Because the bedroom is a room that provides a safe haven from your daily grind (and maybe a little romance, if you’re lucky), subtle lighting is called for. “Ceiling fixtures don’t have a real purpose in a bedroom — you don’t ever want the whole room to be lit,” says New York City interior designer Christopher Coleman.

Soften Overhead Lighting

Hanging lanterns are an exception to Coleman’s rule. They give off enough light so you can see what’s in your dresser drawers, yet they cast a warm, low-key glow and add a touch of the exotic.

Make Room

Clip lights attached to the headboard and swing-arm lamps attached to the wall direct light onto the page and away from your sleeping companion, while freeing up prime real estate on your nightstand.

Paper Lantern (shown right)
Intense light is out of place in the bedroom. A paper lantern does a subtler job while providing enough light to get dressed by. Paper lantern (12 by 15 inches), $10; cord with socket, $8.50: Pearl River, .

Bedside Lamp (shown left)
Opaque-shaded task lamps on either side of the bed allow full use of nightstands and help late-night readers maintain spousal harmony. Tse-Tse Cornet clip-on lamp, $135, Karkula, 212-645-2216.

In the Closet
With most battery-operated lights, black blazers are indistinguishable from blue. This plug-in takes a 60-watt bulb and turns on when the door is opened. Eagle Electric Automatic Closet Light, $11, Gracious Home, 800-338-7809.