Bedroom Christmas light ideas – 16 festive lighting looks

Get in the festive spirit with these bedroom Christmas light ideas that'll create a merry and bright atmosphere

Christmas Bedroom with Chalk Paint walls with fairy lights above a bed - Annie Sloan
(Image credit: Annie Sloan)

Want to feel extra festive with some twinkly bedroom Christmas light ideas? Well, you're in luck as our round up is sure to add a touch of magic to your Christmas crib.

As Christmas bedroom decorating goes, Christmas lights add a touch of whimsy to a space and can instantly make your bedroom feel snug and romantic.

And when the weather outside is frightful, you'll find most of us retreating under the duvet in our fleecy PJs. So what better way to add extra coziness than with Christmas lighting ideas to make getting into bed even more of a joy? Even if getting out of it is torture...

Bedroom Christmas light ideas for snug evenings

With a myriad of ways to use bedroom lighting, we've rounded up our favorite looks to get you in the Christmas spirit.

1. Brighten your windows with fairy lights

star fairy lights at a window by lightzey

(Image credit: Lightzey)

You can't go wrong with fairy lights to add a welcome twinkle to your windows at Christmas. String them around your window, across the window pane or delicately styled in a cluster like in this idea.

Lucy Kirk, Creative and Photography Manager at Lights4Fun says, 'Choose warm white lights for soft tones and cosy evenings, creating a soothing atmosphere once darkness falls. Shapes such as stars are perfect for bedrooms, creating a starry sky effect by night.'

2. Adorn your bed with string lights

Christmas Bedroom with Chalk Paint walls with fairy lights above a bed - Annie Sloan

(Image credit: Annie Sloan)

Make your cozy bed a festive focal point by using string lighting over your bedstead, headboard or on the wall above. Add some greenery to the look by weaving real or faux foliage like ivy or eucalyptus, with the latter giving off a wonderfully fresh scent.

'Wrap some fairy lights around your headboard for not only a festive feel, but an awesome all year round accessory. Use warm white lights for instant cosiness or go wild with colour with some multi coloured fairy lights.'

'If you don't have a bed frame that's easy to hang lights from, you can always hang some connectable fairy lights above your bed that you can admire when you're all tucked up. They look fabulous at night too, giving you a proper Christmassy starry night feel.' Says Kirk.

Joanna Thornhill, Interior Stylist and Author of The New Mindful Home, for British Heart Foundation adds, 'Make the most of a metal headboard by weaving round a string of pretty fairy lights or lanterns, for extra ambiance on Christmas morning.' 

3. Change up your bedroom accessories

Two Lit Faux Pampas Grasses in a vase on a console table by cox and cox

(Image credit: Cox and Cox)

Switch out your usual bedroom accessories for seasonal twists like these Lit faux pampas grasses from Cox and Cox. They'll not only create a relaxing ambience during the holidays but they've got longevity as Dani Taylor, Product and Creative Director, Cox and Cox explains. 

'My absolute favorite buy are the ‘Lit Faux Pampas grasses’  – these are on trend and will look fantastic on display all year round.' 

4. Light up the room with a night light 

Cat Christmas Tree Paper Night Light - Little Claws

(Image credit: Little Claws)

Novelty lighting will look super cute in your kids' bedrooms too. This sweet Christmas tree paper night light by Little Claws on Etsy features a cat with a lit up wintery scene. It'll be sure to soothe your little one as they fall to sleep (or wake up in the middle of the night) and fill their room with wonder. 

5. Add festive cheer with letter lights 

merry letter light sign on a chest of drawers with a Scandi Santa by dunelm

(Image credit: Dunelm)

We're big fans of neon lights and this seasonal option is right up our street. With its retro styling and simple warm white glow, this Dunelm neon 'Merry' tube light will fit in nicely with any Christmas color scheme.

Keep things simple by making it a statement in your hallway or add it to a gallery wall for a festive accent.  

