During my first solo hotel stay, I discovered that complete darkness in an unfamiliar space wasn’t reassuring — it was unsettling. The room’s layout was strange, the old building creaked in unfamiliar ways, and navigating in the pitch-black middle of the night made me reluctant to leave the bed. In that moment, I realized a small change could help a lot: leaving the bathroom light on. It proved to be both practical and psychologically comforting.

One major benefit of keeping the bathroom light on is better navigation. Hotel rooms are often laid out differently than home, with odd furniture arrangements, carpets, and low-visibility corners. A soft glow from the bathroom helps guide your steps safely in the dark, reducing the chance of stubbing your toe on luggage, tripping over furniture, or fumbling around for switches.

Beyond just safety, there’s a sense of reassurance that comes with having some light. In a new place, total darkness can make every noise feel amplified — the old building’s creaks, the hum of the air conditioning, or even distant hallway sounds. For someone traveling alone (or prone to anxiety), that gentle light offers a kind of anchor. It signals a nearby “safe” spot and helps settle the mind, making it easier to drift back to sleep.

Leaving a dim bathroom light on can also aid adjustment across time zones or in shared travel situations. As your body adapts to a new schedule, a low-level light can help you differentiate between night and day without jarring awakenings. If you’re traveling with family — especially kids — they can navigate safely at night without flipping on harsh overhead lights, helping maintain a calm sleep environment for everyone.

That said, there are some downsides. Even low-intensity light exposure during the night can suppress melatonin production, which can disturb sleep rhythms. Research shows that exposure to as little as 5 lux of light can affect melatonin levels. Light at night has also been tied to fragmented sleep, reducing its quality. Plus, leaving a light on consumes energy, and in some climates, it might attract insects if windows or doors aren’t fully sealed.

Fortunately, there are smart strategies to keep the benefits while minimizing drawbacks. You might use a portable nightlight (many travelers swear by this). You can also leave the bathroom door slightly ajar so the light diffuses softly into the room, or cover the bulb with a towel to dim it. Using a dimmer switch or a warm-toned bulb (rather than a bright, blue-white one) can reduce the impact on your sleep. Over time, creating a personal routine around your night lighting can improve both your comfort and rest.

In the end, leaving the bathroom light on during a hotel stay may seem trivial — but it can make a big difference. It helps you navigate safely, calms your mind in unfamiliar surroundings, and supports a more peaceful night’s sleep. For me, that little glow transformed an anxious middle-of-the-night experience into something far more manageable and restful.