apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Where did I just read a suggestion that you mount bed reading lights toward the middle of the bed, pointing outward, so you don't keep your partner awake?

Joan A., that was an ikea tip, which makes sense but imo doesn't look very good and doesn't allow for wall art above the bed.

i'm about to do the same in my bedroom and was wondering if anyone knows if there is a rule of thumb about just how high sconces should be mounted from the floor, or should i just eyeball it?

Wider. Lower. Pretend they are lamps on a night stand.

If for reading, a directional light source like this should be below your eye level but above whatever you are illuminating.

I'm no designer, and I tend to focus a lot on function first, so I was actually thinking closer to the center so that each bed occupant could use their respective light with minimal imposition upon the other. Granted - this could make for some potential head-bumping during other activities, but those goosenecks look adjustable...just push'em up and out of the way during acrobatic activities.

We usually do sconces at 72" unless we need to mount them at 81" for ADA reasons, which usually makes them end up really close to the ceiling. I don't know how this would apply to this particular situation with the bed. I would, however put them up about a foot higher and 8" farther out. Hard to tell without seeing the ceiling in the photo. The idea to think of them as table lamps is interesting...

i agree with patrick (the other one) - wider and lower.

I'd think you would want concentrated pools of light, which would mean low mounting, and not an overall light wash of the bed, which would mean higher mounting.

I guess it depends on whether you are using the lights to add mood and illuminate reading material, or whether you are lighting the bed for a video shoot. ;)

ps: I think the "rules" for a wall-mounted directional lights (like these) and "sconces" (which to me implies uplighting) may indeed be separate animals.

OK, I'm blurting it out: I want to see the basset looking at the lights! (end of blurt...)

I'm with Patrick and Maxwell. And, I'll add the idea to try a couple different wattages of bulb. These seem too bright for my way of bedtime reading.

And, make sure they're spaced out of "romp" range. New Years is right around the corner.

S

I also need to see the basset. My favorite breed.

Scott--
Hope you don't have to wait for New Years for a good romp! If so, we should talk! A good romp for a side table, waddya say?!? ;)

I actually submitted two photos with my question, one with the sconces AND the basset looking worried. It's not on my work computer, otherwise I'd link it to my name...

Lower. Wider. I'm seein' the light.

Don't Bassets ALWAYS look worried?! :)

So maxwell, can you post the other pic? If Lisa's dog looks worried about the sconces his expression might help us.
I've had several bassets and the degree of his worried look could indicate to me the seriousness of this problem.

Yes!!!! Speaking of low & wide-Basset pics please!

Could AT post some photos - or point us to some - of properly hung sconces? Those don't look so bad to me, but perhaps I'm not the best judge of what's well-hung and what isn't.

Confidential to Lisa: What are cord covers? And: I know your dog. I don't think she is worried about the sconces, I think she's worried that you're going to spend more time reading and less time scratching her ears.

Jonathan, cord covers = something like this (http://www.improvementscatalog.com/home/improvements/80245-Cord-Cover-Kit.html), painted to match the wall.

True. Stella is not fond of reading or of reading lamps in general, especially when they illuminate her currently darkened sleeping area.

STELLA!!!!!

Stella (click on my name).

I vote for low and wide ("tight"?) a la bedside tables as well, and, also knowing Stella, I'm pretty sure resolving sconce placement is among her lesser concerns.

Stella! Oh, is she a beautiful dog! Those eyes!
Thanks so much for satisfying our dog needs.

I knew she was a movie star! My basset would stop and nap on his walks. One of us would have to go get the car. Thanks Lisa.

completely off topic, can you tell me wwho sings that song in your video of Stella? She's a cutie!!

Sweet doggie, your Stella! Not sure about going low like bedside lamps. To me the light emanating from below a nightstand-level lampshade points too low (i.e., toward the nightstand and not my book) when I'm sitting up reading in bed. I wind up tipping the shade way up or taking it off entirely. With these wall lamps, tipping them from a low height to illuminate your book could result in beacons burning your retinas.

It looks like you've placed them at the height you're comfortable with. So maybe wider, but IMO not more than a couple of inches lower.