Creating a Cosy Bedroom with Warm Ambient Lighting

Bright, cool light in the evening can keep you alert. Warm, dimmed light signals that the day is over. This is why a gentle lamp at the bedside beats a bright ceiling light every time: it is enough to see by, but not so bright that it keeps your brain busy.

It does not need to be complicated. One soft lamp instead of the overhead light is usually enough to change how a room feels after dark.

A bare bulb or a clear glass shade can be harsh to look at. Wood is softer. The light spreads through the cut scene onto the wall, losing any glare, so the room feels calm rather than lit up. The result is a soft amber picture on the wall.

Each lamp is cut from natural wood and finished by hand, so the glow is never quite the same on two pieces. In daylight it looks like a neat wooden picture, and in the evening it comes alive when you switch it on.

A restful room usually has light at more than one level. Put a lamp on the bedside table for reading, and another on a low shelf or dresser for a wash of light around the room.

Because these lamps run on any standard 5V USB socket, you can power one from a power bank on a shelf with no plug nearby. There are designs for most tastes, from cats and dogs to birds, fairies and meditation pieces, so you can pick ones that suit the room.