Installing Motion Sensor Lights In The Bedroom Could Be A Mistake. Here's Why

Motion sensor lights are convenient, as they turn on with a wave of the hand. Another benefit of these fixtures is that wall-hanging types are often battery-operated, chargeable, or can be plugged right into an outlet, meaning they're extremely easy to install. However, while motion sensor lights can be used in the kitchen, closet, and bathroom, these lights shouldn't be utilized in one room: the bedroom. This is because they could easily disturb your sleep, causing you to feel less rested in the morning.

When used in the bedroom, these motion-activated lights are typically placed underneath the bed, around the edge of the ceiling, or along the floor. Some may use them in this room because they don't feel comfortable in complete darkness or because they need an illuminated pathway to the bathroom. However, too much light while sleeping is never a good thing, as it could disrupt your circadian rhythm by decreasing your melatonin production.

The first way a motion sensor light in the bedroom could ruin your rest is, of course, if the light wakes you up while sleeping. This could easily happen because, while these fixtures will turn on with the wave of a hand, they could also come on with any other movements as well. "In bedrooms, [motion sensor lights] can be disruptive to sleep, as [they] will turn on when you stand up, move a blanket, or a furry friend decides they want to sleep somewhere else," says TikToker Kiva Brent. 

You should also keep motion sensor lights out of the bedroom because they could subconsciously make you feel tense and "on edge" while trying to rest. Because you may worry the lights will turn on with any subtle movement, you may try to stay more still, which could make it harder to fall and stay asleep. Finally, if your room is pitch-black without these lights, it could be frightening if they turn on unexpectedly during the night, which could also make your quality of sleep much worse.

While it's best to sleep in complete darkness, some may still desire a small amount of light. If so, a better option than a motion sensor light may be a night light that's always on, as it will keep the brightness level in your bedroom at a constant level, so you're never surprised by it. The best ones are dim, small, and able to plug into an outlet. When deciding where to plug them in, keep them as far away from the bed as possible, so they don't shine into your eyes.

Further, if your main concern is being able to use the restroom with ease in the middle of the night, place the light in the bathroom. This is much better than keeping it in your bedroom because you'll already be awake when it turns on, so it won't feel too jarring. Additionally, you'll be able to close the bathroom door and block the brightness out of the bedroom, which would benefit anyone who's still sleeping.