6. Decorate your mirror in lights

christmas garland around a mirror on a console table with Christmas decorations - Lights4Fun

(Image credit: Lights4Fun)

You can pretty much drape fairy lights anywhere and they'll make the space look pretty, cozy and darn right Christmassy. One failsafe bedroom lighting idea is to decorate your dressing table mirror with foliage and a festive twinkle. You could add in some light up stars like these Osby star window lights by Lights4Fun, available at Amazon. 

Kirk agrees: 'Fairy lights suit any style of room and inject a fresh feel in seconds. Make them a feature for your mirrors by draping them over & around them. Delicate shapes such as flowers add a pretty & elegant look.'

7. Style up your bedside

original star fairy light decoration by not on the high street

(Image credit: Not on the High Street)

Use every surface in your bedroom for Christmas decor. Styling up your bedside with a personalised wreath or standalone decoration can be enough to get you in the festive spirit. 

This striking light-up pom pom wreath from Not on the High Street adds a welcome splash of color to this bedside. Add one to your other half's bedside and team with a popping neon scheme for the ultimate seasonal cheer.

8. Create a starry night with marquee sign lights

red stair bulb light marquee signs in a bedroom with black walls - David Woolley

(Image credit: David Woolley/Future PLC)

Be adventurous in the bedroom... ahem... with your Christmas bedroom lighting choices. Large star marquee signs add a dazzling statement to this black bedroom idea

Go big and decorate your walls, floors and bedsides with these Light up marquee signs from Etsy, in varying sizes for a look that'll transport you to Broadway in a New York minute.

9. Hang a festive lit dried floral wreath or garland

Cox and Cox Light Up Dried Flower Wreath on a wall

(Image credit: Cox and Cox)

Dried floral wreaths are the perfect rustic decoration for pretty much any space and Etsy's resident trend expert, Dayna Ison Johnson explains why: 'As many spent the last year turning to nature for a sense of calm and escape, it’s no surprise that holiday decor is taking inspiration from organic influences this season.'

This Cox and Cox Light Up Dried Flower Wreath, inspired by nature, features thirty warm LED bulbs within the gold tipped foliage which makes it super safe. You could even zhuzh up an existing wreath with lights or even make one yourself with this handy How to make a Christmas wreath how-to

'There's nothing more festive than a hanging in your humble abode, so why not give any existing Christmas wreaths you've got lying around a revamp? Entangle some battery fairy lights in the wreath for instant sparkle or use battery operated copper wire lights for more of a contemporary look. What's more, you won't have to worry about messy wires if you use battery lights for your Christmas wreath revivals.'

'Hang your wreath above your bed as a centrepiece or hung from the door for a real Christmassy welcome. If you've got any lonely-looking shelves or ledges in your bedroom, why not embellish a lovely Christmas garland in fairy lights for added glitz?' explains Lucy Kirk, Creative and Photography Manager, Lights4Fun.

10. Drape a fairy light curtain

fairy light curtain behind a bookshelf by urban outfitters

(Image credit: Urban Outfitters)

Glitz up a wall or window in your bedroom with a fairy light curtain from Urban Outfitters . 'Curtain lights create the perfect backdrop for bedrooms. Hang them from the top string & let them drop down wherever you want them to sit. The generous lead wire is also ideal for hard to reach sockets,' says Kirk.

11. Go minimalist with a single string of lights

original cotton ball fairy lights hanging by a window by a bed - lights4fun

(Image credit: Lights4Fun)

You don't have to go all out with your Christmas bedroom decorating ideas. Even a simple, single string of lights can add a cheery glow. These cotton ball string lights by Lights4Fun from Amazon create an understated nod to the holiday season but could be left up all year round as an alternative to a bedside table lamp.

Lucy Kirk says, 'Hang fairy lights or festoon lights vertically on walls or drape from ceilings, they are super easy to style within your space. Replace your beside table lamp with an indoor lantern to add to the glow.'

12. Frame your picture frames

Copper Starburst LED String lights around a picture frame - Ella James

(Image credit: Ella James)

'If you have picture frames in your room you can brighten these with fairy lights too. Drape them around the frame edges for a subtle shine - we suggest simplistic lights to avoid cluttering the picture.' explains Kirk.

