Bedroom lighting implies the ability to use both upper central sources and secondary ones - with softer and more comfortable light that promotes relaxation. Wall sconces belong specifically to the second category. We will tell you how to choose and place sconces correctly in your bedroom so that they give truly aesthetic pleasure and efficiently realize their potential to protect your relaxation.
Advantages of sconces for the bedroom
There are countless lighting options for bedrooms. But what is the advantage of sconces?
- Cosiness. In the bedroom a person rests, relaxes, more often he needs dim light and sconces are perfect for this. With their lighting they create an atmosphere of romance and peace. But if you need bright light, you can hang chandeliers and sconces together in the bedroom. When there is not enough lighting, turn on the chandelier and, for example, while reading before bed, use only the sconce.
- Economical energy consumption. Sconces most often require light bulbs of low power, which allows you to save money.
- Easy installation and maintenance. The wall lamp is not located high and it is not difficult to carry out the necessary work with it.
- The sconce combines both convenience and style.
Tips and tricks
Before you buy wall lamps, you should think through all the little things: mounting location, wiring design, color scheme, style, materials and overall design of the room.
When choosing an electrical appliance, the following criteria must be taken into account:
- To ensure that the product has good characteristics, when purchasing, it is important to pay attention to well-known and trusted manufacturers, as well as the presence of a certificate of quality, safety and instructions in Russian.
- The product model of a lighting fixture should not only be convenient to use, but also be in harmony with the environment in the room and fit into the style of the room. For example, choosing blue-green lampshades will give the bedroom a cold, gloomy touch.
- You should remember about convenience when using an electrical appliance. It is best to turn the light on and off without getting out of bed and pressing a button. There is also a trick for those who like to sleep in a chair - installing a lighting device with a motion sensor.
- For those who like to read or work in a horizontal position, it is better to choose a light source on brackets. Otherwise, it will be necessary to adapt to the beam flow.
- When choosing a light bulb, you can give preference to different types of lighting. However, the location of the backlight should be taken into account. Thus, frosted lamps (incandescent) are recommended to be installed near the dressing table. Halogen and LED produce yellow illumination, while fluorescent ones do not convey the color gamut correctly. In the headboard area, it is advisable to give preference to LED lamps, as they do not heat up, do not flicker, create soft light, and are economical.
- The presence of a rheostat in the device will make it possible to change the light intensity. This is especially convenient if there is a cot in the room. And the minimum power of the device will turn it into a night light. But you should not use energy-saving lamps in such lampshades.
- Light bulbs should be taken with a power of 40-75 W for the bedside area and 100 W for other areas of the room.
Disadvantages of sconces for the bedroom
But everything has its imperfections, so you should also know the flaws of sconces.
- Lack of light. Some people, after installing sconces in the bedroom, noticed that they did not have enough light. When choosing a lamp, you should take into account the characteristics of the room and human needs.
- Protruding wires. So that they do not spoil the appearance of the room, the installation of sconces in the bedroom should be carried out in such a way that it is possible to hide the cable in the wall during repairs.
- The switch is dangerous for children. Some wall lights have a switch that looks like a string or chain, which children are likely to really want to pull. They may be injured and damage the device. It is important to take this point into account.
Advantages of wall lighting
Wall sconces are local lighting devices that are attached to a surface.
The main advantages of mounting lampshades on the wall in a room are:
- compactness and lightness: bedside sconces for the bedroom can be mounted at any height and surface;
- efficiency: low-power light bulbs consume less electricity;
- convenient operation: wall lamps are easy to control using a switch;
- unusual design that allows you to create a directed or diffused flow of light;
- quick installation - performing this work does not cause any particular difficulties;
- ease of care.
Technical features
In order to select and install sconces, you need to keep in mind various characteristics.
- Types of switches. There are many types of switches: touch, rope, key, remote, rotary and others. It is convenient to install a sconce in the bedroom above the bed with a switch so that you can turn the light on or off without getting out of bed. Switches with dimmable lighting are also practical. For example, with this function for sleeping, you can use the sconce as a night light.
- Installation height. When renovating, many people ask the question: at what height to install sconces in the bedroom? Of course, the height must be selected individually, for different characteristics, so that the person is comfortable. But in most cases, the height of the sconce in the bedroom should be approximately 150 cm from the floor, if necessary, higher or lower by a few centimeters. There should be no discomfort when using the lamp; the light should not be too dim or bright. For this purpose, there are rotary sconces - the body of such devices is flexible and they can be directed in the desired direction, adjusting where the light will fall. And the height of the sconce above the bed should be about 20 - 30 cm above the headboard.
