Top Tips for Lighting your Kids’ Bedroom

Lighting your kids’ bedroom, it is an important task, especially considering the activities that will take place in the room.  Does your child read in bed?  Does your child like to draw and be creative?  Does your child like to play with toys that have small parts?  Does your child need a desk space to study? 

consider the basic types of lighting when lighting your kids’ bedroom

Ambient Lighting that creates an overall glow.  This might be from overhead lighting such as ceiling-mounted or recessed fittings.  This type of lighting will brighten the room evenly to be able to perform practical tasks.

Task Lighting illuminates specific activities such as homework or reading.  Sconces or lamps, such as desk or floor lamps provide great task lighting.

Accent Lighting highlights design elements of the room.  Lighting your kids’ bedroom, this may be a wall light in the shape of a moon to highlight a space design setting.

lighting your kids’ bedroom with ambient lighting

Lighting your kids’ bedroom with good overhead ambient lighting will ensure sufficient illumination for kids to be able to go about their normal daily activities, such as play and dressing.  This may be in the form recessed lighting, pendant lights or ceiling mounted fittings.  A great tip for younger children is to install a dimmer switch or smart bulb with dimming capabilities that will allow for ambient lighting to be adjusted for daytime and night time activities, helping your kids to wind down at the end of the day.

lighting your kids’ bedroom with task lighting

Children like to spread themselves out when they get into creative mode, so task lighting is important.  Bedside lamps are a great way to provide task lighting, and have the added benefit of encouraging bedtime reading!  Floor lamps can be fun for kids, as well as functional by illuminating dark corners and giving kids a feeling of security.  Desk and floor lamps are also great options for task lighting  a desk space, so great for older children or teenagers.

Wall lamps with moveable arms are a great choice for kids’ spaces since they can be adjusted to whatever task the child is doing.  Clip-on lights are also a good option for task lighting as they can be moved as required, and are great for bunk bed scenarios where a bedside table may not be available.

Lamps not only serve to light up a room, but double as a design element, so are prefect for kids’ bedrooms as they can easily be replaced at the different stages your child goes through, or simply when they change their mind about their favourite TV character!

lighting your kids’ bedroom for fun!

Lighting in kids’ bedrooms doesn’t always have to serve a functional purpose.  Things like string lights, neon, lava lamps, and glow in the dark items can add fun design elements to your kids’ bedroom.

lighting your kids’ bedroom for safety and well being

Obviously, a little more thought needs to be applied to lighting kids’ bedrooms in terms of safety and practicality.  Consider light placement that is out of reach of little ones, or where these can’t be achieved, consider switching to low watt LED bulbs that are cooler to the touch.  There are also many great options for battery operated lights that will eliminate power connection and cords.

Sleep is important to your childs’ well-being, and so it is important to consider lighting options that will promote sleep.  Many children, particularly toddlers, feel more secure if there is a night light installed in their bedroom.  A night light can stop a room from getting too dark if your child still wakes through the night.  This provides security for your child, however, also serves a safety purpose if your child can tend to wander the house at night.  Night lights installed by the stairs or in the bathroom can ensure safety during night time wanderings.

Some night lights project images on the ceiling, and some are even motion activated providing light only when needed so as not to disturb your child’s sleep.  A good tip – please any motion activated night light in a strategic place so as not to unnecessarily activate the light.

Lighting does more than just illuminate a space.  It can also set the tone of a room and complement your style.  Kids’ bedrooms are no exception to this!