Ideas for vanity lighting
20 Beautiful Bathroom Lighting Ideas
Whether you're plotting a major renovation or simply looking to add more versatility to your bath, you'll need to consider bathroom lighting ideas to transform your space. Insufficient illumination can lead to grooming mishaps, while harsh lighting can quell spa-like auras. The right lighting not only lends function to a bathroom retreat, but wakes it up—a must when it comes to shaking off that early morning daze!
Top interior designers use a wide variety of fixture options—wall sconces, flush mounts and overhead installations, to name a few—to architect the perfect lighting scheme in bathrooms. Follow their lead and choose a chandelier to hang over a tub, or flank a vanity mirror with twin wall sconces. To manufacture a spa experience, call on a floor lamp. You can set one beside a bathtub (bubbles and all!) to curate unexpected mood lighting. And, of course, nothing beats natural lighting. Take full advantage of sun-filled windows and select airy window treatments and reflective, mirrored surfaces that are perfect for dispersing light all over your room.
Learn from the best and cull inspiration from the timeless bathroom lighting ideas ahead. As you’ll find, there’s no shortage of ideas when it comes to hardware, luminance and so much more. Whether it be a crystal chandelier, an understated flush mount or an out-of-left-field floor lamp, these designs showcase the wide range of bathroom lighting options.
1
Cool & Crisp
Erin Konrath Photography
A crystal chandelier is the epitome of sophistication in this fresh and airy bathroom designed by Crystal Blackshaw.
2
Heart of Gold
Brantley Photography
In this sun-kissed space designed by interior firm LKID, an inverted sconce is just the understated touch this dazzling bathroom needs.
3
Blue and Breezy
John Gruen
In this crisp, baby blue bathroom, design firm Hendricks Churchill proves that lighting doesn't have to steal the show.
4
Bungalow Drama
Stoffer Photography Interiors
A single milk glass pendant lends classic charm to this striking bungalow bathroom teed up by interior firm reDesign home.
5
Collected Eclectic
Joe Schmelzer
If you're opposed to installing fixtures in your bathroom, follow design firm Interiors by Patrick's lead and simply opt for an eye-catching floor lamp.
6
Doppelgänger
Dustin Halleck
Matching vanities, gold-framed mirrors and shade pendants make for perfect symmetry in this white-on-white bathroom designed by the Chicago-based firm Centered by Design.
7
A Grand Entrance
Julie Soefer
A brass, leaf chandelier and eccentric, mosaic tiles emulate the tropics in this cheery bathroom designed by Courtnay Tartt Elias.
8
Seeing Double
Annie Schlechter
To create this casually eclectic powder room, Los Angeles-based firm Ayromloo Design employed a black and white lattice wall tile, blue and gold accents, and a simple globe pendant.
9
Bronze Glory
Pieter Estersohn
Design firm Craig & Co. applied a rich bronze to the walls of this powder room for an all-encompassing sense of warmth.
10
Jewel Box
Dustin Forest
A modern, three-globe chandelier makes a striking statement in this moody, emerald bathroom designed by Crystal Blackshaw.
11
Cookies 'N Cream
Karyn Millet
Dramatic, geometric wall sconces perfectly complement the luxe atmosphere of this marble-filled bathroom designed by the West Hollywood-based KES Studio.
12
Three Cheers
Josh Thornton
To bring even light to this recessed vanity space, designer Summer Thornton outfitted it in three shaded wallchieres.
13
Royal Highness
Pieter Estersohn
Gilded glamour is on full display in this bathroom designed by New York-based designer Charlotte Moss. Gilded accents, glass wall sconces and a bombe vanity all usher in an aura of the theatrical.
14
Subway Chic
Tessa Neustadt
A sophisticated swing arm sconce is the perfect complement to a subway tile chair rail and a penny tile floor in this guest bath teed up by Stefani Stein.
15
Simply Modern
Michael Alan Kaskel
Gold-accented globe sconces, matching mirrors and chevron wall tiles help elevate this master bath designed by KitchenLab Interiors.