- Proper organization of lighting. With a certain distribution of light, a room can be made visually larger, hide defects and emphasize advantages. And also focus on certain places in the room, highlight paintings, flowers and other decorative elements.
Where to place the sconce?
When choosing the location of lamps in the bedroom, it is recommended to remember that this room is not only intended for sleeping. Accordingly, the lighting in it can be ordinary, decorative and working. The correct arrangement of electrical appliances in the room creates coziness and comfort.
Main areas for backlight installation:
- bedside;
- near the dressing table;
- specially zoned space.
Sconces, taking into account the difference in shapes, models and the correct placement of lamps, can hide defects in the room, advantageously emphasize the dimensions of the room or highlight a special piece of furniture.
At the head
When the overhead lighting is turned off, the bedside lighting provides privacy and darkness. Installed lamps above the bed allow you to do reading and handicrafts.
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In the bedside area, wall sconces can be hung:
- Over the bed;
- on the sides of the headboard.
Mounting the first option is not recommended, because during reading the person will block the light, casting a shadow.
It is recommended to place sconces above the bed in the bedroom on either side of the headboard at the same level and quite low. In this area of the room you need to stick to soft, dim lighting. But it is also worth paying attention to the location of the switch for comfortable operation.
A compelling argument for installing a lighting fixture at the head is its compactness. This type of fastening takes up minimal space and fits tightly to the surface. There are no protruding brackets.
The lampshades at the head can be matched to the color of the walls, without attracting the eye. And located in the center above the bed, they become a highlight.
To create a designer accent using a lighting device, you need to choose a more massive lampshade, the main thing is to know when to stop. The choice of any option is suitable as long as you respect the style direction of the room.
Above the bedside table
The most common solution is to install floor lamps on furniture near the bed on both sides.
A diverse range of stationary light sources allows you to choose a lampshade with a flow orientation only downwards or in two directions. The main advantage of these lamps is that there is no need to drill into the wall if there are enough sockets near the bed.
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However, hanging lampshades and lampshades located above bedside tables are becoming increasingly popular. The optimal mounting height is considered to be 50 cm from the surface of the bed.
This arrangement has several advantages:
- the table near the bed is not loaded with objects;
- attention is focused on the headboard area;
- A wide selection of pendant models with a fixed or adjustable base provides additional opportunity to control the flow of light as needed.
Lamps with a guided base are quite maneuverable and allow you to adjust the lighting.
Expert opinion
Olga Kovalenko
Since 2010 I have been engaged in interior design and architectural design.
Bendable lamps are suitable for a modern interior. Their design resembles a lantern. The advantage of this model is that it is small in size, has a flexible base and can be fixed in any position. This design is attached both to the wall and to the bed frame.
Optimal placement of the lamp
There are no specific requirements for the location of lighting sources in the room.
There are recommendations to help change the appearance, practicality and safety of the room:
- In the bedside area, the lighting should be placed at a level of no more than 120-180 cm.
- Wall sconces above the bed should be installed at a height of 20-30 cm above the backrest. With a headboard of 160 cm, models that operate using a chain or mounted on a frame are recommended.
- Depending on the height of the person, the device switch should be located at the level of the palm of an outstretched arm.
- When the beam is directed upward, the lamp should be placed lower. Accordingly, provided that the light is oriented downward, the lampshade is mounted higher.
- The space near the dressing table requires more lighting. Therefore, here the backlight should be placed either at the top of the mirror or on both sides. The direction of the beam should be even. Depending on the size of the dressing table, the number of lighting sources is selected.
- To ozonize space, paintings or photos, so that there are no glare or illuminated areas, it is recommended to use dim lighting and a paired arrangement of devices.
- A void on the wall can be filled by placing several original candlesticks on it.
- To illuminate indoor plants, it is better to choose a single-color lampshade.
- To visually enlarge the boundaries of the room, you should choose a sconce whose flow is directed upward.
- In rooms with high ceilings, to create relaxation and comfort, it is advisable to give preference to lighting fixtures with a downward beam direction.
Low sconce position
Low-mounted lampshades at the head will create discomfort and dazzle the eyes, but a sconce with a lampshade installed high also provides little illumination.
Therefore, to accentuate the sleeping area, it is advisable to install wall lamps on the sides of the bed. And to avoid eye injury from the lamp, it is recommended to use electrical appliances with a closed design in the bedside area.
Combination of several sconces
Designers, as well as people with a subtle sense of perception, create their own unique interior, emphasizing the inner world and individuality, combining the incongruous.
Very temperamental people may decide to do this, for whom a room designed in one style will seem boring. For example, they can install several electrical appliances they like in one space.
