This week the sun sets in London before 7pm, and by the end of September it is going down at around twenty to seven. Then on Sunday 25 October the clocks go back and the evenings close in for good. If your bedroom switches from daylight to one harsh ceiling bulb, curtain lights for bedroom walls are one of the easiest ways to make those long evenings feel warm instead of gloomy. Here is how to choose them, where to put them and how to use them safely.
What are curtain lights, and why do they suit a bedroom?
LED curtain lights are a row of fairy-light strands hanging down from one top wire, so they cover a whole area rather than tracing a single line. Hung flat, they turn a plain wall into a soft screen of light. Behind a voile they glow through the fabric. In a window they frame the glass.
They suit bedrooms because they give you ambient light: a low, spread-out glow that is kinder to your eyes in the evening than an overhead bulb. You get enough light to move around, read the room and wind down, without the room feeling like an office.
Five ways to use curtain lights in a bedroom
1. A glowing wall behind the bed
This is the classic look for a reason. Hang the curtain from the ceiling line or just above the headboard and let the strands fall behind it. A 3 by 3 metre curtain such as our Smart LED Curtain Lights (300 LEDs) is wide enough to span a double bed with room to spare. If your wall is narrower, gather the top wire into gentle folds rather than stretching it.
2. A soft glow behind sheer curtains
Hang the lights on the window side of a voile or net curtain. The fabric diffuses every LED into a hazy glow, which looks lovely from inside and from the street. Keep the lights hanging freely and not bunched up against the fabric.
3. A canopy over a reading corner
Run the top wire along the ceiling above a chair or window seat and let the strands drop behind it. It makes a small corner feel like its own space, which is handy in a shared room or a studio flat.
4. A backdrop for photos and video calls
A lit curtain behind your desk or dressing table gives a clean, flattering background for selfies, content or calls. Choose a single warm colour for calls; save the animations for the evening.
5. Stars in the window
If a full curtain is more than you want, a lighter option is a set of falling star strands, such as our Star Waterfall Fairy Lights. They run on USB or solar power and look especially good in a bay or sash window as the evenings draw in.
Warm white or colour? Setting the right mood
For a bedroom, most people end up using warm white or amber tones most of the time and colour for occasions. App-controlled curtains give you both. With our curtain lights you can pick a colour, run patterns and animations, show text, sync the lights to music and set a timer, all from your phone over Bluetooth.
A good routine for darker evenings:
- Early evening: a brighter warm setting while you are still up and about.
- An hour before bed: dim it down and switch off the main light.
- Lights out: let the timer switch the curtain off so it is not glowing all night.
Add a small lamp for the bedside so you are not relying on the curtain to read by. Our Sunset Mushroom Lamp is USB rechargeable, has touch control with adjustable brightness and needs no cable once charged, so it can sit on a bedside table without adding another lead.
Are curtain lights safe in a bedroom?
Low-voltage LED lights run cool compared with old filament bulbs, and USB-powered sets like ours avoid a mains transformer near the bed altogether. Common sense still applies:
- Use a proper USB plug in good condition, or a power bank, and do not overload an extension lead.
- Keep the strands and the controller away from bedding, and do not wrap lights around a headboard where they can be crushed.
- Check the wires before you hang them. If any strand is damaged, do not use it.
- Use the timer or switch them off when you go to sleep rather than leaving them on all night.
- In a child's room, keep the lights and loose cable out of reach.
Buying checklist for bedroom curtain lights
- Size: measure your wall or window first. A 3 by 3 metre curtain covers a double-bed wall; smaller windows may suit star strands better.
- Power: USB is the most flexible. It works from a USB plug, a laptop or a power bank, so you can place the lights where there is no socket.
- Control: an app or remote means you can change the lights from bed. Look for a timer.
- Colour: check whether you get warm white only, or full colour and patterns as well.
- Hanging: plan how you will fix the top wire. Removable adhesive hooks, a curtain rod or a tension rod all avoid drilling.
Frequently asked questions
How do you hang curtain lights in a bedroom without damaging the walls?
Use removable adhesive hooks or clips along the top wire, spaced every 30 to 50cm so it does not sag. Alternatively, drape the top wire over an existing curtain pole or a tension rod. Clean the wall before you stick anything up so the hooks hold.
Can you leave curtain lights on overnight?
It is better not to. Set a timer, or switch them off at the plug, when you go to sleep. You will also sleep better in a darker room.
How many LEDs do I need for a bedroom wall?
For a wall behind a double bed, a curtain of around 300 LEDs across 3 metres gives an even glow without looking sparse. For a single window, a lighter set of strands is usually enough.
Can curtain lights go behind a real curtain?
Yes, behind a sheer or voile curtain is a popular look. Leave a small gap so the lights hang freely, and do not cover them with heavy fabric or bunch them against it.
Make the darker evenings the cosy ones
The clocks go back on 25 October and the long evenings are on their way. A curtain of lights behind the bed, a few stars in the window and a warm lamp at your bedside are an easy, renter-friendly way to get ready for them. Browse our Party & Christmas Lights collection to find the right set for your room. Every order comes with tracked delivery in 3 to 7 working days and 14-day returns.
