When choosing the right lighting for your bathroom, there are many factors to consider. The size and layout of the room, the type of fixtures and fittings you have, and the overall style of your home all play a role in determining the best lighting scheme.
One of the most important things to remember is the room’s function. The bathroom is where we start and end our day, so it is important to have functional and flattering lighting. For example, task lights around the mirror make it easier to shave or apply makeup, while softer ambient lighting can create a relaxing atmosphere for soaking in the tub or enjoying a long hot shower.
Then there are the lights that are present simply to be decorative. These can add a touch of luxury or style to the room and can be used to highlight certain features. Chandeliers, for example, look stunning above the bathtub, while pendant lights can provide focused task lighting over the vanity.
A bathroom with decorative lighting creates texture through the shadows on this feature wall.
What are the five most common lighting types in bathrooms?
1. Downlights
Downlights are a great way to add ambient lighting to your bathroom. They can be placed around the room’s perimeter or in clusters for a dramatic effect. They tend to throw a spotlight down, so use them sparingly if you don’t want to create too much glare.
2. Wall sconces
Wall sconces are a beautiful way to add accent lighting to your bathroom. They can be placed on either side of the mirror or around the room’s perimeter for a softer effect. Be sure to use bulb rated for damp locations to avoid any risk of electrical hazards.
3. Chandeliers
Chandeliers are a luxurious touch that can instantly transform your bathroom into a glamourous space, creating mood lighting in bathroom locations. They look especially stunning when hung above the bathtub or placed in a strategic location to highlight other features in the room.
4. Pendant lights
Pendant lights are a great way to add task lighting to your bathroom. They can be hung over the vanity or placed in other strategic locations around the room.
5. LED strips
LED strip lighting bathroom locations offer versatile options for lighting. They can be used to create ambient, accent, or task lighting, depending on how they are installed. LED strips are also very energy-efficient, so they’ll help you save money on your energy bills.
5 great ideas for bathroom lighting
There is a wealth of images online to take inspiration from. We’ve scoured the net for some of our favourite options that demonstrate the light fittings we’ve mentioned above. Take a look!
Lights on either side of the main mirror in a modern bathroom
Wall sconces or Downlighters fitted on either side of the room’s mirror is a great way to achieve ambient lighting in your bathroom. If you want to go for a softer effect, then use wall sconces that are placed around the room’s perimeter. For a more dramatic look, opt for downlights that are clustered together. Just be sure not to overdo it so as not to create too much glare.
Bathroom chandeliers in a stylish bathroom
Chandeliers can help you achieve a luxurious and glamorous ambience in your bathroom. They are best hung above the bathtub or in a strategic location that will highlight other features in the room.
A chandelier as the main light source may often not offer the most even illumination in the bathroom, so other types of light fittings can compliment them for a relaxing ambient bathroom lighting result.
Pendant lights over the vanity
Pendant lights are a great way to provide task lighting in your bathroom. They can be hung over the vanity or placed in other strategic locations around the room. Just be sure to use bulbs that are rated for damp locations to avoid any risk of electrical hazards.
LED Strip Lighting in a hotel-style shower room.
LED strip lighting is versatile in experimenting with bathroom mood lighting ideas. It can be used to create ambient, accent, or task lighting, depending on how it is installed, as you can see here in one of the best shower light ideas we’ve seen. LED strips are also very energy-efficient, so they’ll help you save money on your energy bills.
Lighting in the shower is quite common in commercial settings, such as hotels, but often absent in home locations, resulting in dark and dingy shower spaces. Consider adding lighting in a shower space to bring the spot to life.
Gridded downlighters throughout a modern high gloss bathroom
Eschewing the regular advice to avoid positioning downlights where they will cause glare, this high gloss bathroom uses a grid of downlights to create specular highlights throughout the glossy floor, glass dividers and vanity.
Conclusion
Bathroom lighting doesn’t have to be limited to a single type of fixture. With a bit of creativity, you can use a variety of light sources to create the perfect atmosphere for your bathroom. Whether you’re looking for task lighting over the vanity or want to create a relaxing mood with ambient lighting, there are plenty of options available to you.
FAQ
Bathroom lighting can be a tricky thing to get right. You want to ensure that you have enough light to see what you’re doing, but you don’t want it to be too bright or overwhelming. And of course, you want it to look good too! The answer is to consider your space and establish what areas you would like to highlight (such as the shower or vanity) and where you can accept more ambient lighting.
Dreary and uninviting is a bathroom with poor lighting! Getting the lighting right in the bathroom can be pretty challenging, but you can do a few things to improve it. Consider the different types of light sources available to you and how they can be used to create the effect you want.
Smaller bathrooms can often be more difficult to light than larger ones. This is because there are typically fewer windows and less space to work with. However, plenty of ways to get the lighting right in a small bathroom. One way is to combine different light sources to create a well-lit space. Another way is to use mirrors to reflect light and make the space appear larger. Finally, avoid any glare-inducing light fixtures so as not to make the space feel even smaller.
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