24 Primary Bedroom Lighting Ideas

By
Michelle Ullman
Michelle Ullman
Michelle Ullman

Michelle Ullman is a home decor expert and product reviewer for home and garden products. She has been writing about home decor for over 10 years for publications like BobVila.com and Better Homes & Gardens, among others.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 02/13/22
Fact checked by Alexandra Kay
Primary bedroom with nontraditional chandelier light hanging in center of ceiling

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

When it comes to decorating the bedroom, lighting is often forgotten in the excitement of choosing bedding and furniture, along with picking a color scheme. That's a shame because good lighting is a very important element of design in every room of the home. Don't merely set a lamp beside your bed and call it done; use the following ideas to create a functional and beautiful lighting plan for your own bedroom, like the gorgeous combination of lamps and ceiling fixture in this bedroom from Robin Gannon Interiors.

About This Term: Primary Bedroom

Many real estate associations, including the National Association of Home Builders, have classified the term "Master Bedroom" as discriminatory. "Primary Bedroom" is the name now widely used among the real estate community and better reflects the purpose of the room.


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  • 01 of 24

    Every Bedroom Needs a Combination of Light Sources

    Green and brown bedroom with chandelier
    Tobi Fairley & Associates

    Unless your bedroom is extremely small, it needs more than one source of light. Various combinations of bedside lamps, floor lamps, ceiling fixtures, and mood lighting make it easy to read in bed, get dressed and undressed, enjoy romance, and relax. In this gorgeous green and brown bedroom from interior designer Tobi Fairley, a stunning chandelier and two small bedside wall sconces set the lighting scene. 

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  • 02 of 24

    Strong Pattern on a Simple Lampshade

    Gold and blue bedroom with striped rug.
    Tobi Fairley & Associates

    A lighting fixture doesn't have to be fancy to provide a powerful punch of design to the room. Case in point: The drum lampshade on the ceiling fixture in this bedroom from Tobi Fairley & Associates is simple in shape, but it holds its own against the many other strong touches in the bedroom thanks to its bold black-and-white stripes.

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  • 03 of 24

    Pendant Lights Are Stylish and Space-Saving

    Glass round pendant lamps in bedroom.
    Jaimee Rose Interiors

    One of the easiest ways to save space on your nightstand is to use pendant lights in place of bedside lamps, as demonstrated in this glamorous bedroom from Jaimee Rose Interiors. 

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  • 04 of 24

    Floor Lamps in the Bedroom

    Bedroom with reading area.
    Krista Home Design

    Every bedroom deserves a comfortable chair, and if that chair has a tall floor lamp beside it, like this lovely room from Krista + Home, you've created a wonderful spot to sit and read, or merely sit and think. Such a pretty bedroom.

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  • 05 of 24

    Flush-Mount Ceiling Fixtures in the Bedroom

    Bedroom with flush-mount ceiling fixture
    Studio McGee

    One of the most common types of bedroom lighting is a flush-mount ceiling fixture, as in the bedroom from Studio McGee shown here. While flush-mount fixtures have something of a reputation for being boring or unattractive, a well-chosen fixture can be quite lovely, as this one proves. 

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  • 06 of 24

    Recessed Lighting in a Headboard Nook

    Serene bedroom with headboard nook.
    Atelier Noel

    This small bedroom from Atelier Noel gets a lot of natural light during the day, but at night, the owner can flood the room with light by turning on the flush-mount glass-and-brass ceiling fixture, or merely use the recessed lighting over the headboard for a softer glow. 

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  • 07 of 24

    Semi-Flush-Mount Lighting Fixtures

    Bedroom with metal semi-flush-mount light fixture.
    Melissa Davis Group

    Semi-flush-mount fixtures hang down just a few inches from the ceiling, as opposed to flush-mount fixtures, which are at ceiling level; and chandeliers and pendants, which typically hang further down on thin chains or poles. The chic bedroom from the Melissa Davis Group shown here has a unique metal semi-flush-mount drum fixture. 

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  • 08 of 24

    Non-Traditional Chandelier in a Primary Bedroom

    Bedroom with gold drum chandelier
    Tatum Brown Custom Homes

    While chandeliers are often the traditional, crystal-bedecked design, that's not the only option. Here, a gorgeous, gold, 3-tier drum chandelier adds a hefty dose of "Wow!" to this bedroom from Tatum Brown Custom Homes. 

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  • 09 of 24

    Save Space With Wall Sconces

    Wall sconces in small bedroom.
    Lindye Galloway Interiors

    Wall sconces are a great way to save space in a tiny bedroom, like the one shown here from Lindye Galloway Interiors. Plus, when the sconce has an adjustable arm, you can focus it right on your reading material, or wherever else you'd like to shine a bit more light. 

