Think about the last really great candlelight dinner you hosted. Don’t you remember thinking that everyone you’d invited looked absolutely fabulous?! Why was that?
The most most flattering light for people to look their best is soft, glows a slight pink, and lights them from beneath their chins.
Let’s face it. Master bedrooms and baths see a lot of skin. If that’s the case, you want to make sure the light is as flattering as candlelight. How do you mimic this in these private spaces?
Switching out your yellow incandescant bulbs for pink can make all the difference in the world. These are just as easily found as their traditional yellow counterparts, just slightly more expensive, and the difference is well worth the extra attention to detail.
Have your electrician switch your existing devices to be on dimmers so you can adjust the lighting easily.
Select low wattage bulbs and maximize the number of accent lights you have rather than utilizing overhead lighting. I’ve never been one to create hard and fast rules for design, but a nice guideline is that every room should have at least three lamps. Keep your bulbs between 40-60 watts and you’ll be pleased at the soft glow your rooms take on.
If you do have overhead fixtures, select things that are really fabulous. Don’t settle for the ordinary or the overdone gaudy chandelier. I’m doing a master bath right now that has spectacular vaulted ceilings. It’s a rustic spa feel, so I’m putting this great light on a dimmer in addition to all of the very functional recessed lights over the shower and vanity.
Who wouldn’t want to take a bubble bath with this on?!
I love using reflective surfaces in the bedroom to move light through the space. Using glass lamps, antiqued mirrors or bedside furniture accomplishes this in a stunning way that only gets better with soft lighting.
Finally, color can make all the difference in the way light is perceived in your space. I used to design healthcare spaces, and I always avoided yellows and golds because they changed the palor of skin to look sallow and sickly–not exactly the look you’re going for in your master bedroom! Instead, select a neutral for your bedroom ceiling that errs slightly pink or peach. This will make skin appear dewey and blush.