These starburst LED string lights from Ella James will dress up a frame instantly. Why not use a few around a gallery wall bedroom shelf to add a dash of pizazz?

13. Make a Christmas card tree

christmas cards on a wall with fairy lights in a tree shape by John Lewis and Partners

(Image credit: John Lewis and Partners)

If you don't have space for a tree in your room, look to your walls, says Kirk.

'Create your own Christmas tree using fairy lights against a bare bedroom wall. Get creative and play about with different colours of fairy lights; you could use multi-action lights for an eye-catching flashing Christmas tree!'

You could create a Christmas card display idea or a collage of your favorite memories from the past year for a warm fuzzy feeling when you rise and shine.

14. Mount a lit stag head 

reindeer fairy light wall mount above bed in a grey bedroom - John Lewis

(Image credit: John Lewis and Partners)

Keep things classy by wrapping fairy lights around existing bedroom decor feature. Or you could opt to make a statement with a light up stag head from John Lewis to add a sophisticated piece of festive decor to your bedroom idea.

15. Incorporate twinkly twigs

twigs in a vase with fariy lights and christmas baubles by John Lewis and Partners

(Image credit: John Lewis and Partners)

As an alternative Christmas tree idea, use an existing vase in your bedroom, add an array of branches and decorate 'til your heart desires with baubles and lights. You could even spray paint your branches in a frosty white or gleaming gold to go with your master bedroom idea.

16. Switch out your lightbulbs

A bedroom with dark green wall paint decor, leopard print bedding and shelfie with baubles and plants

(Image credit: Very)

'One of the easiest ways to make your bedroom feel cosy and Christmassy this winter, is to look at swapping your light bulbs. Ideally, you want to look for a 2700 Kelvin bulb - this will create a warmer yellowish colour rather than a bright white light and help to create the ultimate cosy glow to enjoy whilst enjoying a Christmas classic. These bulbs are easy swaps, you just need to ensure they are compatible with your existing fittings.' Explains Jamie Moxey, Design Consultant at Dusk Lighting

'Alternatively, for more of a magical, colourful feel that Christmas tree lights create, you could opt for a colour changing smart bulb that would work with your existing bedroom lights. These can be controlled via remote control or an app depending on the brand you choose, and you can cycle through a huge range of colours to transform your space.'

How do I hang Christmas lights in my bedroom?

The best way to hang Christmas lights in your bedroom include hanging them from where the wall and ceiling join or string them from the ceiling with an adhesive like Command decoration clips available at Amazon. 

Another idea would be to wrap or drape lights around your headboard or even wrap them around a metal headboard. You could also hang them from windows, either from the curtain pole or on adorning the window itself.

Another idea would be to twist lights around foliage to make a Christmas garland.

Is it safe to have Christmas lights in your bedroom?

Christmas light safety is paramount because it is possible they could catch fire. It's recommended that Christmas lights aren't left on for prolonged periods of time or overnight. 

LEDs can also overheat especially if they're not the right wattage. It's safest to make a habit of turning your Christmas tree lights off every time you leave the house and also before you go to bed at night. 

It's also very important to make sure that no Christmas lights are left on in any child's bedroom when they are going to bed. Like little magpies, kids are drawn to shiny objects and leaving any Christmas lights on could lead to dangerous accidents.

Jenny McFarlane
Senior Digital Editor

Jenny is Senior Digital Editor and joined the team in January 2021. She also works on the homes brands' video show, on the Future Homes Network, which is packed full of ideas to help you make the most of your own home and garden. Since getting on the property market with her first apartment and then more recently a house, her passion for interior design and gardening has taken on a new lease of life. Jenny's currently on the lookout for a doer-upper to put her stamp on. She loves collecting and salvaging unique items (much to her other half's despair) but sniffing out stylish home bargains is her one true love. When she has a spare minute, she loves to do a spot of crafting, having studied textiles at Uni – although she hardly gets the chance with a toddler who keeps her permanently on her toes.

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