Dorm 101 - Lighting

Safety First!  Many colleges do not allow halogen lighting of any kind.  Make sure you check in with your Residence Life contacts and your Student Handbook to make sure your lighting choices adhere to their guidelines!

There's a lighting solution for every taste, style and need.

There are four types of lighting to consider when thinking about your dorm room:



 Overall Light– Your ceiling fixture is going to give you light, but it will be hard to control.  Give yourself some area lighting with a floor lamp.  They are available in a variety of shapes, styles, and colors, and are often dimmable.

Desk – No study area is complete without proper lighting. The light level is important, because nothing brings a night of hard-core studying to a screeching halt like a headache from too much squinting.  Try to choose a light that’s adjustable, so you can direct the light where you need it to go (your books) and not where you don’t (your sleeping roommate’s bed.)

Reading – This might sound like another term for "desk lamp", but some folks like a little study/reading time away from their desk.  A nice, comfy chair or beanbag; maybe a futon or couch.  A reading lamp can be a part of a floor lamp, or a separate lamp you can clamp on a table, bookcase, or headboard.

Atmopheric – These lights may not serve a specific function, but might just be cool, colorful, or funky.  The Christmas lights you string around the underside of your loft may look awesome, but they also shed just enough light that you don’t stumble and wake up your roommate coming back from a late night. These can also be lava lamps, black lights, or even flameless candles.

For more ideas and inspiration from IKEA, click here!

The Never Ending List #29 - Giving the Gift of Light

In June 2009, IKEA started the SUNNAN solar lamp campaign.  For every SUNNAN lamp sold in IKEA stores worldwide, UNICEF receives a SUNNAN lamp.  These lamps are distributed to enable children in homes without electricity to do their homework, even after dusk.  (It also lets them read and play, too!) Our goal is to donate 1 million lamps in the year 2011.

SUNNAN lamps combine low energy LED technology with solar cell panels. Since there’s no need for electricity, you can use it anywhere indoors. Just charge the panel for 9-12 hours in the sun and get three hours of lamplight.

Read more about this initiative and how it’s making a difference in India! Go to the UNICEF site.

Lighting Your Bedroom

Adding task lighting makes a room feel
warmer, cozier, and more like home.

 Your bedroom is where you start your day, and where you wrap it up.  It’s your sanctuary... so don’t let your lighting choices take away from that.

Your argument may be that you don’t spend a lot of time in your bedroom with the lights on.  Okay, I’ll accept that... however, if you’re living in the “frozen north” or anywhere where the days get short and the nights get longer and longer – much more of your waking time is going to be spent living in the world of artificial light.

So make sure you make it as enjoyable as you can.

A wall- or shelf-mounted light is a good
solution if you don't have space for a bedside
table, or if you have one and you'd like
to keep the top clear.

Step one:  Assess how much lighting you need, taking into account the room’s size as well as sources of natural light and outlet locations.

A lamp on the bedside table gives a comforting
glow, but a reading lamp allows you to
direct the light and avoid disturbing
your partner.

Step two:  Assess your activities in the room.  You will definitely list sleeping, but do you also have a reading or study area? How about a dressing area? Do you need additional lighting near your dressers or in your closet? (You don’t want anyone thinking you get dressed in the dark!)

Surprise! Separate lighting in dresser drawers
or closets gives a great view of your options
while letting others sleep away!

Step three:  Consider the different types/functions of lighting. General lighting should reach every corner of the room. Direct, or task lighting will fill a specific need (reading, studying, computer work.)

Now that you’ve done your homework, it’s time for the fun part: choosing your lamps!

Extra Tip!

Are you a fan of natural lighting?  Strategically placed mirrors make a room feel larger and brighter. Or if you want to go for the gold: a skylight is a great additional source of natural light.