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Lighting design for bathroom


The Best Bathroom Lighting: Your Complete Guide

In a well-lit bathroom, you probably just switch on your bathroom light and don't think much about it beyond whether the bulb needs replaced. But the truth is, when it comes to interior lighting, your bathroom lighting is actually one of the most important elements in your home. Keying in on the perfect lighting can transform a bathroom without a full renovation and make a small, cramped space feel open and spacious. On the flip side, bad bathroom lighting can ruin even a perfectly remodeled space.

Bathroom lighting doesn't just brighten up your space, but it can also help you transition from day to night peacefully and wake you up in the morning. When you're getting ready for a day at the office or a night on the town, bad lighting can make it impossible to get out of the door. And when you wind down after a long day, harsh lighting can jolt you awake and cause you to stay awake longer.

All of this is to say, bathroom lighting is really, really important and is by far one of the easiest upgrades you can make in your bathroom. Many designers say that bathroom lighting can be one of the most important decisions you can make in your bathroom. From overhead pendants to sconces, there are endless choices and ways to customize your space so the decision can feel overwhelming.

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Read on for everything you need to know about acing your bathroom lighting.

Rebecca Rollins

The first step to figuring out the right bathroom lighting for your space is to consider the natural lighting you have available. A bathroom without a window may require a brighter overhead light while one with a large amount of sunlight could get away with just task lighting and accent lighting. Either way, try to layer lighting in your bathroom to create a space that's dimensional and homey.

A good rule of thumb when it comes to electrical lighting in a bathroom is to aim for around 50 lumens per square foot to mimic natural daylight. The exact lumens you need will depend on your square footage, but you want enough lighting to help you get ready in the morning but not so much that you feel blinded when you first wake up.

We recommend you start from the top to the bottom. First, ensure you fill your space with adequate light overhead through ceiling lighting. Then, plan the most important part of your bathroom: your vanity. This is the task lighting that you will use most often and where you will find the most variety. Lastly, consider ambient or additional lighting such as shower or bathtub lights to illuminate nooks and crannies and add a bit of personality and warmth.

If you are struggling to find the perfect lighting combo, here's a rundown of the types you should consider.

Your task lighting is the lighting in your bathroom you will probably notice the most (or at least you'll notice it first). This is focused illumination that is meant to specifically help you get a task done. Task lighting is typically around your vanity. but you can also find it in your shower to help you with tasks such as shaving or conditioning.

Vanity Lighting

Design: Emily Henderson

Photo: Tessa Neustadt

When it comes to picking your vanity lighting, consider first how large your vanity is and how much natural light you already have. A vanity placed right next to a window can get away with something closer to a 45-watt bulb and a fixture that throws a little less light while a double vanity in a room without much natural light should really focus on brighter, more exposed lighting.

Sconces are the most common form of vanity task lighting. For the most light without any unflattering shadows, we recommend two sconces at or right above eye level to the side of your mirror (or, roughly 60 inches off the ground). This allows you to frame your mirror and your face to highlight your reflection perfectly.

The other option is a fixture directly above the mirror, but if you decide to go this way, opt for a fixture with an opaque cover to avoid harsh overhead lighting that creates unflattering shadows. An exposed or directional light bulb can result in shadowing around your eyes or nose that can make it difficult to trust what you see in the mirror.

Your choice will also ultimately depend on the shape and size of your mirror. A round mirror in a small powder room may only have space for a sconce above while a double vanity may have room for multiple eye-level sconces.

Shower Lighting

You may want to plan some recessed lighting for your shower, especially if you have a walk-in shower with a door. Here, you will definitely want to use either a damp-rated or moisture-rated fixture when installing your recessed lighting. Your choice will depend on whether water will directly hit the light or if it will only be exposed to humidity.

From there, you will want to consider the look and feel of your shower to pick the recessed lighting for your shower. The bulb itself comes in a variety of styles including frosted, albalite, and opal.

When deciding how much lighting you need in your shower, consider adding at least one overhead light in a single shower and two in a double. Some owners even add task lighting in the shower niche to illuminate your bath products.

LeClair Decor

Ambient lighting is considered your standard, general light that illuminates the entire space. This is typically done through a ceiling light, but any light that brightens the general space and allows you to move around the room freely and safely is considered ambient lighting. In general, your ambient light should cast light equally to all four corners of your bathroom.

Consider the square footage of your bathroom as you decide what kind of ambient lighting you want. Try an online calculator to figure out how many lumens you need for your bathroom based on your square footage and fill it in with ambient lighting.

Ceiling Lighting

The most common bathroom ambient lighting is ceiling lighting. But what kind of ceiling lighting is best for your space? From pendant lights to flush mount to recessed, it can be a puzzle to figure out what light style is best for your space.

