Bathroom Lighting Design by: Holly Eddins

Bathroom Lighting Design

Do you find yourself not wanting to look at yourself in your bathroom mirror in the morning? It may simply be because you have poor lighting. Lighting naturally creates shadows and if you do not have your lighting properly planned, you may find that your newly remodeled bathroom is not the happy place you thought it would be.

I'm writing this article as a result of numerous questions from my neighbor who is remodeling. Being a professional lighting, they have lots of questions for me regarding their bathroom lighting. It really seems to be a daunting task for them. Bathroom in lighting design, there are many decisions to make. From design and placement to what fixture to use to what light bulbs are best. I'd like to take you around the room to give you a rule of thumb when planning your own bathroom lighting design.

Shower Lights

Showers are a space that you no doubt need a form of recessed lighting. It's very important to use a recessed fixture that is made for the shower and rated to work under conditions of humidity and possible contact with water. In addition you'll want to use a rated light bulbs to use in the shower. Most products will be clearly marked as such.

Personally, we have a dimmer light on our shower. It allows for a slow wake up by anyone getting into the shower before the light of day. But it's important to provide enough light to allow you to shave and see what you are doing.

Bathtub Lighting

Depending on the height of your bathtub and if it is separate from your shower, your lighting solutions here will be different. Let's assume you have a separate bathtub here. If not, you will not do anything different than what I've outlined above. Typically, you will be using recessed lighting above your bathtub area. It is not necessary to have water rated fixtures and light bulbs in this spot. One or maybe two recessed fixtures aimed at the outside of the tub will provide what you need. Aiming to the outside of the tub will provide light to see what you are doing yet will cut down on any glare.

Vanity Mirror and Lighting

This area might be the most crucial spot to get it "right." Improper lighting when you are trying to apply make-up or shaving can be the pits. Lighting companies have come up with a number of functional and decorative choices for vanity / mirror lighting.

Topping and flanking your vanity mirror with strips is one way to provide light. Insure that you purchase vanity light bulbs that have a lower wattage or frosted glass so you do not blind yourself. I've seen the mistake many make is that their light bulbs are too powerful and then they unscrew several of them to take down the light level. This totally defeats the purpose of having a vanity strip as it is suppose to evenly distribute light.

What we decided to use is our home is wall sconces. And now that I think about it, we used it in all three bathrooms. The master has 3 as we have a long vanity and there are holes cut in the glass where the sconces sit. The other two bathrooms have the sconces flanking the mirror. When you choose to have more than two, it's important that the spacing be such that the light is coming from either side of each sink. Spacing here is not as critical; just insure that they are evenly spaced. Most folks tent to stand in front of the sink and you would not want to have the Sconce right in front of your face! Their height should be about eye height. This will need to be adjusted slightly according to the type of Sconce that you choose. Bottom line is that you do not want to be able to see the light bulb itself when standing and looking at the Sconce.

Ceiling Fixtures

If you are lucky enough to high ceilings in your bathroom, go for a small decorative fixture like a small chandelier. The rule of thumb on the size of chandelier is calculated by taking the width of the room added to the length of the room. (Or if you are installing multiple lighting fixtures, use the dimensions of the area that this fixture is meant to light.) That number should equal the diameter of the fixture. Ie. A master bath that is 15 'X 13' would need a chandelier or decorative fixture about 28 "in diameter.

Recessed Lighting

I'm all for recessed fixtures in your overall bathroom lighting design. What I do not care for are ceilings that look like swiss cheese. After you've planned for all other lighting, it would be prudent to fill other needs lighting with recessed lighting. If using recessed in the toilet area, locate the can in front of the toilet and not right over. No reason to be in the spot light!

Use recessed light to dead areas or to light sitting / reading areas. Yes, some bathrooms are big enough for reading or lounging areas. Above a bench or reading area is a perfect place to insert a recessed fixture. Now, I'm going to throw this in now. My neighbor wants to put a Sconce above the toilet for reading purposes. Use the same rule of thumb as mirror sconces and place the fixture at about eye level.

Night Light

Some sort of lighting that can be left on all night is not only a safety solution but will allow you to make the middle of the night trip to the bathroom without waking yourself up totally. Lots of folks use a night light and if you do not have much space in your bathroom, this is a great solution. I love to use accent lamp lighting when there is room. A small lamp with a long life light bulb or compact fluorescent light bulb in it provides a wonderful accent light day and night. Either place on your vanity or focus on a small table.

There are numerous components to bathroom lighting design. The above should get you started in the process or at least give you the confidence that your electrician is putting junction boxes in the correct spots. One last suggestion I'll make is to put all of your bathroom lighting on dimmers. Many of us use our bathrooms as a serene get away. To achieve this; lighting is a huge component. Having the ability to Sunday the lights will provide the perfect atmosphere.


