How many ceiling lights do I need in a bedroom?

Author: Dortha Swift  |  Last update: Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Considering it is a bedroom and you don't need it as bright as a kitchen, you can probably get away with 2 rows of 4 lights for a total of 8. If you are using 50W bulbs then you will have 400W of light in your room. The height of your ceiling also plays a big role.

Is it better to have 4 or 6 recessed lights in bedroom?

Your ideal light size depends on the lighting direction, area of dispersal, and number of lumens along with the size of the room itself. In smaller rooms, 4” lights are better to make the room feel larger. Medium and large rooms often benefit from 6” lights because they create light over a wider area.

How do I calculate how many ceiling lights I need?

Number of Lights Along the Length: Divide the room's length by the spacing distance. So, 12 feet / 4 feet = 3 lights. Number of Lights Along the Width: Divide the room's width by the spacing distance. So, 14 feet / 4 feet = 3.5 lights.

Where should ceiling lights be placed in a bedroom?

As a general rule, chandeliers or large pendant lights should be hung at least 7 feet above the floor. Smaller pendant lights ideally should be around 24-30 inches above the nightstand or tabletop for comfortable reading or tasks.

How many recessed lights do I need for a 10x10 bedroom?

A: Our lighting experts recommend installing one recessed light for every 4-5 square feet in a room.

Easy Formula for Recessed Light Spacing

How many recessed lights for a 12x12 room?

Therefore, for a 12x12 room requiring approximately 3600 lumens of light, you would need around 6 recessed light fixtures, assuming each fixture provides 600 lumens. Adjust the number if using fixtures with different lumen outputs or if you desire a higher or lower brightness level.

How many ceiling lights should be in a bedroom?

The typical rule-of-thumb is 24" from each wall, and then 3-5 feet between cans. So in a 12' room you'd probably want two rows of lights. Considering it is a bedroom and you don't need it as bright as a kitchen, you can probably get away with 2 rows of 4 lights for a total of 8.

What is the rule for ceiling lights?

The rule for ceiling lights centers around ensuring adequate illumination for the room's size and purpose. Typically, multiply the room's square footage by 1.5 to determine the total wattage needed. For layout, aim for even distribution, avoiding shadows and glare.

How much light do I need for a 12x12 room?

For an average 12′ x 12′ bedroom, you would need around 4,000 lumens of light.

What ceiling lights are best for a bedroom?

According to the experts at the Limehouse Lamp Company, the most popular types of ceiling light for the bedroom are pendant and flush mount fixtures. The pendant hangs low from the ceiling via a chain or cord. It usually has a broad, downward-facing shade which spreads light throughout the room.

How much light for a 10x10 room?

A 10x10 room needs around 1,200 to 1,800 lumens of light, equivalent to about 15–22 watts for LED bulbs, depending on the purpose and brightness preference.

How far apart should ceiling lights be?

By dividing the total height of your ceiling in half, you get the amount of space you should leave between each light. For example, recessed lighting spacing for a 16-foot-high ceiling would be 8 feet between each light. This will provide good spacing for the overall illumination of the room.

How do I know how many lights to put in my room?

Summary: Calculating Total Lumens Needed for a Room

Multiply your room square footage by the footcandle requirement. For example, a 100-square foot living room, which needs 20 foot candles, will need 2,000 lumens. A 100-square foot dining room, which needs 40 foot-candles, will need 4,000 lumens.

How much light is needed in a bedroom?

Bedroom: 1,000 to 2,000 lumens.

Do people put recessed lighting in bedrooms?

DP_Darnell-Traditional-Gold-Master-Bedroom-3_s4x3

Recessed ceiling lights have become a popular way to add lighting to bedrooms.

Which lights are good for bedroom?

Choose soft and warm light in the bedroom. We suggest a dimmable ceiling light to create brightness to find your clothes, or dimmed light to wind down after a long day.

How many can lights in a 10x10 bedroom?

Generally, you'll need one can light for every four to six square feet. The taller your ceiling height, the more can lights you'll need. Map out your room to plan ideal recessed lighting placement.

How do you calculate bedroom lighting?

Here's the simple formula: Bedroom: Square footage x 20 lumens (💡) Living room: Square footage x 30 lumens (🛋️) Kitchen: Square footage x 40 lumens (🍽️)

How many recessed lights for 12x12?

I would only do 4 lights in 12x12. A fan is doable, but since the lights will be above the blades, you will get shadows that dance across the walls.

How many ceiling lights per room?

As a general guideline, living rooms and bedrooms typically require around 10-20 lumens per square foot, while bathrooms need a higher level of lighting at approximately 70-80 lumens per square foot. To find the total lumens needed for a room, multiply the square footage by the corresponding lumens per square foot.

How to plan bedroom lighting?

You need to layer all three to create the ideal ambience for your bedroom.
  1. Use Ambient Lighting. Ambient lighting, also called general lighting, makes the room bright enough to aid general activities like making your bed or arranging your shoes. ...
  2. Use Task Lighting. ...
  3. Don't Forget Accent Lighting.

What is the rule of 3 lights?

It involves using three light sources placed in three different positions. By playing with the size, distance, intensity, and position of these light sources, including their degree angle, it is possible to control how light and shadow fall on a subject, creating different moods.

How many feet of LED lights do I need for a bedroom?

Most bedrooms benefit from 16 to 32 feet of LED strip lights, depending on the layout and your design goals. For a cozy atmosphere, you might opt for softer colors and lower brightness levels.

How far apart should ceiling lights be placed?

Follow the ceiling height rule of thumb.

To determine how far apart recessed lighting should be in bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms, divide the height of the ceiling by 2 and use that as your light spacing. For example, if a room has 8-foot high ceilings, recessed lighting should be spaced roughly 4 feet apart.

Previous article
How to prevent hard water scale?
Next article
What brand of furnace is the quietest?