LED lights work well in a bedroom as soft, hidden lighting behind a headboard, under the bed, inside wardrobes and along shelves, alongside dimmable downlights for general light. Choose warm white for a relaxing feel, a diffused or COB strip to avoid glare, and a dimmer or remote so you can turn the light right down at night.
This guide covers where to use LED in a bedroom, how to choose the right light and how to keep it safe.
Where to use LED lights in a bedroom
Headboard and feature walls
A strip of LED behind a headboard or along a recessed feature wall washes the wall with light and makes a calm focal point. Because the strip is hidden, you see the glow rather than the light source. Wall lights also work well either side of the bed, and our feature wall lighting collection has options for both.
Under the bed
Strip under the bed frame gives a floating effect and a low level night light, so you can get up without switching on the main lights. Paired with a motion sensor, it can come on only when you step out of bed.
Wardrobes
Lights inside wardrobes, switched by a door or motion sensor, make it easier to find clothes in the morning. See our bedroom and wardrobe lighting ideas for layouts.
Ceiling downlights
Downlights give even general lighting without a hanging fitting. Choose dimmable ones, and position them away from directly above the pillows so you are not looking straight into them when lying down. Browse our ceiling and downlights range.
Shelves and alcoves
A strip along the front or back of shelves, or a lit shelf such as Vertex, a slim LED shelf light with a pre-installed natural white strip that sits on the back of the shelf board, picks out books and decorative pieces.
Warm white for relaxing
Colour temperature makes a big difference to how a bedroom feels. Warm white, around 3000K, gives a soft, cosy light that suits winding down. Natural white, around 4000K, is clearer and better for tasks like choosing clothes in a wardrobe. Many people use warm white for the room and natural white inside wardrobes.
| Area | Suggested light colour | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Headboard and feature wall | Warm white | Soft, relaxing glow |
| Under the bed | Warm white | Gentle night light |
| Ceiling downlights | Warm white, dimmable | General light that can be turned down |
| Inside wardrobes | Natural white | Shows the true colours of clothes |
| Shelves | Warm or natural white | Match the rest of the room |
If you want to change between warm and cool, an adjustable white (CCT) strip such as Polar X Pro lets you choose. Our colour temperature guide explains the differences in more detail.
Avoiding glare
In a bedroom you often look up at the ceiling or across the room from a low angle, so glare is more noticeable than in a kitchen. Three simple ways to avoid it:
- Use a COB strip. A COB strip gives a continuous line of light with no visible dots. Polar X, for example, is a free-cut COB strip with no visible LED dots and no need for a profile or cover, in warm white (3000K), natural white (4000K) or cool white.
- Add a diffused profile. Setting strip in an aluminium profile with an opal cover softens the light further. See our full range of LED strip lights.
- Hide the source. Point strip at a wall or down at the floor, so you see the reflected glow rather than the LEDs.
Dimming and controls
Being able to dim bedroom lighting is one of the most useful things you can plan in. Sensio has several ways to control LED strip and lights:
- Remote control. The Universal Remote Control can dim single colour lighting, change CCT (tuneable white) lights and control RGB colour changing lights, when used with the right receiver.
- Smart control. The Titan Smart Kinetic 24V driver can be controlled from the Link Sensio app on Android and iOS, by voice with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, or with the wireless Titan Kinetic Switch. The app gives dimming and lighting schedules.
- Sensors. Door and motion sensors switch wardrobe and under-bed lighting on automatically.
Explore all the options in our lighting sensors and control collection.
Are LED strip lights safe for a bedroom?
Yes, when they are installed correctly. Sensio LED strip runs at 24V, which is low voltage, from a separate LED driver. The driver converts mains power to 24V, and the connection of the driver to the mains should be done by a qualified electrician. Always follow the installation instructions for each product.
Every Sensio product is backed by our 7 year guarantee, and our TrueFIT bespoke cutting service can cut strip to exact lengths for your bedroom.
More videos: watch the Bedroom and wardrobe lighting video playlist on YouTube, or see all our video guides.
FAQs
Are LED strip lights safe for a bedroom?
Yes, when installed correctly. Sensio LED strip runs at 24V low voltage from a driver, and the driver's mains connection should be made by a qualified electrician.
What colour LED light is best for a bedroom?
Warm white, around 3000K, is a popular choice for a relaxing bedroom. Natural white, around 4000K, works well inside wardrobes.
Where should LED strip lights go in a bedroom?
Popular spots are behind the headboard, under the bed, inside wardrobes, along shelves and in ceiling coves, where the strip is hidden and you see the glow.
Can I dim LED lights in a bedroom?
Yes. Depending on the product, you can dim with a remote control and receiver, with the Link Sensio app through a Titan Smart Kinetic driver, or with a suitable wall dimmer where the product supports it.
How do I stop LED strip lights looking spotty?
Use a COB strip such as Polar X, which has no visible LED dots, or set the strip in a profile with a diffused cover.
For more inspiration, see our bedroom lighting ideas hub.
