How to Light a Room for Sex

Light has a huge impact on mood. I asked award winning lighting designer Rebecca Picherak (who is admittedly more familiar with lighting theatres than she is bedrooms) for some ideas on how to light a room for any erotic encounter. Here are her top tips.

Don't spread light all over the room, light specific points.

It's better to use lots of localized points of light. Grab whatever desk lamps, or reading lights you've got and play around. Point them at the wall, into a plant, or at a painting. Lights that illuminate specific points of focus are great for making a room look beautiful. You can use this technique both to draw attention to parts of the room as well as hide corners that are filled with junk.

You don't need to spend a lot on special lights.

Put a light on the floor, aim your desk light at a photo, try turning the TV around to face a white wall for a colorful moving effect. Play with what you've got, and get creative about what you own that lights up.

Light your room for sexy bodies.

If you've ever been in a change room with bright overhead fluorescents and close quarters you know how unflattering some lighting can be on our bodies. Consider trying to light from the side – it really helps to highlight the shape of the body.

Candles set the mood beautifully.

Candles of course are great - if you are like me and prone to falling asleep before extinguishing all fire hazards – use tea lights in a little candle holder.

Create shadows on your walls.

Aim a light at a wall through colored glass and you may get beautiful patterns, but even better, position a light so that the moving shadows of you and your partner are projected larger than life onto the walls around you. Shadow play can be hilarious and very sexy.