Choosing the right lighting for your baby's nursery is essential to their growth and development. Make sure you pick the right light with our guide to nursery lighting!
You’ve put the crib together, organized drawers of tiny socks and shoes, and stashed away an army of diapers and baby wipes. The nursery seems complete, but have you thought about improving its lighting? Your baby’s brain develops rapidly in those first few years, so it’s imperative that you provide him or her with the best lighting for playing, reading and sleeping (though there won’t be much of that at first!). Read on as we share our ideas for the best lighting for your little one.
You should first think about whether your baby’s nursery has a source of general, all-over light. If not, think about installing recessed can lighting throughout the room to provide a wide source of light for everyday illumination. Ideally, these lights would be on a dimmer switch so you can control the level of light for different activities and times of the day.
Wide beam reflector bulbs are ideal due to their ability to distribute light evenly and effectively. You’ll want to go for recessed lighting over, say, a light fixture attached to a ceiling fan, as recessed lighting covers the entire room with light and doesn’t leave you with any dark corners perfect for little toys, clothes and shoes to hide in.
Next, think about adding more localized task lighting like wall sconces and lamps. You’ll find these more specific sources of light perfect for reading, playtime, over the changing table and other activities central to your nursery. Look for fixtures that don’t stick out too far, and install them high enough to be inaccessible to determined toddler fingers.
Wall sconces can add a lot of style to your baby’s room while being a functional addition to the lighting as a whole, so don’t be afraid to try new styles and finishes. If at all possible, try to avoid large floor or table lamps that can be knocked or pulled over by your child, potentially injuring him or her.
We always recommend using LED bulbs for saving money and energy efficiency, but these bulbs are also ideal for a baby’s room due to the fact that they do not get hot like traditional incandescent bulbs. If your baby happens to reach up and touch an LED bulb in a fixture or lamp, even one that has been on for several hours, they will not burn their fingers. What parent doesn’t love a little extra peace of mind when it comes to their child’s safety?
And of course, what nursery would be complete without a good nightlight? Whether you choose a basic one for simple nighttime illumination or a novelty light to match your child’s décor/current Disney obsession, a nightlight will help your child feel comfortable after you leave their room for the night. Again, LED nightlights are ideal since they will not get hot and are safe near flammable materials.
