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Master bath lighting ideas


7 Best Lighting Style Ideas for Your Master Bathroom

When planning the lighting for the master bathroom in your custom home, first analyze your space and think about how you’ll be using the area. Most bathrooms, no matter how big or small, can be split into zones: the vanity space, the bathtub area, and the shower.

There are three main types of lighting: ambient lightings, the overall lighting in a room; task lighting, targeted lighting which is brighter so you can see what you are doing; and accent lighting, which highlights specific areas or features in a room. 

For example, you want to have brighter lighting or task lighting around the vanity area, since that’s the space where you’ll be getting yourself ready. Whereas in the bathtub or shower area you may want that space to have a more spa-like sanctuary feel, so dimmable accent lighting that adds ambiance to a space would work better.

Whatever the type of lighting you are going for, good bathroom lighting ideas can make a large bathroom feel more intimate or a small bathroom seem larger. So, enhance the look of your master bathroom by choosing the proper lighting style for your space. Here are a few examples of different light fixture options that can give you some inspiration so you can create the bathroom sanctuary you’ve always wanted.

Pendant lights work perfect as a central lighting fixture or for giving a space ambient lighting. Pendant lights also work well for a downward light source. Place pendant lights on both sides of your vanity to add a touch of style while also supplying the space with effective task lighting. You can also choose larger pendants and place them in a more centralized area in your bathroom’s ceiling to create a dramatic focal point and add ambient lighting instead.

Statement pieces provide a focal point for your bathroom, completes your design look, and provides a unique look to the bathroom without being too overwhelming for the space.

Sconces are wall-mounted light fixtures are perfect for framing an object and would work well to frame a vanity mirror. Sconces give adequate lighting, adds balance to a space, and they don’t take up too much space. Sconces are also perfect for creating a shadow-free, flattering light source, which is what you want for when you’re putting on make-up or shaving.

Image credit (left to right): John Cullen Lighting | Pinterest | Interior Stylist Ltd.

Uplighting is a type of lighting adds a dramatic lighting effect to a space and is perfect for creating a relaxing ambiance to a low-lit bathtub area or is perfect for highlighting a specific space or objects in a room. Uplighting is added by placing light fixtures on (or in) the ground and pointing them up a wall.

Vanity bar lights are types of lights are the most used type of lighting in a bathroom. Vanity bar lights are a single row of lights (commonly in twos, threes, or four sets of lights). These lights are typically placed right above a vanity mirror and provides a traditional and clean look to a bathroom while also saving on space.

A chandelier is like a statement piece, but a bit more dramatic, and oftentimes bigger--chandeliers give bathrooms a touch of elegance. They give a regal sort of feel to a space thanks to its eye-catching and dramatic look.

LED Inlay Lighting is a type of lighting is becoming more popular for bathrooms, especially if the look the homeowner is going for leans more on the modern and clean look. LED Inlay Lighting often has lighting inside of the vanity mirror itself and can create a relaxing ambiance in the vanity area. 

These types of lights can also be recessed within cabinetry or in niches so you can’t see the light itself. LED inlay lights are also adjustable and can be made brighter for ideal lighting for when you are getting ready for the day.

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17 Beautiful Bathroom Lighting Ideas for Every Style

By

Deirdre Sullivan

Deirdre Sullivan

Deirdre Sullivan is an interior design expert and features writer who specializes in home improvement as well as design. She began her career as an assistant editor at Elle magazine and has more than a decade of experience. Deirdre contributes content for brands including The Spruce and Realtor.com, and has been a featured speaker at various conferences.

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Updated on 03/29/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

The bathroom is the place most of us start and end our days, so it makes sense it should feel like a peaceful and clean spot where you can relax, revive, and unwind. But if your dim bathroom does not feel particularly appealing, the proper lighting can enhance the space, especially if you are looking to create a luxurious spa-like vibe. To help you accomplish just that, take a gander at our favorite bathroom lighting ideas.

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Bathroom Lighting - Repair and Design

Proper lighting will help make any bathroom cozy and comfortable. Apartment buildings of common Soviet projects and even modern architectural projects do not allow providing a bathroom with natural light. The lack of windows makes using the bathroom without artificial lighting very inconvenient. Only properly installed electric lighting will make it possible to comfortably take a bath.