16
Leading Light
Andrew Miller
To build on top of this bathroom's moody atmosphere, studio CAK installed LED sconces to bring in evocative light.
17
Green Glow
Cynthia Lyn
In this whimsical powder room designed by Kim Scodro, a single wall lamp illuminates the mesmerizing, green and gold wallpaper.
18
Simple and Clean
Gieves Anderson
Streamlined fittings and sleek wall sconces make this room by Brooke Moorhead feel crisp and casual.
19
Blue Waves
Stephanie Wiley Photography
SH Interiors opted for a sputnik flush mount and geometric wall sconce in this brilliant, cobalt-colored bath.
20
Forest Green
Susan Pickering
A modern hurricane-lamp style wall sconce energizes this sophisticated retreat cued up by designer Ruben Marquez.
Alicia Mies Alicia Mies is an editorial intern at Chairish, an online marketplace for vintage home decor.
10 Bathroom Lighting Ideas To Infuse Style Into Your Space!
Updated: by Kris Jarrett
From simple sconces to stand-out chandeliers, these 10 bathroom lighting ideas will not only make your bathroom more functional but infuse it with style too!
We’re planning to renovate all three bathrooms in our home this year so I’ve been doing a lot of searching for bathroom lighting lately. Having just done a major bathroom renovation in our old house two years ago, I know how important it is to get the lighting right and not leave it as an afterthought. Today I’m sharing ten bathroom lighting ideas to not only make your bathroom more functional but infuse it with style too! (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})
1.
Layer Your LightingAdding layered lighting is important for any room in your home, including your bathroom. I’m reminded of this daily as I attempt to put on makeup in possibly the most unflattering, shadowed lighting ever, created by recessed lights that are almost directly over my head. Unscrewing the middle recessed light has helped a little, but the struggle is still real 😂:
And yes, the rest of the bathroom is a freaking disaster too – a complete bathroom remodel is in the works for later this year!
Some recessed lighting in bathrooms is great for general lighting but that ambient lining should be combined with task lighting and, when possible, accent lighting. In the primary bathroom of our previous home, we had several recessed lights for ambient lining, double sconces above the vanity mirrors for task lighting, and a large woven pendant over the bathtub as accent lighting:
Sources: Wood & rattan double vanity | Vanity knobs | Bathroom faucets – brushed nickel | Vanity lights | Vanity mirrors – gold | Woven seagrass tray on vanity | Cross base planter | Marble stacking dishes | Soap & lotion sink set with tray | Toothbrush holder | Woven pendant | Freestanding bathtub | Tub filler | Dipped leg stool | Striped towel
2.
Make a Statement!When you have the opportunity with a larger bathroom, consider accent lighting that makes a statement! It took me FOREVER to decide on a light fixture for above our bathtub and I finally pulled the trigger on {this woven pendant}, thinking it would either be the perfect thing or look totally oversized and ridiculous. When it arrived in a GINORMOUS box, I thought there was no way it was going to work but it ended up being one of my favorite things about our bathroom:
Sources: Door knobs | Woven pendant | Freestanding bathtub | Tub filler | Dipped leg stool
So push outside of your comfort zone a bit! Instead of a light fixture that blends into the background, try one that’s a little bigger, a bit more sparkly, or a unique style – that statement-making light fixture might end up being your favorite thing about the space. (Note: look into local building codes in your area before hanging light fixtures above your bathtub – ours was installed on its own dedicated GFI for safety)
3.
Change the Look With a Simple Shade SwapSometimes instead of replacing an entire vanity fixture, a simple shade swap is all you need to completely update the look of your lighting! When I did a mini makeover of our girls’ bathroom in our previous home, I was originally planning to replace the vanity light fixture but then realized it was really just the shape of the glass shades that dated it:
I swapped them out for {these glass shades} which gave it an instant update for under $50:
I’m sure you noticed that I painted their bathroom vanity too – that was another inexpensive but impactful change! You can see the step by step of painting our bathroom vanity {here}.