Recessed Lighting

A modern or larger bathroom may do best with a handful of can or recessed lights to cast away any shadows in the corners and brighten up the space. A general guide for recessed lighting is to divide the ceiling height by two to decide how much to space each light apart. So, for example, an eight-foot ceiling should have recessed lights spaced four feet apart.

Flush Mount Lighting

If you're a renter or you just moved into a new construction, you may have a single flush mount light overhead instead. A cheap flush mount light fixture is one of the worst bathroom decor mistakes you can make. Instead, swap it out for a drum flush mount or a schoolhouse-inspired future with exposed lighting.

Pendant Lighting

While we wouldn't recommend a decorative pendant or chandelier as your only source of light, adding one can be a great way to create a focal point in a larger bathroom and upgrade your space without a lot of effort.

Design: Emily Henderson

Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp

The final type of lighting that it's important to consider in your bathroom is the accent lighting. It's there to add a certain feel to your bathroom or highlight a specific corner or cove in your space. It won't light up your entire room, but it can help create a mood and is a great opportunity to be a little more experimental with your picks.

This is a great opportunity to showcase an architectural feature such as an archway or a built-in cabinet using a sconce or downlighting. Install your accent lighting in a place that highlights the most flattering details of an object (for example, in a darker corner to illuminate floor to ceiling tile). In a larger bathroom with space for side tables, a small lamp can add a lot of warmth and add a temporary source of light that can be easily moved around as you redecorate.

Sure, picking out beautiful fixtures is one part of the puzzle, but there are a lot of other details that you can't forget when it comes to creating that Instagrammable bathroom. As an example, picking out the wrong bulb for your fixture can make a modern sconce feel dated and out of place. And what about dimmer switches? Here's what you should know about all of the nitty, gritty details.

Bathroom Dimmers

If you've never considered a dimmer in your bathroom before, now is the chance to fix that. A dimmer switch connected to your overhead light is a must if you're renovating your space. Not only can a dimmer switch save on energy bills, but it can help you take your bathroom from morning to evening. It can be difficult to find the perfect lighting for a bright summer morning and a dreary winter evening, so a dimmer switch can be a great solution.

Keeping a dimmed a light on overnight can also function as a grownup nightlight so you aren't blinded by harsh bulbs in the middle of the night.

How to Pick Light Bulbs

While your exact light bulbs may differ based on your final bathroom fixture choices, a good rule of thumb is to consider warmer light in the bathroom. Look for bulbs that mimic natural light and avoid those that feel clinical or overly cold and harsh.

Here's a quick rundown of the types of bulbs you may encounter while outfitting your bathroom:

Pure Salt Interiors

The color of your bulb is also very important, especially when you're getting ready in the morning. Look for bulbs with a color temperature of 2700K and a Color Rendering Index of 90 or higher. This will ensure you're not stuck with unflattering light or a stark, overly cold feeling in your bathroom.

Now that you've mapped out the types of lighting you need, it's time for the fun part. If you're renovating a space, you will have endless options when it comes to bathroom lighting fixtures. Consider the light fixtures as the icing on top of your bathroom decor's cake. Since you probably don't have a lot of art in the bathroom, your lighting fixtures act as a way to pull tile and fixtures together and create a seamless look.

In a bathroom that's already been renovated, but just needs a little lighting help, look to your existing fixtures. Pull in themes from your vanity or shower tile to ensure your lighting feels connected and purposeful. We recommend sticking to similar finishes throughout your fixtures to create a cohesive look, but you can also pick a palette and mix and match materials like marble or gold that play well together.

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AD It Yourself

A designer’s advice on properly illuminating your bath whether you are grooming or relaxing

Great lighting is important in every room in the house, but it plays a particularly vital role in a bathroom. Choose the wrong light bulb and you wind up going overboard with your makeup; place a lighting fixture in the wrong spot and you’ll be shaving in the shadows. “Sometimes people think a sconce alone will be romantic, and it just doesn’t work,” says designer Anne Sneed, who runs a firm based in Del Mar, California. “You want a few different sources of bathroom lighting to make the room pretty but also functional.”

Install extra lights based on the particular orientation of your bathroom, and how you plan to use the space. Does the room’s overhead fixture not provide enough light in the shower? Add a recessed can light with a watertight seal. Do you apply makeup in the bathroom? Bring in a makeup mirror with a built-in light. Do you want to add personality and atmosphere? Hang a fun chandelier above the tub for visual interest (though keep in mind that it shouldn’t be your main light source, as it won’t get things bright enough). Here are the designer’s tips for choosing bulbs, placing fixtures, and avoiding a haunted-house effect in your bathroom lighting scheme.

