“What size should my bedroom lamp be?” It’s a question that has always become relevant because of the concern for luxury in the bedroom—but the answer is simple.
Industry experts shared the formula they use to create a space that’s not overpowered by light no small fixture. And while coordinating balanced bedroom lighting ideas may sound a little technical, the secret to it is refreshingly smooth.
When it comes to creating therapeutic bedroom ideas, you can start with large areas, such as the tones on the wall or the colors of your best bed sheets. However, your lighting fixtures have a huge impact on the ambiance of your room, and as such, it’s important to get the right proportion. This is the formula that experts follow.
(Image credit: Jessica Bennett of Alice Lane Interiors; Photography by Nicole Girolat)
What size should my bedroom lamp be?
says Alina Enache, ARB Registered Architect and Head of Interior Design Consultancy at Scottlight Direct (Opens in a new tab).
Measure the width and length of your bedroom in feet and add up. The resulting sum, but this time expressed in inches, will give you a starting point for which diagonal will look best.
Besides, Alina urges you to consider ceiling height (in your bedroom, but when considering all other lighting ideas, too).
“We always recommend leaving at least 7 feet of space between the underside of the lighting fixture and the level of the floor finish,” she says. “This is important to enable clearance for anyone walking under the light or coming into contact with it from the side.”
(Image credit: David Lovati)
And for low ceiling ideas, Alina recommends flowing and semi-flowing alternatives (if you don’t have enough space for a pendant or chandelier).
Can a light fixture be too big for a room?
Yes, there’s a chance your lighting fixtures are too big—especially if you’re working with particularly small bedroom ideas.
“Remember that using large lighting fixtures with a large number of light bulbs can overpower the bedroom in terms of light levels,” explains Alina. The best way to see if the light is adequate is to follow the above formula, but you can also use a dimmer switch to ensure your fixtures aren’t too bright in a compact space.
“Hitching your ceiling light fixtures with a dimmer switch and using other light sources to layer your fixtures – such as table lamps and floor lamps can help keep your room feeling inviting and create a warm vibe throughout,” says Alina.
(Image credit: Spike Powell)
How do you determine the size of the chandelier for the bedroom?
When playing with bedroom chandelier ideas, it can be hard to go wrong. However, in all their glamor, these fixtures can often overpower a space and create a less than desired effect. However, there is another formula for determining whether the size of a chandelier is appropriate for your room.
“Unless you’re going for an asymmetrical look, a general rule of thumb for the size of your pendant would be a maximum of 1/3 of the longest wall in the room,” says Connor Prestwood, an interior designer from Dowsing & Reynolds. (Opens in a new tab). “This helps keep the space balanced.”
