Spacing Recessed lights in a bedroom
Studio 8 Architecture
10 years ago
Hi, I'm currently remodeling a bedroom which is ~12ft x 9ft with the door in an alcove and a bay window (see the rough drawing attached). There are closets along one wall opposite the bed, paneling behind the bed and another closet adjacent the doorway. I've just cut 10 holes for 4" recessed lights spaced 3 feet apart, and 20" from the wall (aligned with the center of the doorway). It looks like WAY too many now, and I can't decide what to do. I'm thinking about having only 4 in a square, forgetting lining them up with the doorway, spacing them 40" from the wall to allign with the center of each closet. Is this more reasonable? I'm really unsure. I'm adding swing-arm bedside lamps by the way. Any rules of thumb/experience? thanks.
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Studio 8 Architecture
10 years agolast modified: 10 years agoThanks for the responses, I've drawn a few quick plans. I will be installing 3-way switches by the bed to control the overhead lights. I'm going to use 50 watt spot lamps (as opposed to flood lamps). I think 4 or 5 50w lights would probably be plenty, but my instinct is to arrange them in a symmetrical square, 40" from the wall aligned with the center of the closet doors, but that would mean there are 2 above the bed which I'm not sure about. Alternatively, 4 spaced 20" from the wall, in which case there would be one over the left bed pillow, but not on the right, which would look strange. If I don't put any over the bed, they would be in an L-shape which might look weird and be gloomy over the bed. Really stuck. I've attached a few images of effects I like, (there will be white panelling behind the bed) but they each have conflicting lighting styles
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Studio 8 Architecture
10 years agoand this is also a nice effect, but there are no lights above the bed and a long strip of closely spaced ones by the closets, so I'm really undecided
PROIronwood Builders
10 years agoThomas, this is a 12X12 bedroom with a five light ell, 24" out from the wall and 48"+/- on center. Centering on the built in wardrobe and the window.
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Studio 8 Architecture
10 years ago User
10 years agoI don't think it matters, and Ironwood is showing you his L-shaped room too. I don't see why you can't put lights in an alcove, the indirect light looks good. If there is room above the sheetrock in the alcove ceiling, I would do it. If not, use some rope light where you don't directly see it in the alcove on a separate switch.
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Studio 8 Architecture
10 years agolast modified: 10 years ago User
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10 years ago User
10 years agolast modified: 10 years agoThe only way that lights over the bed would be good for reading is if they were right against the wall. Even then, they are not the best. If you have recessed cans outside the closets, one inside is almost redundant. Maybe put them on a motion sensor? Check the local code for the types of lights you can put in the closet. One recessed in the alcove may be too spotty. I would use two and lower the lumen output if you need to.
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10 years agook, so, does this seem sensible? I've color-coded the lights and their respective switches
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