Anne Hathaway uses this task lighting trick to bring a boutique hotel ambiance to her bedroom – experts explain its power
Designed by Studio Shamshiri, Hathaway's bedroom is a rose-tinted haven – but there's more to this space than its color, as designers explain


Like the entirety of Anne Hathaway's California abode, the actress's bedroom offers a lot to excite interior design enthusiasts. Firstly, its blushing pink walls (designed to interrupt the rustic, Swiss-cabin-like feel of the home) – but as every great designer says, nothing can impact a room quite as much as lighting. It's no surprise, then, that Hathaway has nailed this design decision, too.
Alongside interior designer Pamela Shamshiri (of Studio Shamshiri), she created a light, bright sleep space in an otherwise darker home (where cabin-style wooden panels and flooring are in abundance). Unlike the rest of the house, Anne Hathaway's pink bedroom exhibits a lighter color palette that is set to relax the actress before she sleeps. However, as mentioned, perfecting bedroom lighting is arguably just as important as choosing the right hue, and this is where task lighting comes into play.
Task lighting involves using strategically placed fixtures in the areas of a space that benefit most from additional light instead of choosing one prominent fixture or lots of smaller spotlights in the center of the room.
Exclusively placing light fixtures in the areas needed (for example, above a section of a bed, in Hathaway's case) is among the most powerful ways to add a boutique hotel-style ambiance to a room, and it's a trick that isn't lost on designers, including London-based Benji Lewis.
A post shared by Stephen Johnson (@stephenkentjohnson)
A photo posted by on
Lewis recommends following Hathaway's example by choosing smaller, well-placed task lights, instead of brighter overhead fixtures – both in the bedroom, but also elsewhere.
'Getting the lighting right is essential to creating a cozy atmosphere in your home. Small changes can make a big difference in making your house an inviting home. Avoid overhead lights and spotlights. Focus on side lighting by blending table lamps, floor lights, and plentiful mirror glass,' he says.
Hathaway has placed her main fixture to the right of her bed, suggesting it's in the perfect spot for late-night reading (while also assisting her with light to find what she needs on her bedside table). Inevitably, the proximity to her bed means the light risks impacting her sleep, which makes it even more important to get right. Thankfully, though, Lewis has a solution for that, too.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
'Use light bulbs that are cool white only for task lighting; otherwise, you’ll create the same chilly impression you would when you open a fridge door. Look for bulbs that are warm white to provide a warm glow,' he explains. 'Also, use dimmer switches; they’re fantastic for creating different feelings in a room.'
For a Hathaway-inspired starting point, we love this light, which is almost identical to the actress's. However, we can recreate the ambiance with any smaller fixture we choose; all that matters is that it's strategically placed, as she has done. Lighting aside, we can tap into the rest of the room with these picks below.
If we do have to contend with bright built-in lights, however, Lewis also has a solution for that. 'No matter how splendid your ceiling pendant light is, don’t assume that this will suffice to light your room. All it's going to do is contain light around it without casting an ounce of ambiance,' he says.
'Put your lamp lighting on a separate circuit to your wall lights or overhead pendant, it’ll enable you to play around with different effects.'

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.
-
I always get my small space storage from Wayfair – and these discounted $35 stackable Martha Stewart storage boxes are the perfect fix for my tiny vanity
I'm going vertical for tiny space storage success with this Early Way Day 2025 bargain
By Punteha van Terheyden
-
These are the colors that just don't work with purple – 4 shades to sheer clear of if you want to bring this on trend color into your home
Why some colors sabotage purple, and how to get it right every time.
By Sophia Pouget de St Victor
-
Anne Hathaway's unique maximalist living room vs. Kim Kardashian's ultra-minimalist space – which one works best?
Anne Hathaway's old money-style living room and Kim Kardashian's cool, modern living room could not be more different – but both have their benefits
By Hannah Ziegler
-
Anne Hathaway's Hamptons-inspired NY patio has rebooted an anti-color trend I thought I was over – these 3 easy-to-find buys will bag you the look, too
The black furniture on the actress's New York terrace doesn't look dark – instead, it invites visual interest and intrigue to the pied-a-terre
By Sophie Edwards
-
Anne Hathaway's 'uber-modern' kitchen shelving is the stuff of minimalist dreams – it is worthy of the finest art galleries
Gramercy Design used open shelving to introduce a delightful decorative moment to Anne Hathaway's white kitchen
By Jennifer Ebert
-
Anne Hathaway's 'warm minimalist' living room showcases the most desirable furniture trend that we hope will never go out of style
Curved lines are a crucial consideration in interior design to make a room well-balanced and visually pleasing
By Jennifer Ebert
-
The SoHo loft visited by Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada is on the market for $8.95 million – it epitomizes chic NYC living
The loft served as the home of fictional designer James Holt, but it has a history beyond its Hollywood credentials
By Megan Slack
-
Anne Hathaway's property portfolio – from a California chalet to an Upper West Side penthouse, these are the actress's most notable homes
The Devil Wears Prada actress has a rich property history spanning both the East and West coasts – including a Brooklyn apartment used as her closet
By Megan Slack
-
Anne Hathaway's 1970s-style patio furniture is the most playful and elegant I've ever seen – it's a masterclass in integrating trending patterns with intention
The plaid furniture on the actress's patio taps into a current trend that looks to eras past – it's an elevated take on decorating an outdoor space
By Sophie Edwards
-
Anne Hathaway's textured neutral bedding elevates her country-style bedroom – it's a masterclass in choosing fabrics and colors for a restful sleep
Linen, wool, and block-printed patterns combine on Hathaway's bed – for an Indian-inspired twist on her historic California cottage home
By Sophie Edwards