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gennammazzei1

Need lighting ideas for Small Space

7 years ago

Hey everyone!


So my roommate and I live in an older condo complex that was built in the 70s. We don't have very many windows and very few ceiling lights (in random places like the bathrooms and entry ways) and no ceiling fans.


I have placed lamps in as many places that I can, but my bedroom bother's me most of all. It is a small place (with no ceiling lights or fans) and it's so dark it drives me crazy (i use 60+ watt bulbs), but I have no floor space and limited wall space to add lights and I'm not sure what to do. I attached photos below of the dimensions and my furniture in the space (not to scale). Please keep in mind that this is a rented space, we can drill into the walls, but no additional electrical or outside installation is possible.


Here's some more

info:

- I have a wall mounted light floating above my (tiny) bedside table. It has a clear glass globe instead of a lampshade (which does allow more light thankfully)

- above my bed I have a vintage window as decoration and around the window has big bulb string lights that I use frequently

- next to my bed on the opposite side: there is barely enough room to walk over there (I usually just throw stuff like pillows over there) is a vertical corner bookshelf for knickknacks, but the shelves are too short to fit a lamp on (maybe one smaller than the length of your hand)

- my desk has a "shelf" attached which I have another desk lamp with a glass globe

- my dresser has a 38'' TV on it and has no room to place anything else on top of it. the dresser with the tv goes about a foot above my head (i'm 5''2)

- on the wall next to the desk has my hanging jewelry.


For reference:

- The red boxes are my furniture

- The blue lines are wall art (i.e. along my bed, two above my desk, and my jewelry on the other side of my desk)

- Purple arrows indicate where I already have lighting fxtures


P.S. I love anything and all midcentury modern/ bohemian, the current fixtures in my room are brass, I love wall/vertical anything (which I think is my only option at this point) and my room is majority shades of blue... I'm also not trying to break the bank so affordable options would be wonderful!





Comments (13)

  • 7 years ago

    Also, please disregard any typos or errors

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    No problem about typos! cause it was wonderful how you visually showed your lighting...!

    Clip-on lights might look ok - clipped onto corner's unit when you want lighting. If it's looking crowded, could place under bed - I'd use it for reading, crossword puzzles....

  • 7 years ago

    Is there a lamp on the long dresser?

  • 7 years ago

    The dresser only has my TV on top of it which covers the entire length of it (and more). Clip on lights are a good idea! My bed is currently on stilts to fit even MORE of my stuff under it (i.e. suitcases, clothing, etc.)

  • 7 years ago

    Flexible gooseneck arms direct the light where you need it. 4-way rotary switch allows you to adjust the lighting to the brightness you desire.

    https://www.houzz.com/products/catalina-lighting-medusa-3-light-adjustable-head-floor-lamp-prvw-vr~108728992

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Genna, it's true that under my bed is 'un-stored' dinnerware stuff..sad... ;-)

    I should add we have so much already - haven't decided what to do with it...

  • 7 years ago

    I think we'd be more help if you'd color in where the wall outlets are. I suggest a pair of wall lamps at the head of the bed. Add multi-outlet plug-ins to expand the outlets you have. You can also get cord covers to run extension cords along baseboards or the floor to reach an outlet. As you can, replace standard bulbs with LED's and get ones with more lumens for better lighting. They'll last you through many apartments/condos.


    https://www.houzz.com/photos/products/query/cord-cover

  • 7 years ago

    You can get ceiling and wall light fixtures that have cords. I would get a wall-mounted light for next to your bed so you can save the end table space. You could get a ceiling light and then attach the cord to the ceiling/wall so it wasn't noticeable. I've also seen string lights used in really cute ways in bedrooms. They don't give very bright light but they are nice at night.

  • 7 years ago

    everdebz Unfortunately, I am in Nashville and our closest Ikea is Memphis (3 hours away) and their shipping is bananas, but I always look anyways! decoenthusiaste I completely forgot to put where the outlets are! Not a bunch of them, but I do have many power strips/multi plug outlets, they are wonderful but I definitely need to include more. Emily Jowers I currently have a wall mounted light (attached photo below), but I'm worried that there is not enough room on the other side of my bed to add another one. I may purchase an additional one anyways, just incase! I do love the ceiling lights with the chords (depending on how they're styled, they can look cool), but they're kind of difficult to search for and I don't even know what to search/where to begin!

  • 7 years ago

    I just searched for corded ceiling lights and got quite a few.

    Genna M thanked Emily Jowers
  • 7 years ago

    check "wall chandeliers" on sites like eBay or Etsy

    I love both modern and traditional lights myself, and I like bohemian..most of all my DD likes bohemian and as her room is small and underlighted(if such word exists) I was able to find a slim wall chandelier for her as one of the lamps in her room, the central light one so to say, that gets turned on when one enters a room. It looks interesting and fab, and was about 40 bucks or so, on eBay

    (then I had to source out the shade lol though, so another hundred. It was a tricky size so not much choice unless you're going custom, or can DIY)

    While I was hunting lights for the new house, (and I was able to do ninety percent vintage which of course gives one great interest and quality for a normal price) I saw many interesting options, some were very opulent but also too large for our smaller house, or else I'd use them..

    you can also use cute night light if you have enough outlets

    you can also find a small light for your shelves. I'd recommend checking Etsy as well. I can share maybe couple shops with you if I find them again, but I can't attach pics, only links. I remember someone's there making quirky little lamps. Well I'm sure there are several shops that are making them, but these were shaped as animals, and I'm into flora and fauna, so I remembered them more.

  • 7 years ago

    aprilneverends this is wonderful thank you!!