Your bedroom’s lighting can make a huge impact on whether you feel like you’re walking into a creepy, dark cave or an airy, peaceful haven. Fortunately, getting that perfect mix of mood lighting and functionality is as easy as… well, flipping a switch. That’s why we love this bedroom lighting featured by Canarm for our latest Create This Look.
We came across this funny blog by interior stylist Maxine Brady, who comically shares her struggle to create the perfect bedroom ambiance with lighting specialist and design director Sally Storey… and her struggle is so relatable! We all know that too little lighting creates a cold, unwelcoming feeling. But too much lighting takes away that romantic, relaxing feeling.
Using this gorgeous, modern design featuring Canarm, we’re going to see just how Sally’s design tips work to create the perfect bedroom lighting. Don’t forget to get your free shopping list at the end of this blog so that you can Create This Look.
Lighting Mistake #1: Random Lights
A lot of older homes in our area don’t have ceiling lights in the bedrooms or living room areas, which can result in the placement of scattered random lights around the room.
Try adding a few focused down lights (think recessed lighting that you can angle, or track lighting) to create a feeling of space in your bedroom. Focus lights down on main features in your room, like onto a picture on the wall above your bed or above the curtains. This will bring out the fabric and give a soft reflected light creating an atmosphere for nighttime when the curtains are drawn.
Lighting Mistake #2: Beside Lights
If you love reading before bed but don’t have the space for bedside table lamps, install wall-mounted lights. Canarm’s Tally wall light featured in our Create This Look does the trick! Adjust the arm or angle of the lamp for ideal reading light (or to project the light away from your sleeping partner). This lamp is great as it doesn’t require electrical skills to install… just a little DIY knowledge, plug it in, and you’re good to go!
Lighting Mistake #3: Dingy Lamp Shade
For those ready to up their bedside lighting game, consider upgrading from a wall-mounted fixture to a pendant light. A glittering pendant, like this Canarm LYNAH pendant light, can add focus to your room. The look of this LYNAH light goes a long way with its ribbed glass shade that beautifully retracts light inside its streamlined gold finish cage.
Sally recommends being able to dim your pendant lights to suit your mood, and if the pendant fixture is the central light for your room, you’ll likely need more down lights (like recessed or track lighting) dotted around your room for more light.
For large bedrooms, especially those with higher ceilings, add a luxurious chandelier like this LUCIEN chandelier from Canarm. This 6-light design has a modern gold finish and cylindrical seeded glass shade on the end of each arm. This chandelier was designed to be the center of attention, so it’s perfect for those looking to make a statement in the bedroom.
Lighting Mistake #4: Poor Lighting for Applying Makeup
For those who prefer to get ready in the bedroom, proper lighting can be a challenge. Getting ready in a dim room can result in unintentionally applying too much makeup.
Sally’s suggestion is to add pendant lights or wall lights on either side of your mirror. Helloooo, Hollywood starlet!
Lighting Mistake #5: Fashionable (but Gloomy) Grey Ceilings
For those following the latest trends, you may have painted ceilings the same colour as or a lighter shade than your walls. Even a light grey painted ceiling can seem to suck up the light in the room.
Sally recommends adding strip lighting to the top of a wardrobe… this way it’s hidden from sight while still reflecting light off the ceiling to create a brighter room.
Complete the Look!
Hopefully these lighting tips got your creative juices flowing, but if you have a bigger design challenge, our DIY Project Experts are here to help. Check out these other great items to complete this bedroom look.
Flooring
Soft greys continue to trend in interior design for 2020. We love the subtleness of this herringbone pattern that looks like ceramic but with the added comfort and warmth of luxury vinyl. This Avant-Garde Bone sheet vinyl is part of Beaulieu Canada’s Blacktex HD collection, which means you know you’re getting a durable flooring with improved sound properties and comfort underfoot.
Trim
The trim used in this room is simple, yet its size is what creates that dramatic visual impact. Look for large trim moulding, like this French Curves Scene I 7¼” crown moulding, or its corresponding 5½” baseboard from Metrie.
Paint
Complete the look with a fresh coat of paint. SICO’s key colours for 2020 include vivid hues that accent well when paired with wood, velvet, marble, or metal accents. SICO sees a mood shift in colour–a move away from the bold primaries popular in 2010–towards tones that are bright but more nuanced.
Try this SICO paint in Green Fig (6135-21) for a fresh, springlike colour for your bedroom.
With so many light fixture, flooring, and paint options to choose from, solving your bedroom or living area design problems should be a snap! Let us help you bring it all together, and sooner than you think, you’ll be dreaming away in your own stylish and affordable haven.
Shopping List
Love this look? Bring in this shopping list to your nearest Timber Mart where our DIY Project Sales experts can help you Create This Look!
- Canarm LYNAH pendant light (IPL1018A01GD – Special Order)
- Canarm LUCIEN chandelier (ICH1007A06GD – Special Order)
- Canarm Tally wall light (IWF1017A01BKG – Special Order)
- Beaulieu Canada Avant-Garde Bone sheet vinyl (BL001-U0020 – Special Order)
- Metrie French Curves Scene I 7¼” MDF crown moulding (CFC1W2PMD08, 8’ length)
- Metrie French Curves Scene I 5½” MDF baseboard (CFC1B2PMD08, 8’ length)
- SICO paint in Green Fig (6135-21)