Contemporary
22 Oct 2018
Your bedroom is more than a place to sleep, it’s where you relax, recharge, and escape from the day. The right lighting is essential to creating that balance between comfort, style, and practicality. From statement pendants to subtle wall lights, the right fixture can completely transform the mood of your space.
In this guide, we explore bedroom lighting ideas inspired by real installations, showing how different lights work in master bedrooms, small spaces, and heritage homes.
Image: Smoked Upton pendants bring balance and warmth to this rustic bedroom, framing the bed with soft, atmospheric light. | Credit:
Ceiling Lighting for Bedrooms
Ceiling pendants remain one of the most popular ways to add character to a bedroom. They provide general light while doubling as a design statement.
credit – Otta Design, Jonathan Bond Photograpy
In this Otta Design project, paired glass pendants bring symmetry and elegance to the room. Hung low above each bedside, they create focused pools of light while freeing up the nightstands. This approach blends practicality with style, proving that pendants don’t have to stay in the centre of the ceiling.
For larger bedrooms, consider clustering pendants or choosing oversized shades to add drama, especially above a bed or in rooms with high ceilings.
What Our Experts Say: Hang ceiling pendants around 30-50cm above a bedside table, or at eye level if using them as an alternative to lamps.
Wall Lighting for Small Bedrooms
Wall lights are a clever solution in bedrooms where surface space is limited. Instead of filling a nightstand with a lamp, wall lights provide a gentle glow while keeping the area clear for essentials.
Credit: 360 Living Ltd | Shop Hereford wall lights here
In this project by 360 Living Ltd, ribbed glass wall lights bring a timeless charm to the space, pairing practical bedside lighting with a soft, inviting ambience. Wall lights like these not only free up surfaces but also add balance and style to both classic and contemporary bedrooms.
Master Bedroom Lighting Ideas
A master bedroom often benefits from layered lighting, combining pendants, wall lights, and task lamps. For example, in a Border Oak home, ribbed glass pendants work alongside filament wall lights to highlight natural wood beams and countryside views. The mix of light sources adds depth, ensuring the room feels just as inviting at night as it does during the day.
Image: Ribbed glass pendants and simple wall lights highlight the natural textures of this Border Oak bedroom with countryside views. | credit – Otta Design, Jonathan Bond Photograpy
For a more modern finish, smoked-glass pendants hung low on either side of a headboard create symmetry and a hotel-inspired look.
Credit: 360 Living Ltd
Lighting for Cosy Bedrooms
If your goal is a restful retreat, warm-toned lighting is key. Glass shades paired with warm LEDs create an inviting glow without harsh glare.
Image: At the Holst Museum, heritage-inspired table lamps create a soft, timeless glow against patterned wallpaper. | Shop antique table lamps here
In heritage interiors such as the Holst Museum, vintage-inspired wall and table lights enhance the character of patterned wallpaper while keeping the room atmospheric. Similarly, using pendants like the Wellington clear glass design brings elegance without compromising on comfort.
Modern and Industrial Bedroom Lighting
For those who prefer a contemporary edge, smoked or ribbed glass pendants offer sophistication while remaining versatile. In industrial-style bedrooms, darker finishes and exposed bulbs add texture and mood.
Image: Swan Neck Ribbed Wall Lights bring symmetry and subtle drama to this wooden sleigh bed, balancing industrial glass detail with warm ambience.
What Our Experts Say: Combine ribbed or smoked glass shades with antique bronze or brass fittings for a look that transitions easily between period charm and modern industrial chic.
Image: Ribbed Ledbury wall lights set against dark timber panelling show how industrial lighting can create an intimate, cocoon-like bedroom feel.
Bedside Table Lamps for Warmth and Function
No bedroom lighting plan is complete without table lamps. They offer flexibility, perfect for reading in bed, and add a softer layer of light compared to ceiling fixtures.
In cosy attic bedrooms, the Smoked Hay Table Lamp creates a gentle glow while keeping the look unfussy. Its smoked glass shade adds depth and warmth, making it ideal for small spaces where you want atmosphere without clutter.
Image: The Smoked Hay Table Lamp adds a soft, warm glow, a simple yet stylish choice for cosy attic bedrooms. | Shop table lamps here | Credit: 360 Living Ltd
What Our Experts Say: Use dimmable bulbs in table lamps for maximum control over ambience, bright for reading, low for winding down.
As highlighted by Ali Johnson of Otta Design, table lamps are an essential part of layering light in small bedrooms. By combining them with wall or picture lights, you can avoid the “flat light” effect of relying on a single ceiling pendant, creating a room that feels warmer and more considered. Read the full Otta Design interview here
Frequently Asked Questions About Bedroom Lighting
The right bedroom lighting goes beyond practicality, it shapes how your space feels. Whether you love the elegance of pendants, the practicality of wall lights, or the cosy glow of table lamps, layering light creates balance and atmosphere. Ready to transform your bedroom? Explore our bedroom lighting collection or talk to our experts for tailored advice.
Shop Bedroom Lighting
Hereford Pendant Light
Price range: £160.00 through £720.00 Inc VAT
Aston Lantern
£1,250.00 Inc VAT
Hay Swan Neck Wall Light
Price range: £230.00 through £240.00 Inc VAT
Need help
Not sure which light is right for your bedroom?
Talk to our designers, we’ll help you find the perfect fit.
Spurred on by the sweater weather, we got cosy with our Instagram feed @fritz_fryer_lighting and scrapbooked some beautiful bedroom light installations that are just perfect for curling up to the sound of rain in the background.
Cosy nights by Wellington White & Clear
This cosy pastel bedroom is softly illuminated by the warm light of our ‘half and half’ Wellington white and clear glass pendant (£235.00). Simultaneously sophisticated and subtle, this pendant light creates the perfect atmosphere for snuggling up in bed with a book and a cuppa.
Airy Bedroom by ROCK&POPPINS feat our Savoy art deco Pendant Light
The lush aquamarine hues in this fresh, bright bedroom and home office are perfectly complemented by our jelly mould Art Deco light (£265.00). Gently blending in with the heavenly white of the ceiling, it’s just the right fixture to complete the antiques-filled design.
Florals & Wellington Clear Pendants
The stylish, teardrop design of the Wellington pendant lights (£195.00) adds an extra touch of elegance to the charming floral theme of this bedroom. The large clear glass shades, meanwhile, contribute to the contemporary feeling of the space without compromising the tranquil atmosphere.
Homey Hilly Huts
This cosy Cotswolds hut by @thefishhotel combines country cottage design with the rustic feel of a cabin in the woods. Our ribbed Ledbury wall lights (£165.00) provide mellow ambience to the petite bedroom, without taking up precious hut room.
Stylish sleeping under skinny ribbed Hereford pendants
Stunning in its simplicity, the skinny ribbed Hereford pendant light (£145.00) looks splendid both as an individual pendant as a feature lighting cluster chandelier, as seen in this gorgeous coastal bedroom. The low-hanging fixtures above the bed are bright enough to fill the room with radiant light without being obtrusive to those looking to wind down.
Upscaled Upton pendant nightlights
Another highlight from our skinny ribbed glass collection, this Upton pendant (£145.00) is the perfect alternative to a nightlight. Hang low over your bed stand and delight in the elegant curves of the shade as you drift off to sleep under the soft light.
