nursery lighting

Creating the perfect nursery lighting goes beyond looks. It affects your baby’s sleep and safety, so it pays to choose wisely.

Invest in smart nursery lighting

Smart lighting allows parents to adjust nursery brightness and colour remotely. Using an app or remote, you can dim lights for feeds or set a soothing bedtime glow. This helps maintain your baby’s circadian rhythm and improves everyone’s sleep.

Avoid blue or green lights at night, as they interfere with melatonin levels. Red tones offer the best support for restful sleep. If you’ve already picked out fittings, simply opt for smart bulbs instead of changing fixtures.

Explore smart lighting options from The Lighting Superstore for a wide selection of bulbs and lamps.

Join the wireless craze

Wires pose tripping and tangling hazards in nurseries. Wireless, rechargeable lighting offers safety and flexibility.

You can move cordless lights wherever you need them – perfect if you’re updating layouts as your child grows. From wall lights to floor and table lamps, the options are endless.

Prefer permanent options? Consider wired-in wall sconces. These reduce visual clutter and eliminate trailing cords.

Layer your nursery lighting well

Overhead lights are practical but shouldn’t be the only source of light in a nursery. Combining multiple light types provides both ambient and task lighting.

Wall sconces distribute light evenly and work well near the cot or changing area. Table or floor lamps offer softer, localised light ideal for bedtime stories or night feeds.

This layered approach supports safety, practicality and sleep readiness.

Rethink stimulating light gadgets

Although popular, light projectors and colour-changing gadgets may overstimulate your baby. Instead, use dimmable smart lighting with RGB settings and gentle hues.

The best sleep support is often low red light, which preserves melatonin production. Many smart bulbs last up to 25,000 hours, making them a cost-effective choice for long-term use.

If your baby fears the dark, dimmed red lighting helps ease anxiety without disturbing rest.

Choose evergreen light fixtures

Trendy nursery lights may not last beyond the toddler years. Choose timeless lighting to grow with your child.

Simple fittings with changeable lampshades work well. For example, the Tilda Satin Ivory Linen Scalloped Shade Table Lamp adds elegance and costs just £63.71 from The Lighting Superstore.

Organic textures like rattan or seagrass create calm, neutral environments and suit any décor style. These natural materials are also ideal for gender-neutral spaces.

By Fergus McCarthy

Fergus McCarthy is a seasoned publishing professional with over three decades of experience in the media industry. In 1993, he co-founded Parents News, a pioneering publication aimed at providing busy parents in Southwest London with essential information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly activities. Under his leadership, Parents News quickly expanded its reach from 60,000 to 192,000 monthly printed copies, establishing additional branches in Kent, South London, Northern Ireland, and Cornwall. In 1997, recognizing the potential of digital media, Fergus helped launch Parents News UK Online, which carried digital editions of the printed publication and offered a broader range of national information. The website's popularity soared, attracting up to 700 daily hits at its peak. Although Parents News transitioned to an online-only platform in 2017, Fergus continues to play a vital role as Publisher and Advertising Manager, focusing on providing value to businesses through effective advertorials.