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Lighting in the bathroom: photo examples, organization rules

How much light do you need in the bathroom?

Ideal for the bathroom is a sufficient amount of light, close to daylight. Thus, it turns out to create the most natural light for a natural look and makeup. Since a combined bathroom can be used for different needs, it is better to install a combined type of lighting in it.

For a small bathroom in Khrushchev, one central light is appropriate in combination with two or three additional wall lamps.

In a large room, several ceiling lights are desirable. The greater the number of fixtures, the smaller the size and power they should differ. For a spacious bathroom, zonal lighting is suitable, thanks to which it will be possible to highlight individual functional areas, as well as emphasize the configuration of the space.

The photo shows the lighting of a small bathroom in the form of a laconic central chandelier placed on the ceiling.

The following important factors influence the choice of lighting:

First of all, before starting repairs in the room, they think over the light system and the specific places where its sources will be placed. Provide for the wiring of cables, the construction of plasterboard false beams and other things.

Which light should I choose?

Whether the bathroom is windowless or not, choose bright lighting that won't irritate your eyes. Warm light with a yellowish tint is considered the most comfortable and pleasant. Such a soft glow will contribute to complete relaxation in the bathing area. Devices with a cold bluish light, located near the washbasin, will help you quickly wake up and cheer up.

Location tips

When there is a lack of light in a room, a three-level tiered lighting system is ideal.

Basic

Depending on the location, there are ceiling, wall and floor lighting fixtures with manual or automatic switching.

Regular painted ceilings are often fitted with pendant lights with increased moisture protection. For a ceiling plane decorated with a plasterboard structure, plastic panels or slats, built-in lights are preferred. They are very convenient, aesthetic and safe, as they have hidden wiring. In the case of a stretch fabric, spot lighting is suitable, and LED lamps will be appropriate for a multi-level ceiling.

A classic solution for small rooms is the placement of a central chandelier.

If ceiling lights are not enough, wall lights are used. The placement is chosen depending on the height of the walls. Lamps should not blind the eyes, so they are usually installed at a level of two meters from the floor plane.

When purchasing sconces for the bathroom, pay attention to the lampshades, they should be shaped like a sphere or a flask and be closed.

The photo shows the interior of the bathroom in the attic with spotlights built into the stretch ceiling.

Floor lighting is most often a backlight, such as LED strip or sealed fixtures. To create a peaceful atmosphere in the room, it is possible to use closed flashlights, translucent lamps or portholes. Floor recessed lights will add an unusual entourage to the bathroom and give the atmosphere of mystery.

Lighting for functional areas

Each section of the room requires auxiliary lighting. Thus, you can not only visually change the perception of space, but also add a touch of originality to the monotonous atmosphere.

Work area

This area with a mirror and a washbasin requires high-quality lighting, which should fall evenly from both sides. For this, it is best to install two side lights with a symmetrical arrangement, slightly higher than eye level. This option is especially appropriate when applying makeup, as it provides the desired brightness and does not create a shadow on the face. For shaving, one lighting device above the mirror will be quite enough.

Lamps with flexible arms with the ability to adjust the direction of light are considered especially convenient.

The photo shows a working area in the bathroom, decorated with a mirror with built-in side lights.

Bath and shower

For lovers of relaxing baths, one or two devices with a subdued diffused glow are suitable. With the help of LED lighting, you can also decorate the bath itself around the perimeter or, if there is a lack of lighting, place several lamps in the shower area. The best option for the humidity zone will be devices with the ability to change the brightness and direction of the light flux.

In the photo there is a spotlight located above the bathtub in the interior of the bathroom.

Storage systems and appliances

To create an unusual romantic mood and give the environment a certain elegance, highlighting individual elements of the interior is used. Such a decorative solution allows you to highlight shelves, cabinets, drawers for things and other items. Such illumination can be carried out using LED strip or spotlights. As additional lighting in the room, an area with hooks for towels or a place where there is a washing machine is equipped with a separate source.

Pictured are shelves in the bathroom with spotlights.

Decorative

Thanks to independent strip lighting, spotlights framing the bathroom, a faucet nozzle that changes color depending on the water temperature, it turns out to give the room even more light and space.

The photo shows decorative lighting in a high-tech bathroom interior.

One of the most popular bathroom solutions is a false window. It is made of frosted glass, which is decorated with moisture-resistant patterns and equipped with built-in fluorescent lighting.

Lighting in a small bathroom

It is not advisable to use too massive lamps as lighting in a small bathroom and, if possible, do without a chandelier. Spotlights are best suited here, due to which you can also organize zoning and make the room as functional as possible.

Pictured is a small bathroom with lighting and hanging ceiling lamps.

