11 Best Wall Lighting Ideas for Small Bedrooms

Proper lighting can help brighten up and enlarge your small bedroom. On the other hand, the wrong lighting type can exaggerate the small space and make it more cave-like. The correct lights for your small bedroom will enlarge your living space, improve the ambiance, and increase comfort. 

Wall-mounted lights can replace floor lights because they save space. However, wall lights are not your only solution. This article introduces unique small bedroom lighting ideas. Continue reading to discover how to illuminate a small bedroom without consuming too much of its limited space.

Small Bedroom Lighting Ideas – Wall Lights to Try

Small bedrooms appear in all shapes. Some rooms have narrower sides, requiring certain lights to create a sense of width. Additionally, some small bedrooms have low ceilings. 

Use unique lighting to give depth to your low-lying ceiling. Wall lights can help you create this magic and more. Here are some small bedroom lighting ideas on wall lights:

Wall Sconces Wall Lighting Ideas

Wall sconces are ideal lights for illuminating small rooms and can help enlarge small bedrooms. They need to look balanced, so install them on either side of your double or single bed. 

To ensure symmetry, install lighting for a small bedroom at the same height and angle. Another way to install a wall sconce without cluttering your room is to add a floating bedside table. Still, you can place each sconce on each side of your wall art or classy furniture piece. 

Sconces provide enough general and task lighting without consuming floor space. Choose wall sconces with frosted glass or fabric shades, as their light is soft. They are more flexible and reliable if they include bendable arms or swivel heads.

Accent Wall Lighting

General and task wall lights are your first consideration. These can illuminate your room brightly when you need to arrange clothes, iron garments, apply makeup, or do other chores. While these wall lights look lovely, they are not adequately decorative. 

You require accent wall lighting like bedroom neon signs.  Neon signs are perfect examples of accent lighting for a dull small bedroom. They look great on a wall or around wall art. 

Neon lighting enables you to write and illuminate a special message. 

Get a small neon sign with your favorite message and hang it above the headboard or another empty wall of your small bedroom. Your message can be a line from your favorite song, movie, or book. You can also write your name or initials. 

Neon light is easy to detect from a distance, especially if you make it bright. The best neon light color for your bedroom is warm white or soft blue because you need calmness and peace. If you want a romantic ambiance, consider writing your special inscription with pink.

Layered Wall Lighting Wall Lighting Ideas

Layered lighting provides a warmer light than any daylight bulb. It can allow you to transition from daytime to nighttime without noticing a difference. Layered lights produce a warmer glow, which looks and feels like natural daylight. 

Pick wall lighting fixtures of different sizes. Install some of them higher on the wall and others lower. This creative layering approach will create a charming effect in your small bedroom.

Hanging Lamps

Hanging lamps are among the leading small bedroom lighting styles. These wall lighting options are affordable and available in many designs. Since your room is small, do not clutter its walls with many hanging lamps. 

Hang a few lamps above your bedside table to aid in reading or writing tasks. Hanging wall lamps are perfect for widening your small room. Choose them in brass or gold to make your room glamorous, warm, and comfortable.

Minimalist Wall Reading Lights

Since your bedroom is small, you can apply the minimalist interior design style. Minimalist styling focuses on simplicity, function, and class. Minimalist lighting for your bedroom can include wall-mounted reading lights. 

The function of these wall lights is reading or writing, as they use LED bulbs. These lights are also versatile because they use adjustable arms. These look great on each side of your bed. This positioning places the lights at your eye level, which can promote reading or writing. 

Minimalist wall reading lights can save space while improving your bedroom décor. Adjust their angles to match your favorite book reading position at night.

Other Space-saving Lights to Complement Wall Lighting

While wall lights save the space you lack in a small bedroom, they are not your only choices. You can pair wall lights with ceiling lights. When selecting small lights for room you consider confidential and personal, focus on these options: 

Flush lights Wall Lighting Ideas

These work like downlights and spotlights because they illuminate the space below them. They fit on the ceiling but not necessarily in the middle like chandeliers. Flush lights illuminate your space while adding charm and elegance. 

If some of your wall lights are decorative, you can opt for minimalist flush lighting. For instance, flush and semi-flush downlights will fit on your ceiling without plunging like pendants or chandeliers. They are excellent choices for small bedrooms. 

If your room has a low ceiling, these space-saving flush light downlights will complement your wall lights. Some types are hardly visible; they seem to disappear into the surface. Hence, they cannot overwhelm your small bedroom.  On the other hand, pendants or chandeliers need to be short so as not to bang heads or clutter the already limited space. 

Ensure your flush light downlights use LED bulbs to save energy. Flush spotlights are your option if you need a light that slightly protrudes from the ceiling without drooping. Spotlight flush lights are relatively discreet and flexible because you can tilt them to fit your task.

Paper Lanterns Wall Lighting Ideas

An alternative ceiling light is the paper lantern. Get a cluster of paper lanterns of various sizes and colors. Hang them linearly from the ceiling to the headboard to produce a beautiful pattern. They can also look perfect in one corner of the bedroom. 