Contents

Getting started

Everything starts with wiring. Since high humidity does not add reliability to electrical connections, the terminal blocks should be located outside the bathrooms.

Junction boxes, sockets and switches are also installed outside. Lighting in the bathroom is carried out with waterproof shades and chandeliers.

Where is the best place for lamps

The most convenient location for lamps is where they give off the most light. Ceiling lighting in the bathroom is optional, so the plafond can also be mounted on the wall. For this, chandeliers under the IP67 standard are suitable. It implies dust and moisture protection.

Lighting in a stretch ceiling bathroom is exposed to excessive moisture as it condenses on the back of the ceiling material. For this reason, it is better to install chandeliers on a surface tiled or painted with moisture-resistant paint. Stretch ceiling for the bathroom is an extremely unfortunate solution.

Tips for lighting in the bathroom

When installing electrical wiring in rooms with high humidity, the following recommendations should also be taken into account:

Lighting in a small bathroom can be organized with built-in lights. This method has an advantage in the distribution of light over space, but its implementation requires considerable costs, since for this purpose overhead niches are arranged from waterproof drywall on a metal frame. You also need to choose light colors for furniture and paint, as a dark tone will conceal an already small space.

If the budget is limited and repairs are already overdue, then everything can be done by hand. Bathroom lighting and photos of how it was done without the help of hired craftsmen are easy to find on the Internet.

Types of lamps

The first step is to decide on the type of lighting, this is important when choosing shades.

LED lamps are best suited for small chandeliers and shades. Since they heat up much less than other types of lamps and do not melt plastic structural elements.

Then you need to measure the dimensions of the likely chandeliers. The cheapest are overhead chandeliers for wall mounting. With a little imagination, cheap and unsightly products will turn out to be beautiful vintage lamps, the price of which not a single guest will guess.

It is important to follow the criteria described above when installing electrical wiring. The plafond should not let moisture through, have an IP67 degree of protection, an easily removable cap and a solid base. The lamp holder is marked according to the permissible load current. It must be porcelain and have a load capacity of at least 50 watts.

When choosing lamps for the bathroom, it is better to give preference to cool shades. This will visually increase the area and make the lighting brighter.

Bathroom Lighting - 135 Best Photo Examples from Real Bathrooms

House with Hidden Stairs

goro_da

Fresh Design Idea: Large Children's Bathroom in White with Wood Finishes: Contemporary Style Lighting with Flat Fronts, light wood fronts, over-bath shower, installation, white tile, tiles, white walls, mosaic tile floors, cantilevered sink, white floor, vanity unit and alcove bathtub - great interior photo

Modern Farmhouse-Upstate

Crisp Architects

The shower in the Master Bathroom. Photographer: Rob Karosis
Fresh design idea: large master bathroom: country style lighting with corner shower, white tile, hog tile, white walls, slate flooring, black flooring, swing door shower and freestanding bathtub - great photo Interior

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KBR Design & Build

Original design example: medium sized bathroom: modernist lighting with flat cabinets, light wood cabinets, alcove shower, separate WC, gray tiles, porcelain stoneware tiles, gray walls, porcelain stoneware flooring, walk-in shower, vanity sink, faux stone, white flooring and outdoor shower

Owner's Sanctuary in Maple Grove

MA Peterson Designbuild, Inc.

Design ideas for a medium-sized master bathroom: Classic style lighting with recessed infill cabinets, white cabinets, a freestanding bathtub, blue walls, ceramic tile flooring, a sink sink, granite countertops and gray flooring

Private residence, Notting Hill Gate

Sian Baxter Lighting Design

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Castle Harbor homes

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Stevenson

TAS Construction

Photos by Whit Preston Architect: Cindy Black, Hello Kitchen
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Modern Classic Bathroom

New England Design Elements

Seacoast Photography
Photo of a medium-sized bathroom: neoclassical (modern classic) lighting with a sink, gray cabinets, faux quartz countertops, white tiles, ceramic tiles, gray walls, porcelain stoneware floors, and cabinets in style shaker with

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AA Design Firm

The photo doesn't even show how magnificent this slab of granite countertop is. We were able to install it in one piece without cutting it. The countertop has very fine slight sparkle to it. We wanted to create a more zen like shower but still very eye catching.