Combining different stylistic lamps in a certain room is possible if:
- Sconces are used in a studio apartment, where there is a common space and a clear division into functional areas.
- The bedroom is decorated in a style where experimentation is allowed. These trends include: eclecticism, modern, loft, steampunk.
- The room is not small and has a zoned space.
A unique classic
The most versatile option for bedroom lamps is a classic-style sconce. This style is always relevant and is distinguished by its special elegance and nobility. For example, sconces made in the form of antique candlesticks will look chic in a bedroom with a similar style.
Classic sconces can be white, black, gold, silver and other universal colors. Classic is usually simplicity, but at the same time sophistication.
Sconces with elegant decorative details, with patterns or decorated with forged elements, such as birds or flowers, look very luxurious.
Sconce over the bedside table
We all know that the most common and simplest option for using additional lamps in the bedroom interior is the method of installing small floor lamps on the bedside tables, which allows you to illuminate the head of the bed and not have to resort to additional drilling in the walls. However, recently more and more attention has been focused on placing a pendant sconce directly above the bedside table.
Such a proposal is based primarily on safety, because you won’t knock off the wall sconce when you adjust the blanket, and even more so you won’t be able to knock over the lamp with your hand while you sleep. In addition, such a placement of the lighting source will maximize the protection of the person sleeping next to it from light, and will also help to quickly find the necessary items in the bedside table or on its surface. In this case, instead of a lampshade, you can place photo frames, an alarm clock, a book or a tablet on the cabinet.
Sconce for children's bedroom
A children's bedroom also needs to be beautifully decorated and should be comfortable. A wide range of colors allows you to choose the most unique and vibrant interior design option. These can be sconces in the shape of animals, fish, cartoon characters, or simple sconces in bright or pastel colors.
Sconces above the bed in a child’s bedroom will be relevant and practical, especially if the child reads before bed. It is important to choose a switch that is convenient and safe.
It is necessary that the child likes the sconce and the lighting is comfortable for children's eyes, not too bright and not too dim. Then the bedroom will be a place where you can really spend time.
Bedside sconces
Unlike the previous proposal, bedside sconce models are considered more functional and useful. These types of devices are located directly above the head of the bed or on the sides of it, as a result of which the flow of light is directed to each sleeping place. At the same time, it is important to place the lamp so that it is convenient for you to reach the switch with your hand without having to get out of bed.
Thanks to this lighting, you can read in the evenings or do handicrafts without resorting to the use of general lighting sources. Moreover, many types of bedside sconces are equipped with a special rotating mechanism, thanks to which, if necessary, you can direct the direction of light in any direction.
Modern style
The variety of styles helps create extraordinary interiors in bedrooms. Sconces are made from a variety of materials:
- Plastic,
- Metal,
- Ceramics,
- Glass,
- Gypsum and others;
They have many forms:
- Flat,
- Volumetric, in the form of a branch, torch, lantern.
- There are sconces in the form of wall paintings.
Modern sconces for the bedroom above the bed are made in the following styles:
- Art Nouveau - characterized by asymmetrical lines, unusual curves, floral ornaments and patterns. Pastel and ashen colors are often used in modern style.
- Minimalism is simplicity, conciseness, a minimum of unnecessary details, only everything that is most necessary.
- High-tech – the latest technologies, straight lines, efficiency. Restrained, cool colors.
- Loft - natural materials, calm colors and bright accents.
- Marine style - transparent elements, blue, white - colors, light and natural materials, marine decorations - shells, fish, anchors, ships, ropes, wicker elements.
- And many other styles.
At the moment, sconce lamps have a countless number of design options and this gives every chance to create a unique design and atmosphere in your bedroom.
Types of sconce lamps
Lamps for the bedroom are classified according to several criteria:
- Design:
- swivel night lights - rotate 360 degrees and are designed for directional flow;
- stationary - create diffused lighting.
- Fixation type. The lampshade or lampshade is mounted on the wall using a bracket. Lamps with a variety of decorative shapes are suitable for decorating a bedroom interior in any style.
Devices that are attached directly to a surface are called near-surface. Lampshades come in oval, rectangular or round shapes. Such devices are rarely used in the room, but are indispensable when decorating an interior in the loft, modern, hi-tech and minimalist styles.
Models with a hanging lampshade are universal. They are suitable for any room, as they have a varied design and expand the space.
- Types of switches:
- touch: non-contact connection method due to the sensor’s response to movement;
- keyboard or push-button, in which the mechanism is located on the wire of the device and connected to the outlet;
- chain (cord or rope) - the light works by pulling a chain.