4. Unite Twin Vanities With Sconce Lighting
The use of two separate side by side single vanities instead of one double vanity has been gaining in popularity. It can look disjointed or fabulous depending upon how you do it. To me, this is a great example of twin vanities done right and it’s largely because of the lighting design:
Source: Rejuvenation
Having two of {these identical and evenly spaced sconces} on the ends plus a third centered between the two vanities, gives this design a beautifully cohesive look. The single rug in front of the two vanities helps unite them too.
5. Mix Up Metal Finishes
Just because your faucet is brushed nickel, it doesn’t mean that your bathroom light fixtures have to be brushed nickel too. Mixing metal finishes is totally ok and I think makes a bathroom look more stylish and less builder basic. In our bathroom I chose brushed nickel faucets and mixed them with {these aged brass vanity lights}:
Vanity Area Sources: Wood & rattan double vanity | Vanity knobs | Bathroom faucets – brushed nickel | Vanity lights | Vanity mirrors – gold | Woven seagrass tray on vanity | Cross base planter | Marble stacking dishes | Soap & lotion sink set with tray | Gray & white striped towels | Robe hooks – golden champagne
A good rule of thumb in mixing metal finishes is to use each finish more than once in the room – in our case, we had brushed nickel shower hardware and brass robe hooks, vanity knobs, and mirrors. Check out {this post on mixing metals in bathrooms} for more tips on how to pull off the mixed metal look!
You can also mix metal and painted finishes, even within the same fixture. I just ordered {this double vanity light} for our powder room that mixes brass and white and can’t wait for it to arrive:
6. Ditch Your Builder-Basic Bathroom Fan Light
In smaller bathrooms, sometimes the only ambient lighting comes from a bathroom exhaust fan with integrated light. There’s a good chance that it looks something like this pretty unsightly one that we currently have in my girls’ bathroom:
If you’re looking to up your bathroom’s style factor, ditch your builder-basic fan light and go for something more decorative. For example, {this bathroom fan} that looks like a simple flush mount light (and comes in satin white, matte blank, and brushed nickel) would be a welcomed upgrade:
Or you can keep things simple and add a combination recessed can light light/fan such as {this one}.
7. Choose Pendants Instead of Sconces
For task lighting above a bathroom vanity, the almost universal choice is sconces. But what about using small pendants instead? I absolutely love the look of {these 10″ capiz pendants} flanking {this raffia mirror} in this stylish bathroom:
They’re actually the same capiz pendants as the larger one we have in our entryway. Another example in a totally different style is the pair of {these glass dome pendants} above {this gorgeous double walnut vanity}:
8. Go Unique by Shopping Outside of the Bathroom Lighting Category
When searching for bathroom lighting online, typically you’re going to navigate to the bathroom lighting section of the brand’s website. But if you limit yourself to “bathroom lighting” you might miss out on creating a beautifully unique bathroom design! For example, Studio McGee used a pair of {these modern sconces} to add a dose of sleek modernism to {this guest bathroom} that they designed:
Studio McGee
I love the mix of modern and traditional – it really makes this bathroom a stand-out!
9.
Flip It!A lot of vanity lights can be mounted in different directions such as the lights facing up vs. the lights facing down. So even if they’re shown only going one direction in brand photos, consider what they’d look like with a simple flip! For example, {this double globe sconce} looks super cool hung horizontally above a bathroom mirror:
but I love the look of a pair of them hung vertically flanking a mirror too:
10. Dimmers
I’ve always been big on having dimmer switches on lights throughout our home but hadn’t ever installed them in a bathroom before. When figuring out the electrical plan for our bathroom addition, on a whim I decided to add dimmers to the pendant light and vanity sconces. I ended up using them a ton at night! Dimming the pendant over our tub set the most beautiful scene for a relaxing soak:
And being able to dim the vanity lights when we were winding down and getting ready for bed at night was so nice too. It’s something I’ll definitely include in the remodel of the primary bathroom in our current house also (we have and love {this Caséta by Lutron smart lighting system} that includes dimmers you can control with your voice, app, or remote).