For a bathroom with a low ceiling, it would be better to choose lighting in the form of sconces, floor lamps or a ceiling chandelier with a luminous flux directed upwards. Thus, a play of shadows will be created on the ceiling plane, which will visually give the room height.

Pictured is a mirror with recessed lighting in a small bathroom.

Design Examples

Illuminated shower head looks chic and creates a colorful stream of water. An equally unusual solution is the ceiling in the form of a starry sky or luminous drops with LED spot elements. To create original lighting, bathroom sides and podiums are decorated with backlighting, and niches, screens or baseboards are decorated with spotlights.

Photo of a spacious bathroom with original floor lighting.

In order to create a relaxing and surprisingly romantic atmosphere in the bathroom, it is appropriate to install LED bubble air panels.

Ideas for different interior styles

In the classical style, the furnishings are decorated with steel or wrought bronze candelabra and crystal products with numerous pendants, chains, beads and other decorative elements.

For minimalism, it is appropriate to use pendant lamps, which are distinguished by their simple form and lack of decor. In the interior, there are often models with round shades in the form of balls, cones or abstract lamps.

Provence is characterized by floor lamps, voluminous chandeliers and metal or wooden candelabra. As a complement to a beautiful interior composition, massive forged chandeliers with glass lampshades are selected and lamps or sconces in the form of inflorescences are placed near the mirror.

The photo shows a variant of lighting in a modern bathroom.

LED lighting in combination with metal halogen lamps fits perfectly into the loft style. To enhance the industrial atmosphere, pendant lamps are used on thick chains or cords that resemble wires.

The Scandinavian interior offers any type of wall or ceiling lamps that can be combined with modern LED lamps. This style does not accept too bulky and artsy light sources.

Safety regulations

When developing a lighting scheme, first of all, attention is paid to safety. Light fixtures must be airtight and positioned so that water drops do not fall on them.

Photo gallery

With the right arrangement of light, you can complete the image of the bathroom, make the cladding, furniture and sanitary ware more spectacular, as well as form a practical and cozy design. Due to correctly designed lighting, you can give the interior the necessary accents and bring harmony to it.

Lighting in the bathroom - 50 photos of original combination ideas in the interior

A lot of lighting is good, but not in all cases. Of course, each person independently determines for himself how many and what types of lamps to install. These can be spot, standard shades in the center of the ceiling, etc. It is necessary to proceed from the space of the room.

Let's take a closer look at the types of lighting in the bathroom.

According to the standards, the ceiling lamp and wall sconces should be correct. There may be an option to combine the main ceiling lamp and several spotlights.

Placement of lighting fixtures

Lighting is always needed even if there is a window. Following the standards, lighting in the bathroom should be three levels.

Top lighting. Great for small spaces. One plafond on the ceiling will be enough, you can add a scattering of stars, if the budget allows.

Work area lighting. Of course it's a mirror. Install lighting fixtures on the sides, only at the top of the mirror. It is better to give preference to flexible brackets, so you can adjust the light, directing it to the desired area.

Floor lighting. It's more for decoration than functionality. Originally, you can emphasize the various elements of the room, you can build it into niches or steps. So it will be beautiful and additional light will appear. As in the photo of lighting in the bathroom.

Lighting tips

The first thing you should pay attention to is the area of ​​the room. Lighting a small bath is completely different from a large one. It is not possible to hang a ceiling hanging lamp. It won't be practical. And in a large room, one chandelier with several shades is not installed. It just won't be enough to light up the bath.

The second rule. Do not buy models made of colored glass, the light in such devices will be distorted. The most popular and optimal option, a closed-type ceiling made of transparent material, can be matte and white.

The third tip is to match your bathroom fixtures. Here's an example: modern style requires bright light, there should be a lot of it, you can use a backlight of a different color. In the Japanese style, on the contrary, the light should soothe.

The fourth lighting option is a classic. If the interior of the room is fully consistent with the classical style, attach lamps with concise forms without unnecessary elements. Preferably vintage glass, it will create an interesting play on the walls.

LED lighting

We live in a modern world and every day we come up with new modern styles and lighting solutions. One such LED bath lighting. It is beneficial in that it consumes little energy, the service life is about 100 thousand hours.

It is used to decorate various items: mirror, bedside tables, ceiling, floor, etc. Here already to your taste.

Can also be used with a combination of spotlights. Of course, such equipment costs a lot, this is perhaps the only negative.

Installation of luminaires on a stretch ceiling

Today, more and more often you can find stretch ceilings in an apartment, and the bathroom is no exception.

Consider the process of installing lighting in stretch ceilings in the bathroom:

Devices are mounted on a rack, which is located at the base of the ceiling.

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