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  • 10 of 24

    Sputnik Chandelier in an Eclectic Bedroom

    Sputnik crystal chandelier eclectic bedroom
    Anne Coyle Interiors

    Everything about this eclectic bedroom is glorious, but the wonderful sputnik crystal chandelier is the icing on the cake. From Anne Coyle Interiors, this bedroom is a study in the brilliant use of color, pattern, texture, and shine. 

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  • 11 of 24

    Track Lighting in the Primary Bedroom

    Track lighting in contemporary bedroom
    Sak Designs

    Track lighting is more often used in the living room or kitchen than in the bedroom, but it can have a great dramatic effect when used to spotlight artwork, as in this contemporary bedroom from Sak Designs. 

    Find the Right Lights for Your Wall Art
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  • 12 of 24

    Matching Bedside Lamps

    Turquoise and pink bedroom.
    Jana Bek Designs

    Every bed needs some form of a bedside lamp. You can match your lamps, as Jana Bek Design did in this colorful bedroom, or choose mismatched lamps for a more casual style. As long as the lamps are fairly close in size, they will look fine.

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  • 13 of 24

    A Contemporary Crystal Chandelier

    Crystal drum light fixture in bedroom
    Shophouse Design

    This stunning light fixture combines two popular trends: crystal chandeliers and hanging drum fixtures. The contemporary bedroom is from Shophouse Design. 

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  • 14 of 24

    Colorful Pendant Lights in the Bedroom

    Bright pink hanging pendant light
    Emily Henderson Interiors

    This colorful bedroom has an eclectic, retro feel, in no small part thanks to the bright pink hanging pendant light fixture. Lampshades are a great way to add a shot of color or pattern to your bedroom. Emily Henderson Interiors decorated this pretty space. 

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  • 15 of 24

    Wooden Chandelier

    Wooden chandelier in master bedroom
    Trcery Interiors

    A wooden chandelier is a masculine take on the traditional design. Here, Tracery Interiors uses multiple wooden accents to set a serenely masculine style that most women would love just as well. 

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  • 16 of 24

    Bedside Lamps as Accent Pieces

    Green, yellow and blue bedroom
    Kelly Rogers Interiors

    Your bedside lamp is one of the easiest ways to add a pop of color, texture, pattern, or contrast to your bedroom. Here, Kelly Rogers Interiors chose a turquoise foo dog lamp to top a bright yellow nightstand. The contrast adds so much life to the room. 

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  • 17 of 24

    Ceiling Fans in the Bedroom

    Ceiling fan with crystal chandelier
    The Good Stuff

    A ceiling fan keeps your bedroom cool and adds a hefty dose of style when you combine traditional style with sparkling crystals. This lovely bedroom is from the blog the good stuff. 

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  • 18 of 24

    Brass Chandelier

    Brass chandelier in bedroom
    D2 Interieurs

    Here, a contemporary bedroom from D2 Interieurs shows off two fantastic lighting designs: the modern brass chandelier and the stylishly sleek swing-arm sconces. 

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  • 19 of 24

    Oversize Semi-Flush-Mount Light Fixture

    Glamorous bedroom
    Beach Glass Interior Design

    The large drum shade on the semi-flush ceiling fixture in this bedroom from Beach Glass Interior Design matches the shades on the bedside lamps, bringing a touch of harmony to this glamorous and stylish bedroom. 

    How to Decorate a Bedroom
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  • 20 of 24

    Space Light Sources Around the Bedroom

    Black and tan bedroom
    Atmosphere Interior Design

    Notice how Atmosphere Interior Design worked multiple light sources around this contemporary bedroom. Two bedside lamps, a ceiling fixture, and a floor lamp are spaced around the room to provide plenty of light for every need. 

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  • 21 of 24

    Pretty Flush-Mount Light Fixture

    Capiz shell light fixture
    Martha O'Hara Interiors

    This serene bedroom from Martha O'Hara Interiors shines light from the unexpected touch of a capiz shell flush-mount fixture. So pretty.

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  • 22 of 24

    Whimsical Bedside Lamp Ideas

    Owl lamp in bedroom
    Darling Darleen

    Why settle for a boring bedside lamp when you could have an owl? Or a monkey, horse, seashell, pine tree. There's a lamp out there for whatever you fancy. Here, blog Darling Darleen adds a touch of fun to an orange and white room. 

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  • 23 of 24

    Classic Glass Pendant Lights

    Man's contemporary bedroom
    Jute Interior Design

    Glass pendant lights shed maximum light, making them great for use where you want to read or dress. Here, Jute Interior Design adds a traditional style to a man's bedroom with simple glass shades. 

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  • 24 of 24

    Match Lighting for Formal Style

    Matching wall sconces in bedroom
    Gordon James Design

    Matching nightstands and wall sconces lend a somewhat formal feel to this lovely bedroom from Gordon James Design.

    30 Stylish Bedroom Color Schemes That Create Cohesion
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