draw attention to a specific part of the room you want to highlight, such as a painting, a mirror, or focal point. Tape lights, wall sconces, decorative lamps, and recessed lights are great choices for accent lighting.

4. Dimming

Dimming is a lighting feature that can make a huge difference in your bedroom. Light fixtures that are dimmable can turn a bedroom to a relaxing escape with just a turn of a knob. Dimmable lights not only let you change the whole room’s mood, they can also help you reduce your energy consumption. Lastly, dimmers also add a layer of convenience to your bedroom lights that you may not know you needed. Imagine waking up in the middle in the night for a bathroom break; having an option to turn your lights down low means you don’t have to squint from the glare and end up having problems going back to sleep.

Bottom line? Always remember to layer your lights and go easy on the brightness. At the end of the day, a bedroom is a place where you can retreat and relax, so you want your lighting to help you do just that.

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