And with that… I’m off to continue taking the wallpaper down in my girls’ bathroom which is the next bathroom remodel on my hit list! I’m making progress on our powder room remodel too – I’ll be sharing more on both spaces soon. In the meantime, if you’re thinking of jumping into a bathroom remodel you can check out my favorite bathroom remodel ideas, bathroom storage ideas, bathroom mirror ideas, and must-have bathroom measurements for recommended heights for hanging towel bars, robe hooks, TP holders, and more.
- Pin
- Share
Categories: Bathrooms
✉️FREE EMAIL SERIES ✉️
5 Secrets to Reinventing Your Home on a Budget
Simple tips to instantly transform five rooms in your home!
Reader Interactions
5 practical tips and 25 beautiful examples - Roomble.com
2022-02-12T08:10:00+00:00 2022-02-10T13:14:36+00:00 How to arrange a dressing table: 5 practical tips and 25 beautiful examples 2022-02-12T08:10:00+00:00 Everyone needs a place to do their makeup or hair. It is more convenient to do this at the dressing table. We will tell you how it should be, where it is better to put it and what subtleties you need to know to make it cozy. How to arrange a dressing table: 5 practical tips and 25 beautiful examples nine0003
Everyone needs a place to do their makeup or hair. It is more convenient to do this at the dressing table. Let's tell you how it should be, where it is better to put it and what subtleties you need to know to make it cozy
A dressing table is a woman's personal space. This is a place where she can easily clean up, emphasize natural beauty and relax. And the design and shape of such a piece of furniture can significantly improve the appearance of the room.
nine0004 How to arrange a dressing table in a small bedroom: 5 best ideasCrib sheets from Roomble: how to understand that the color you have chosen does not suit the interior
In order for the dressing table to become a decoration of your interior, you should first think about a stylistic solution. It can be mysterious, romantic or modern, minimalistic. The main thing is that it should fit into the room harmoniously, not flashy. nine0003
Comfort is also important to think about. How to arrange a dressing table?
Pre-measure the place where you plan to put it. Provide space for a chair so that you can sit freely at the table. If there are drawers, consider whether it will be convenient to use them.
Our opinion:
— A dressing table is a very personal area. It is desirable that this was not a passing place. Otherwise, someone may accidentally hurt you or your cosmetics, other ladies' stuff. Nobody should interfere with you. nine0003
Usually the dressing table is placed in the bedroom, sometimes in the spacious hallway, in the dressing room or in the bathroom. But to apply the perfect makeup, it is important to provide the place with the right daylight. Therefore, place the dressing table closer to the window.
If you're looking for space-saving options, get the corner model. In the absence of extra square meters, the dressing table can even fit in a niche or pantry.
Our opinion:
— It is undesirable to put the dressing table in front of the window if it is behind it. This is considered the most unfortunate option. With this arrangement, the mirror will glare, shine sharply into the eyes. Yes, and the face will always be in the shade. nine0003
Galina Yuryeva, interior designer:
— In my opinion, a large mirror, good lighting and the presence of drawers in which you can conveniently distribute everything you need for applying makeup are absolutely necessary. Ideally, the lighting should be natural.
If there is no space for a table, you can organize a make-up area on the windowsill by placing a mirror in the window opening. This creates a lighting effect similar to a mirror with built-in lighting, only the light will be natural. nine0003
Proper lighting of the dressing table area is the key to proper personal care. You can avoid incidents when applying daytime makeup if you provide access to sunlight.
If you have to restore beauty in the evening, try to equip the dressing table with additional light sources. Remember the dressing rooms of the stars - there is a lot of artificial lighting in them. If you want to feel like a celebrity, hang lamps, sconces or lamps on both sides. Among other things, such a backlight helps to increase the illumination due to reflection and does not hit the eyes. Arrange light sources in such a way that they do not reflect themselves in the mirror. nine0003
Our opinion:
— It is not recommended to use luminaires with lampshades made of colored glass. Such glass can distort the natural complexion. It is better to buy a sconce made of white or frosted glass.
It is important that the light does not make you squint, it is not too bright. Moderate, soft lighting is good for comfort.