The clustered arrangement will add timeless visual interest and improve the ambiance. Your lanterns should use LED bulbs as they produce a soft, relaxed, and diffused light. You can insert these bulbs into the fixtures by yourself. 

Pendant Lighting 

Use a pendant ceiling light only if your ceiling is high. Pendant lights offer several designs and shapes, enabling you to select a stylish lamp of the correct size. A linear arrangement is ideal when opting for minimalist interior décor for your small bedroom.  Also, long pendant lights direct the eyes upwards to notice the room’s height.

Swing Arm Wall Lamps

Swing arm wall lamps are an excellent choice for small bedrooms as they provide flexible, adjustable lighting without taking up floor space. These lamps have an extendable arm, allowing you to pull the light closer when reading or push it back when you don’t need direct illumination. Choose sleek, compact designs to keep the look minimal and functional. Black, brass, or chrome finishes add a modern touch while blending with your decor.

In addition to their functionality, swing arm wall lamps can add a unique visual element to your bedroom. Positioning one on each side of the bed allows for personalized lighting control, making it ideal for shared bedrooms where each person can adjust their light individually. These lamps are also excellent for creating a layered lighting effect in a small room; when paired with other ambient lights, they offer just the right amount of direct illumination for reading or tasks.

Backlit Headboard Lighting

Integrating LED strips or small wall lights behind your headboard can create a cozy, ambient glow that adds depth to your bedroom. This indirect lighting method softens the room’s ambiance and makes it feel larger. Backlit headboards offer a warm, diffused light perfect for winding down in the evening without being too harsh or bright. Customizable LED strips also allow you to adjust the color temperature or brightness to suit your mood.

Backlit headboards do more than enhance ambiance; they’re also perfect for showcasing beautiful headboard materials like tufted fabric, wood, or textured panels. This lighting style can emphasize patterns or textures, adding dimension and depth to your design. For a personalized touch, choose LED strips with smart features that can change colors or brightness levels, allowing you to switch from a warm, cozy light to a brighter glow when needed.

Picture Frame Lighting

If you have artwork, photos, or decorative elements on your bedroom wall, small picture frame lights can highlight these pieces and create a sophisticated focal point. These lights attach above the frame, casting a gentle glow over the artwork and subtly enhancing the room’s overall atmosphere. Choose slim, minimalist designs to keep the room uncluttered, or consider battery-powered options to eliminate visible cords in tight spaces.

Picture frame lighting doesn’t just highlight artwork; it also draws attention to specific areas in the room, creating focal points that add depth and sophistication. This type of lighting can make even simple artwork or family photos appear gallery-worthy, adding a refined touch to your space. Additionally, LED picture lights can be equipped with dimmer switches, allowing you to adjust the intensity to match the room’s overall lighting.

Tips to Remember When Choosing Lighting for Small Bedroom 

Wall and ceiling lights are your ultimate choice when designing a small bedroom. These leave your small floor with only a few pieces of crucial furniture.  When designing with these lights, remember the following small bedroom lighting ideas:

• Symmetry – When hanging or installing similar-looking lamps, focus on symmetry. The lamps do not have to be linear, but your favorite arrangement should offer symmetry. For instance, add a wall sconce on each side of your bed to create balance.

• Modern Chandeliers—If you want to create a dramatic effect in your small bedroom, try a contemporary chandelier with multiple arms. This chandelier can have up to five arms, each producing a relatively bright glow. It can serve as perfect general and decorative lighting.

• Yellow Lighting for Small Dark Bedrooms—Some people have north-facing windows in their small bedrooms. These windows prevent the entry of adequate natural light, making the bedroom gloomy and dark. Yellow lighting can counteract this problem, making the room brighter and cozier.

• Add Three to Four Light Sources—To ensure your small bedroom looks spacious, add three to four light sources. Each light source should offer unique characteristics and functions. In addition to a ceiling, wall, and reading light, you can place a free-standing floor lamp in your small bedroom.

• Consider Installing an LED Strip Light – Instead of installing this light directly on the wall, you can hang a floating shelf. Position this shelf above the headboard or along an empty wall. Then, insert an LED strip light along the underside of the shelf.

• Choose one Accent Color—Layered lights can breathe life into any dull, small bedroom. However, they will look even more visible and charming with a similar accent color. If the room is small and dark, you can choose sunshine-yellow for accent lighting. 

Before You Go

If you have a boring small bedroom, you can revamp it with just lighting. With the above small bedroom lighting ideas, you can alter how your room looks and feels. Install wall bedroom lights to save space and add to the room’s elegance. 

Layer these with ceiling lights to create a sense of depth and diversity. Do not overwhelm your bedroom with lighting, though. Instead, keep your lights symmetrical to create a cozy, calm atmosphere that promotes rest.

Good luck with your designs, and I hope you enjoyed my Wall Lighting Ideas.