LIGHTING A CHILD’S ROOM
Parents tend to put a lot of time and effort (and money) into decorating their child’s room; they meticulously choose paint colours, furniture and bedspreads, and then they choose the light fixtures. But with so many whimsical choices on the market, it’s hard to remember that while having a stylish light can add to the overall decor, it may not be the best option when it comes to providing your child with adequate light.
“Lighting for kids’ rooms is about function first and fashion second,” said Dian Nease, business development manager at Firefly Kids Lighting. “You want your child to be in bright overhead light, especially if they’re reading
or doing something like (playing with) Legos.”
While overhead task lighting is a must in children’s rooms, there are other types of light that can help to balance out the brightness of the space. After all, sometimes a child wants to be in a more subdued, darker setting. The best way to achieve a multi-functional lightscape is by setting up a variety of lighting that lets you adjust the illumination to suit the activity at hand.
“Start with ambient lighting that brightens the entire room with a warm, diffused glow, such as chandeliers or pendants,” said Sonia Ventura, store manager at Pottery Barn Kids Dix30. Chandeliers are a chic way to infuse a space with elegance, whether for a boy or a girl.
And they ’ve been a popular choice in nurseries and children’s play or bedrooms, as well as ensuites, for decades. Pendants are also a good choice because they are mounted from above, dispersing the light evenly throughout the room.
“Next you can add task lighting to illuminate specific areas, like your child’s desk, a bedside table or an armchair,” Ventura said. These task lights come in a myriad of cool designs and colours, and can be propped up on a tabletop, mounted to a wall, or even clipped to a headboard.
“Finally, you can use accent lights to highlight favourite objects or create visual interest on a bookshelf or dresser top,” she said. Perhaps you want to showcase a trophy and medal case, certain wall prints, or cool creations (assembled Lego creations, Play-Doh sculptures, etc.).
Nease suggested incorporating a single fixture and putting it on a dimmer — that way, the one light can do it all: task as well as ambient lighting that is less harsh in the
evening hours. “A nightlight is usually the other option, and it’s best when this is put on a timer, so it will turn off on its own,” she said.
Nease did warn against one thing: lamps. “Having a lamp next to a bed can be a danger for younger children,” she said, citing the hazard of having a long cord. A
lamp’s hot lightbulb, too, can pose a danger to curious little fingers.
For those who are looking to go less neutral and more individualized when it comes to a fixture, there are lights to make a child’s room more fun, fresh and unique.
“Geometrics are huge, like the chevron and triangle — everything in different shapes and colours,” Nease said. Other go-to looks include animal and fantasy themes, vintage modes of transportation, and nautical motifs.
“We try to carry light designs that will grow with the child,” she said.
A well-devised lighting plan energizes a room, establishes a welcoming mood and encourages creative activities, Ventura said. “And ample lighting is especially important in kids’ spaces because children who are engrossed in what they’re doing rarely notice when light is insufficient.”
While the functionality of the lightscape is the main priority, having something that is stylish, too, will complete the overall look of the space.
“Make it unique — you want to be able to look up and smile,” Nease said. “It’s like the cherry on top.
“You spend time on your linens, wall colour, furniture, and then you look up and it’s that final piece that can make you go ooooh!”