Small bedroom lighting ideas

Credit: @inlay.uk

Let there be light! Learn how to use clever lighting techniques to illuminate your small bedroom, making it feel brighter, bigger, and more inviting.

Good lighting has the power to transform a small space from dark and dingy to bright and beautiful. Bedrooms that are on the small side can often do with some extra oomph to feel lighter and more open – and we’re here to tell you that lighting is the secret weapon. With the right approach, even the teeniest of bedrooms can feel more spacious.

In this expert guide, we’ll share our best small bedroom lighting ideas, covering everything from placement tips to choosing the perfect fixtures – including ceiling lights, wall sconces, floor lamps and decorative pieces that elevate your space.

Ready for some small space lighting magic?

1. Ditch the big shade: Sleek ceiling solutions that don’t crowd

When working with a smaller bedroom, creating as much space as possible is key. For example, an unnecessarily oversized lampshade is just going to make your room look smaller and cramped. Instead, ditch the big shade and opt for something slimmer and more compact that sits close to the ceiling and gives the room a lighter, more streamlined feel.

2. Wall-mounted lights that free up precious space

Another fantastic lighting tactic for smaller bedrooms is to make use of the space on your walls. Check out how we’ve styled our Davies Upholstered Ottoman Bed Frame with these striking wall-mounted lamps. Not only do they look aesthetically pleasing, but they also free up space on your bedside tables for other important bedtime essentials, like your current book stack, a glass of water, or skincare bits and bobs.

3. The LED glow-up: Creating ambience without the bulk

Next up, we have LED lighting. These small but mighty little lights are brilliant for bringing lots of atmosphere to a small bedroom, without sacrificing an inch of precious space. Since they’re so slim in size, you can easily apply a strip behind your headboard, underneath a shelf, or along your skirting boards, creating a soft, ambient glow around your room.

4. Petite but powerful table lamps

There’s been a huge trend lately for decorating with small wireless mushroom lamps on bedside tables (like the one pictured above) – and for good reason. They’re cute, have a timeless mid-century modern feel, and most importantly, barely take up any room on your surfaces! Ideal for smaller spaces.

We love mushroom lamps in a shiny chrome material for a cool, contemporary look. Equally, a pop of colour can work incredibly well, in shades like racer red, royal blue or green. Choices, choices.

5. Plug-in sconces that look built-in

For an elegant look in your snug bedroom, how about installing some plug-in sconces on your walls? Sconces create a stunning, cascading glow that instantly elevates a space, giving a hotel-style feel. They look intentionally designed, yet all you need is a plug socket! Ideal for renters or anyone wanting a quick style upgrade who likes to keep things flexible.

6. Control your ambience with dimmers

Sometimes, all you need is a bit of ambience to transform a space. Dimmer switches are perfect for those who want a bedroom glow that sets the mood. For a warm, cocooning atmosphere, simply turn down the lights and dial up the ambience. Easy, peasy.

7. Fairy light magic

A little whimsy never hurt anybody. That’s why adding a twinkle of some fairy lights can turn your bedroom into a cosy little sanctuary, creating that warm, magical glow every small bedroom craves.

Plus, fairy lights can be hung pretty much anywhere in your bedroom. Around your metal bed frame, along your ceiling, around a door frame, or a mirror. You name it.

8. Double your light without adding fixtures with mirrors

Scared to overcrowd your petite room with too many light fixtures? How about hanging a mirror or two? Mirrors are a brilliant way of bouncing light around a space, because they reflect and amplify the natural (or artificial) light you already have, bringing the illusion of more depth.

9. The sunset lamp phenomenon

Trend alert! The viral sunset lamp movement is one we can certainly get on board with. Not only do these tiny lamps take up very little surface space (a huge win!), but they cascade a beautiful yellow-orange circular glow in your bedroom. So, if you’re a sunset chaser, now you don’t have to wait for the perfect moment outside your window – you can experience golden hour every single day of the week.

10. Neon signs and LED art

Do you like a statement? A neon light is a sure-fire way to create a talking point in your bedroom design.

Whether you’re into the ‘80s aesthetic or something a little more modern, there are tonnes of different ways to use neon lighting as both decor and essential illumination – from funky, retro geometric shapes to something a little more avant garde (like the above Pin). Neon brings big-impact lighting.

11. Beds with built-in lighting

Fancy something a little more futuristic? We’d highly recommend considering a snazzy bed with built-in lighting, like our Alexis Upholstered Ottoman LG TV Bed Frame. Eliminating the need for any bulky lamps, our Alexis bed comes with built-in dimmable mood lighting that wraps around the entire headboard, for an atmospheric glow!

Plus, it also comes with a state-of-the-art TV that’s hidden away in the footboard, meaning your movie nights in bed just got a whole lot cosier. Just add popcorn…

12. Under-bed lighting: The floating bed illusion

Or, if you’re overdue a bedroom makeover but are tight on space, why not consider some under-bed lighting? Take our TEMPUR Arc™ Adjustable Base with Sensory Headboard, for instance. This sophisticated bed features clever sleep technology, which allows sleepers to elevate the head and leg areas and fully customise their sleeping position. Its under-bed lighting has the magic power of making a bedroom look brighter and more spacious, creating a ‘floating’ bed illusion. Often seen in boutique hotels, now you can have a luxurious resort-style feeling every night of the week!

13. Corner lighting that makes dead space come alive

Illuminate the corners of your bedroom with a tall floor lamp. Make sure to choose a sleek, slim design, one that takes up little space but brings an abundance of light to your snug bedroom.

Corner lighting is particularly effective in smaller bedrooms because it draws the eye naturally upwards, creating the illusion of expansion. It also helps to use up any neglected “dead space” in your room, making the most of what you’ve got. That’s called working smarter, not harder!

14. The minimalist approach: One perfect pendant

Finally, if you’re one to keep things simple, how about choosing just one singular pendant that hangs in the centre of your bedroom? Whether you lean towards a classy chandelier or a contemporary mobile (the pendant hanging above our Foley bed is a great modern example), a single statement light can do all the heavy lifting. It brightens the room and adds bags of personality – all without overwhelming your teeny space.

With the right lighting, even the smallest, snuggest room can glow. It’s all about carefully choosing pieces and placements that add warmth, depth, and a little everyday magic to your small bedroom.