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Lighting planner

Light it for the evening.

Most rooms are lit for cleaning. Tell us what yours has now and the look you like, and get a plan in layers, with the bulb warmth, two scenes to save, and a short list of lights worth buying.

Room
Size
Ceiling light
Lamps you have now
Windows
Budget
Warm Organic

2700K for evenings, 2200K after dark.

Soft, even and warm, like late sun. Nothing should be bright enough to notice.

1,600+
Lumens for the whole room at full
400 to 800
Lumens for an evening
100 to 250
Lumens after dark

Two scenes to save

With smart bulbs, save these once and set them in one tap. With plain dimmers, use them as a guide.

Evening

After dinner, winding down, talking, reading.

  • OverheadOff
  • Lamp50%, 2700K
  • Accent40%, 2700K
  • CandlesOn
  • Night pathOff

After dark

Later, once the evening slows right down.

  • OverheadOff
  • Lamp15%, 2200K
  • Accent15%, 2200K
  • CandlesOn
  • Night pathOn, low

The plan, in layers

Ambient: the lamps

Low, warm light at or below eye level, coming from lamps rather than the ceiling.

Brightness
About 450 to 800 lumens per lamp bulb (a 40 to 60 watt equivalent), dimmed. The whole room at full needs roughly 1,600 to 3,200 lumens; an evening needs about a quarter of that.
Warmth
2700K for evenings, down to 2200K later.
  • Keep the overhead for cleaning and getting dressed. In the evening it stays off and the lamps do the work.
  • A second lamp on the other side of the bed balances the light and means neither of you is in shadow.
  • Shades that hide the bulb matter more than the bulb. A bare bulb at eye level reads as harsh at any setting.

Accent: a second pool of light

Paper, linen or rattan shades that glow rather than glare. A low lamp on the floor in a corner, or a dresser lamp, gives the room a second pool of light.

Brightness
100 to 300 lumens each. An accent should be dimmer than the lamps; it adds depth, not brightness.
Warmth
2200K to 2700K.
  • Aim accents at a wall, a curtain or the ceiling, not at the bed. Light bouncing off a surface is softer than light pointed at you.
  • A warm LED strip behind a headboard or under a bed frame is an easy accent that hides its source.

Candlelight, real or flame-free

A few candles at different heights: one on a nightstand, a cluster on a dresser or shelf.

Brightness
A real candle gives about 12 lumens. Candle-shaped smart bulbs give 250 to 450 at full, so run them low.
Warmth
About 1800K to 2000K for a real flame. Pick flame-free candles with a warm amber glow, not a white one.
  • Flame-free candles with a timer are the safer choice near bedding, curtains and anywhere you might fall asleep.
  • If you burn real candles, keep them on a stable holder, away from fabric, and never leave them burning in an empty room.

A night path

Just enough light to cross the room at night without turning anything on: under the bed, along a baseboard or by the door.

Brightness
5 to 30 lumens. A motion-sensor plug-in or a strip at 1 to 5% is plenty.
Warmth
2200K or warmer, or a soft amber. Warm, dim light at night is easier on sleepy eyes than white light.
  • Motion-sensor lights turn themselves off, so there's nothing to forget.
  • Light the route from the bed to the door or bathroom, low to the floor.

Dimmers and smart bulbs

  • An LED-rated dimmer switch costs about $20 to $40. Swapping a switch is a small electrical job; if you aren't sure, have an electrician do it. Renters can put a smart bulb in the overhead instead.
  • Smart bulbs in the lamps (about $10 to $20 each) let you save the two scenes below and set them in one tap or by voice. They're the easiest way to get warmer than 2700K.
  • Any LED bulb on a dimmer has to say "dimmable" on the box, or it will flicker and buzz.

About bulb warmth

  • For evenings, stay between 2200K and 2700K. Bulbs sold as "soft white" are usually 2700K, which is the warmest most plain bulbs go.
  • Below 2700K you'll need a smart bulb or one sold as "candlelight" or "amber". 2200K is close to a candle flame and flatters skin.
  • Skip "daylight" (5000K and up) and "cool white" (4000K) bulbs in any room you want to feel calm at night.
  • After dark, an uncovered window turns into a black mirror. A lined curtain closes the room in.
  • Soft, even and warm, like late sun. Nothing should be bright enough to notice.

A short shopping list

Up to $150 covers smart bulbs for your lamps and a set of flame-free candles, or one new lamp if you're short.

Pieces we've vetted from our catalog. We may earn a commission when you buy, and it never changes a pick. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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