Brightly
wrapped red and pink packages piled high on display shelves signify to the
modern lover, “Hey buddy, it’s time to show your significant other that you do,
indeed, carry your affection around in a heart-shaped box.” Many of us going
home or meeting our significant others feel obligated to buy a trinket of
something, be it the above mentioned chocolate indulgence or a dinner out. That
is all well and good. But perhaps it’s after the one-night Valentine
festivities are over that you should take a look around you and evaluate
whether you have cultivated a bedroom space that feels like a haven belonging
to yourself or your union.
Daylight
Waking up
on the weekends with the sunlight streaming through your bedroom windows is one
of the most energy-efficient, luxurious and yet, ordinary, sensations. Even
when you’re awake and working at your desk or spending time with company, an
ample amount of daylight is healthy for your well-being and also your body.
Remember you’re getting Vitamin D!
Overhead vs. Indirect Light
Although
chandeliers and other overhead fixtures can be very pretty to look at, the light they provide also has a tendency to wash out a room. I
opt for versions that you can dim dependent on your mood or going with an
indirect source of artificial bedroom light. Light bouncing off the ceiling and
surrounding walls creates a nice ambient quality in the bedroom while providing
visibility.
Floor
Lamp + Chair Set
Take a look
at your bedroom’s square footage. Is there room for anything besides a bed or
set of drawers? If so, throw a a nice rug on the floor, writing desk
against the wall or place a reading chair by the window. We all know a bed is
really comfortable to lie on but to sit in? Not unless you pile on a few
pillows. A reading chair is really great for
inhabiting one’s own space even if you’re not reading. It’s the only seat in
the house truly reserved for your bum. A floor lamp placed beside your chair
serves as a great source of soft light in the evening. Along with that, floor
lamps are a strong method of illuminating corners in the bedroom.
Table
Lamps + Bed Set
So maybe
you do like reading in bed or just inhabiting a good mattress. Table lamps
are more aesthetically pleasing placed next to beds than floor lamps. It might
have something to do with the difference in height. Table lamps also provide a
closer, concentrated source of light because they’re so much closer to the bed.
In designing your bedroom and lighting, the bed, above all else, takes priority
in the design. It is the principle element of a bedroom. Find lighting that is
complimentary to the style and colors of this major element.
Sconces
= Wall Washing
This is the
primary means to create a pattern of soft light and dark space along your
walls. It makes a room more active and the eyes can follow the rhythm of light
and dark fairly easily. According to Lighting.com, wall washing can make a room
look bigger.
Color of Light
When
purchasing your light bulbs for the bedroom, consider the personality of the
bedroom. Is it a modern space, very traditional or transitional? Dominant
colors like white and yellow can dictate the feel of a room. A soft white
matches a modern space and warm, golden tones are more inviting and homey in a
traditional way.
When you
design your bedroom, do not overlook how much light matters in dictating the
feel of a room. During Valentine’s, remember to dim the lights to soften the
room. Maybe light a candle or two. And recall that this space called a bedroom
belongs to you and the one you love.
About the Author:
Akemi Hong is a writer and graphic designer. You"ll find Akemi
occupied indoors as a marketing and design associate for 1STOPlighting.