Height of sconces above the bed

Before you categorically declare that the sconce in the bedroom above the bed should hang strictly at a height of, say, 160 cm from the floor, it is worth thinking about why this is so? Maybe we should proceed from certain criteria and depending on what is required from the lamp, and then make a decision?

Today we will talk about what the height of installation of sconces above the bed should be and what determines it, and what subtleties should be taken into account when making a decision.

Height selection criteria

Thoughtlessly hanging sconces, guided by the instructions of some electrical guru, with clear instructions on the height at which they are usually hung, would be reckless. It will be different in each individual case. First of all, you should answer yourself next questions:

• Will the lamp be used cleanly? as a night light or some kind of softer analogue of overhead lighting? Or maybe both?
• Required directional or diffuse lighting?
• Where will the switch be located?, and will it be convenient to reach it, preferably without lifting your butt off the bed?
• Is it possible and necessary to read?, and from which sources - paper, electronic - under such lighting?

And having already figured out what your heart desires, you can make a specific decision.

Sconce as a night light and more

Dimmer appearance

If you intend to use lighting in several different modes, there is a reason to use Dimmer. What he really is? If translated from English into a understandable language, then the word dim means "to darken". Essentially, this is an electronic device that uses a regulator knob to change the voltage supplied to the lamp. In the simplest case, a dimmer is variable resistor, it will allow you to control the glow intensity of incandescent lamps and some LED models. That's what they're called - dimmable.

On a note. The use of dimmers with incandescent lamps allows you to extend their service life due to smooth adjustment of the power supplied to them, without sudden voltage surges. This does not have much impact on the lifespan of the LEDs.

Diffuse or directional light?

If you need diffused, soft lighting, it makes sense to look luminaires with upward-facing lamps and place them lower. But take into account that while in bed, do not touch the lampshade with your hands. The recommended sconce height in such cases is at least twenty centimeters above the headboard.

If necessary, directional light source, are guided by the opposite rule - the lampshade is directed downwards and the height of the sconces is made higher. This option is more suitable for those who like to read or knit for the coming sleep.

Switch accessibility

To correctly determine the location of the sconce switch, you need to lie down (or sit up slightly) in bed and stretch your arm up. This is the desired place. Agree, there is nothing good about getting up from your bed every time to turn on or off the light. Today, sconces with located on them are popular. switches on the body.

And here we will once again remember about the dimmer. If the lamp is connected to the socket via a cord and is located high, and the socket and plug cannot be reached by hand, then in this case it makes sense to install a dimmer in the circuit of the wire going to the sconce (somewhere in the middle) so that it hangs at arm's length above head. You will be able to eat the fish without choking on the bone.

Is reading expected?

If you read from a mobile phone or tablet, you don’t have to bother yourself with any rules - modern gadgets have their own backlighting. But in the case when they read in the old fashioned way - paper books or magazines - the light source is placed at least 50 centimeters from the book. If you measure from the reader's shoulder to the lamp, the distance should be about 15 cm. To take measurements, take a sitting or reclining position that is comfortable for reading, and then measure the indicated distance upward.

For ease of reading, it is best to place the lamp as close to the head of the bed as possible. It is clear that the article cannot cover all the nuances, therefore, when choosing the height of the sconce above the bed, you need to be guided, in addition to the listed criteria, by the interior features and personal preferences. Here, as they say, the master is the master.