Master Bedroom Lighting Dilemma

last year

I am in the process of re-doing my bedroom, which is currently only lit only by lamps – two on my dresser, and one on each of two night tables. We also have 1 torchiere in the corner.

We are now in the process of having the ceiling wired for lights. My plan is to have 1 chandelier (I have always loved the look of a chandelier in the bedroom) and 4 high hats to distribute the ambient light, a lamp on each night table, one floor lamp for reading by a chair in the corner, and perhaps 1 table lamp on the dresser.

My dilemma:

I do not like the look of a night table under a window, so I would like to shift the bed and night tables off-center to the right of the room (see floorplan below):

Here is my dilemma:

1) I only have 8’ ceilings, which limits the chandelier to 12” long since it needs to be seated 7’ high. That would also mean a flush or semi-flush light fixture, and since my room is 13 x 15, I would need a 28” wide by 12” long chandelier, correct?

2) Where do I place the chandelier? If in the center of the room, it will be at the foot of the left side of the bed – would it make the room off-balance?

a. Options: If I put it 2 feet to the right, it would be centered between the closets and back wall of the room, but it would be at the foot of the bed. Is that a proper design?

b. Should I center it over the bed? If so, would it still need to be 28”, or smaller?

3) If I took option 1, and centered it over the foot of the bed:

a. Where should I place the high-hats? Do they need to be symmetrical around the bed?

4) How much ambient light would I need for this size room?

5) Here is a shot of where I think the lighting needs to be, but it does not look symmetrical at all:

So many questions, please help!

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Comments (9)

PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
last modified: last year
Center the bed and put the nightstands in front of the window. Trust me, it will look so much better than putting the bed off center. You could also hang pendants over the nightstands like they have in these photos:

J. Hirsch Interior Design Portfolio · More Info

Transitional Bedroom · More Info
cat_ky
last year
I would center the bed and put the night stands under the window with lamps on them. The changelier should be centered in the room.
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Jan Kadan
Original Author
last year
Thanks Sabrina and Cat. If I center the bed, only half the night table would be under the window. The pictures above look great, but that doesn’t work in my room if you look at the floor plan above. Would you put half a night table in front of the window?
Jan Kadan
Original Author
last year
So I guess my question now should be, how do you handle a night table that is half in front of a window on one side of the bed?
shirlpp
last year
The windows are not in an ideal location. How's your bedroom setup now? Does any furniture block the windows?
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I need a oic of the space I only see one window on the bed wall and the night table is not in front of it at all. So maybe I am missing something here . In the first drawing the bed is IMO in the proper place I would center the chandelier on the bed so on the foot of the bed Add 2 good lamps on the night tables and put 4 pots lights one in ech coener 4 ' from each wall make sure those are LED 4000K on their one switch since IMO they will only be needed for cleaning . No torchier needed but make sure the night table lamps are good lighting and tall enough to spread light for reading .You need lighting insode the closet too
Jan Kadan
Original Author
last year
Patricia, Thank you for your input! There is only 1 window on the bed wall, that is correct, and right now my bed is centered in the room and my night table was half in front of the window. That layout shows what I am thinking of doing. I wasn’t sure where to put the chandelier and the high hats, so thank you for your advice. Right now the room is empty, but tomorrow I am going to test the rug and the bed moved over to the right and I will post the picture. My new nite tables have not yet come in.
PRO
JAN MOYER
last year

Unclear why you would need more light than this

Your bedside lamps should be three way bulb equivalent

Two recessed over the bed, switch on the wall at bedside and no larger than four inches

If it's that you can't see into the closets? An electrician can fix that as well
Jan Kadan
Original Author
last year
Thank you Jan for answering my lighting questions! The room is 15’9” x 13. I will lay out the furniture the way you advised above and see how it works. I have a round mirror that goes above the dresser - I will have to move it to another wall. I will post pictures.