Mila Kolpakova, interior designer:
— In addition to natural light (from the window), the table should have additional lighting. The main idea is that the face should be illuminated as evenly as possible and from two sides. Pros recommend using LED lighting. It is LEDs that are used in the products of the manufacturer Glamcor light, popular among professional makeup artists. nine0003
Dressing table includes all kinds of shelves, drawers, jars, mirrors. At the same time, one should remember about a sense of proportion. This place should evoke a feeling of lightness, beauty and comfort. Only the most necessary items should be on the work surface. Hide everything else. If there are not enough lockers, use different devices for small items, and a hairdryer can be attached to a special structure on the side of the table.
You definitely cannot do without a mirror. It can be a small mirror on a leg or a large one that covers the entire wall. It all depends on your capabilities and preferences. nine0003
Mila Kolpakova, interior designer:
— Traditional, time-tested solutions are a triple mirror (trellis) or dressing room mirror (with perimeter lighting). If you choose another option, pay attention to the size of the mirror. It should be quite large and at the same time match the style and proportions of the table. It is necessary to provide for the presence of another mirror - a magnifying one with illumination.
An essential attribute of a dressing table is a place to sit. Comfort first. Choose compact puffs, chairs, armchairs, banquettes so that they slide under the table. This option will save space if the area of \u200b\u200bthe room is small. Pay attention to the frame chair or transparent chairs. They are almost invisible and create a light atmosphere. nine0003
If you spend a lot of time at your dressing table, armchairs or stools with backs are more suitable. They provide more comfort.
pinterest.com
Share:
Rate this article:
Thank you for your rating! Want to leave a comment?
no send
Thank you for your vote.
Follow us:
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Vkontakte
4 ways to illuminate the dressing table
Dressing table lighting must be properly selected to perform its function. One ceiling lamp is not enough - the diffused light will be too weak for a perfect make-up. What lighting for the dressing table to choose so that it is not only practical, but also looks stylish and complements the composition?
Vanity lighting - what to keep in mind?
How to light up a dressing table? First of all, remember the color of the light. A lamp that emits light similar to daylight is best suited - this color is best for makeup. This means that you should choose bulbs with a cool color of approximately 5000-6500 K and a color rendering index Ra of at least 80%. The lamps should be at the level of the face of the person sitting in front of the mirror, so the overhead lighting above the dressing table in this case will not work at all. Makeup lamps that illuminate the dressing table should be placed around the mirror or parallel on either side of it. nine0003
Hollywood style vanity lighting
Dressing table lamps, taken from a Hollywood wardrobe, will make you feel like a real star in your own bedroom. You probably already know what kind of lamps we are talking about - Hollywood style dressing table lighting consists of round bulbs that are placed around the mirror, for example, on its frame. If you want to get this effect, you can choose:0092
Dressing table with this backlight is perfect for rooms decorated in a glamorous, classic or Hampton style.
Contemporary LED Dressing Table Lighting
If you are looking for a more modern mirror lighting, you can opt for a simple but very effective lighting in the form of a delicate frame around the mirror. This is a more subtle and discreet type of lighting than Hollywood lamps, while still doing its job well. Having decided on this type of lighting, you can immediately buy a mirror with a built-in lamp (if you are looking for more ideas on how to use a mirror in the bedroom, check out our article Bedroom Mirror - 5 ideas for decorating a bedroom with a mirror) or buy special tape. or LED strip for the dressing table. nine0003
This type of LED lighting is very versatile and will suit any interior. Use this vanity light for a contemporary, Scandinavian, classic or industrial look.
Vanity wall lights
Vanity sconces, ie sconces suspended at the height of the mirror, are a very popular and frequently used solution. This arrangement of light sources ensures that the face will be lit neatly and evenly, and makeup will look good not only at home, but also in full sun. nine0003
Which sconces to choose? Bet on those that will give a lot of light - those with thick lampshades that give a romantic cozy light, leave, for example, in the living room. The light at the dressing table should be bright and intense enough. What do bras look like? Here you can go crazy at will. If your interior is designed in an industrial style, choose black lamps with bare bulbs. If you prefer a glamorous style, hang gold sparkling crystals. Have you decorated your bedroom in Scandinavian style? Opt for lamps made from natural materials such as wood or wicker.