Sweet Cottage Kitchen & Bath in Barrington

Advance Design Studio, Ltd.

This 1930's Barrington Hills farmhouse was in need of some TLC when it was purchased by this southern family of five who planned to make it their new home. The renovation taken on by Advance Design Studio's designer Scott Christensen and master carpenter Justin Davis included a custom porch, custom built in cabinetry in the living room and children's bedrooms, 2 children's on-suite baths, a guest powder room, a fabulous new master bath with custom closet and makeup area, a new upstairs laundry room, a workout basement, a mud room, new flooring and custom wainscot stairs with planked walls and ceilings throughout the home. The home's original mechanicals were in dire need of updating, so HVAC, plumbing and electrical were all replaced with newer materials and equipment. A dramatic change to the exterior took place with the addition of a quaint standing seam metal roofed farmhouse porch perfect for sipping lemonade on a lazy hot summer day. In addition to the changes to the home, a guest house on the property underwent a major transformation as well. Newly outfitted with updated gas and electric, a new stacking washer/dryer space was created along with an updated bath complete with a glass enclosed shower, something the bath did not previously have. A beautiful kitchenette with ample cabinetry space, refrigeration and a sink was transformed as well to provide all the comforts of home for visiting guests at the classic cottage retreat. The biggest design challenge was to keep in line with the charm the old home possessed, all the while giving the family all the convenience and efficiency of modern functioning amenities. One of the most interesting uses of material was the porcelain "wood-looking" tile used in all the baths and most of the home's common areas. All the efficiency of porcelain tile, with the nostalgic look and feel of worn and weathered hardwood floors. The home’s casual entry has an 8" rustic antique barn wood look porcelain tile in a rich brown to create a warm and welcoming first impression. Painted distressed cabinetry in muted shades of gray/green was used in the powder room to bring out the rustic feel of the space which was accentuated with wood planked walls and ceilings. Fresh white painted shaker cabinetry was used throughout the rest of the rooms, accentuated by bright chrome fixtures and muted pastel tones to create a calm and relaxing feeling throughout the home. Custom cabinetry was designed and built by Advance Design specifically for a large 70” TV in the living room, for each of the children's bedroom's built in storage, custom closets, and book shelves, and for a mudroom fit with custom niches for each family member by name. The ample master bath was fitted with double vanity areas in white. A generous shower with a bench features classic white subway tiles and light blue/green glass accents, as well as a large free standing soaking tub nestled under a window with double sconces to dim while relaxing in a luxurious bath. A custom classic white bookcase for plush towels greets you as you enter the sanctuary bath. Joe Nowak

Glendora Contemporary Investor Remodel

Classic Kitchens, Etc.

Jay Adams
Pictured: Medium-sized bathroom: modern lighting with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, shower over bathtub, separate toilet, beige walls, walk-in shower, sink and faux stone countertops with

04 - Traditional Ranch Remodel Master Bathroom Double Vanity

Aspire Fine Homes

Felix Sanchez (www.felixsanchez.com)
Design ideas for a huge master bathroom: Classic style lighting with a sink sink, white cabinets, mosaic tile, blue walls, dark parquet floors, beige tiles, gray tiles, marble countertops, brown floors, white countertops, recessed panel cabinets, bathtub with legs, double vanity and built-in vanity

Minikahda Vista Cape Cod

Fluidesign Studio

Building Design, Plans (in collaboration with Orfield Drafting), and Interior Finishes by: Fluidesign Studio I Builder & Creative Collaborator : Anchor Builders I Photographer: sethbennphoto. com

Simplistic Galley

Caden Design Group

This contemporary bath utilizes the galley way construction of this master bath through the use of light, and finishes. A large glass shower equipped with rain shower head and storage niches, reflects light impeccably making the space feel expansive. Counter to ceiling height mirror atop a floating vanity, utilize the lateral height of the space. A seated vanity with topped with a mirror at the end of the galley creates drama and focal point upon entry.

Clawson Architects Projects

Clawson Architects, LLC

The Master Bathroom is quite a retreat for the owners and part of an elegant Master Suite. The spacious marble shower and beautiful soaking tub offer an escape for relaxation.

Bathroom

Knight Construction Design Inc.

Stylish design: bathroom: classic lighting with countertop sink and orange walls - the latest trend

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