There’s an art to sleeping well in hotels, and it starts with lighting. Early in my travel career, I learned the hard way that pitch blackness in an unfamiliar room often leads to disorientation and stubbed toes. Now I always leave the bathroom light on – and there’s solid reasoning behind this habit.
The primary advantage is safety. Hotel rooms have different layouts, and that midnight trip to the bathroom becomes hazardous when you can’t see where the bed ends and the desk begins. The bathroom’s soft glow provides enough light to navigate without fully waking yourself up with bright overhead lights.
This trick has psychological benefits too. Many people feel more secure with some light in strange environments. It helps combat that momentary panic when you wake up unsure of your surroundings. For parents traveling with children, it’s invaluable for helping kids feel comfortable in new places.
There are some tradeoffs to consider. The light might be too bright for some sleepers, in which case I recommend bringing a small plug-in nightlight. In eco-conscious hotels, you might feel better about energy use by using a flashlight app on your phone instead.
After testing various approaches, I’ve found the perfect balance is leaving the bathroom light on with the door nearly closed – just cracked enough to let a sliver of light through. It provides orientation without being disruptive. Give it a try on your next trip and see if it doesn’t make your hotel stays just a little more comfortable.
