Many people like the idea of adding mood lighting to their bedrooms, as well as other rooms in the home, but aren’t certain as to how they can achieve it. Adding mood and ambience through your choice of lighting can completely transform a room, and with more options for lighting available than ever before, this is the perfect time to do this, whilst personalising it to your preferences.

Every room in your home will require a layer of relatively bright light, for functional reasons. Next, you’ll need task lighting in some rooms, which is a focused lighting that really allows you to see clearly when needed. This can be LED lighting above kitchen work surfaces or a high colour temperature bulb in a lamp on a desk. The third layer needed is the softer lighting for ambience. You can do this by adding extra sources of lighting with a slightly different colour temperature.

Choosing the colour

This 1800k LED bulb gives off a beautiful orangey glow.

One option for your mood lighting is to introduce different colours using LED light strips or colour changing light bulbs. For example, a red light is typically seen as romantic and evoking emotions of passion; a blue light can evoke serenity and can add a relaxing feel whilst green can represent tranquillity and freshness.

The problem with adding colours like this through colour changing LED bulbs is that it really doesn’t suit more traditional or vintage style decors. You can, however, use a vintage style light bulb with a low colour temperature to create warmth. A warm sunset white (1800k) light bulb gives off an orangey glow, creating a cosy intimacy, whilst keeping a vintage charm.

Choose the fitting

Different styles of light fitting can change a room, and whilst it’s the actual light that is given off that will create the ambience and mood, the fitting can either complement this or look out of place. It’s important to choose the right style of lighting for the décor and run with it.

Using slightly lower hung lighting like chandeliers and pendants can make the ceiling feel lower than it actually is, creating a cosy and intimate feeling. If, however, you have low ceilings in your bedroom, then downlights may be the best option for you.

Desk and floor lamps can give you different options too. You may choose a higher colour temperature (around 3000k) for your main ceiling light fittings, and a lower colour temperature (around 1800k) for a more orangey glow in your desk and floor lamps, giving you the option of different colours for different situations.

Give yourself options

A dimmer switch allows you to change the level of lighting, creating the perfect mood.

Generally, it’s best not to go for a high colour temperature in the bedroom, as these bulbs will give off a bluey light, which can be stimulating, rather than relaxing. It is, however good to have a warm white (3000k) or daylight (4100k) bulb in your bedroom, so you can see clearly when completing tasks. By giving yourself options through different lamps and light fittings, you can switch the mood lighting on and off when needed.

Dimmer switches can also work well when creating mood lighting as you can lower the light level of your main ceiling lights quickly and easily, however when using LED bulbs, make sure the bulbs are dimmable and the dimmer switch is a trailing edge dimmer, suitable for LEDs.

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