About The Author
Holly Eddins has over 10 years experience in the lighting industry. If you'd like to get more information from Holly about Lighting Design or Choosing the right Light Bulbs for your applications visit her website at http://www.lighSalle Bath Lighting Design

Is it that you are not wanting to look in your mirror bathroom in the morning? May it be simply because you have poor lighting. Lighting naturally creates shadows and if you do not have your lighting properly planned, in May that your bathroom to nine is not happy where you thought it would be.

I'm writing this article, after many questions from my neighbor who is remodeling. Being a professional lighting, they have many questions for me as regards the lighting of their bathroom. It seems to really be a daunting task for them. In the bathroom lighting design, there are many decisions to make. From design and placement of this template to use for what bulbs are best. I want you around the room to give you a general rule when planning your own bathroom lighting design.

Shower Lights

The showers are an area that you probably need a form of recessed lighting. It is very important to use a template in which withdrawal is made for the shower and can work in conditions of humidity and possible contact with water. In addition, you want to use a classified light bulbs for use in the shower. Most products will be clearly marked as such.

Personally, we have a dimmer light of our shower. It allows you to wake up slowly by anyone entering the shower before daylight. But it is important to provide enough light so you can shave and what you do.

Bath Lighting

Depending on the height of your bathtub and is separate from your shower, your lighting solutions here will be different. Suppose you have a bath here. If not, you can not do anything other than what I described above. Typically, you use recessed lighting over your bathtub area. It is not necessary to have water facilities and rated bulbs in this place. One or two accessories recessed to the outside of the tub provide what you need. To the outside of the tub provide light to see what you do still reduce any glare.

Vanity mirror and lighting

This area could be the most important place to get "right." Poor lighting when you try to apply makeup or shaving may be the wells. Lighting companies have resulted in a number of techniques and decoration of choice for vanity / mirror lighting.

Topping and accompanying vanity mirror with your band is a way to light. Make sure the vanity purchase bulbs have a lower power or frosted glass so you do not blind yourself. The mistake that I have seen many is that their bulbs are too powerful and unscrew several of them to take the light level down. This totally defeats the purpose of having a bunch of vanity, it is suppose to evenly distribute light.

What we decided to use our house is Sconces. And now that I think we used in the three bathrooms. The master 3 that we have a long vanity and there are holes in the glass cup hosting the appliques. The other two bathrooms have the support of the wall mirror. When you choose to have more than two, it is important that the separation be such that the light from both sides of each well. Spacing here is not as critical and just make sure they are spaced evenly. Most people trying to appear before the sink and you would not want to have the law applied in front of your face! Their height should be about eye level. This should be slightly adjusted depending on the type of application you choose. Essential is that you do not want to be able to see the bulb itself standing and research Apply.

Ceiling Fixtures

If you are lucky high ceilings in your bathroom, go for a small decorative fixture as a small chandelier. The golden rule of size chandelier is calculated by taking the width of the room added to the length of the room. (Or if you're installing multiple lighting fixtures, use the size of the area that the guide is intended to light.) This number should equal the diameter of the fixture. Ie. A master bath that is 15 'X 13' would need a chandelier or decorative fixture on 28 "in diameter.

Recessed lighting

I'm off all accessories throughout your bathroom lighting design. What I do not care for the ceilings that look like Swiss cheese. Once you've planned for the lighting of all others, it would be prudent to fill other needs lighting with recessed lighting. If you use recessed in the toilet area, can locate the front of the toilet and not more than right. No reason to be in the spot!

Use inset light or dead zones in the light sitting / reading areas. Yes, some bathrooms are big enough for reading or lounging areas. Above a bench or reading area is a perfect place to insert a template behind. Now, I'll throw it now. My neighbor wants to put an Applies above the toilet for reading purposes. Use the same basic rule as a mirror and application places the fixture at about eye level.

Night Light

A sort of lighting that can be left whole night is not only a security solution but will allow you to make mid-night trip to the bathroom clock totally without you. Many people use a night light and if you do not have much space in your bathroom, this is a great solution. I like to use the lamp lighting accent when there is room. A small lamp with a long life compact fluorescent bulb or bulb provides a wonderful accent light of day and night. Either place on your vanity or focus on a small table.

There are many components for lighting bathroom. The above should help you get started in the process or at least give you the confidence that your electrician is in boxes in the right spots. A final suggestion, I will do is put all your bathroom on the light dimmer. Many of us use our bathroom as a serene escape. To achieve this goal, the lighting is a huge component. Having the ability to provide the lights dark atmosphere perfect.


About the author
Holly Eddins has over 10 years experience in the lighting industry. If you want more information about Holly Lighting Design or choosing the right bulbs for your applications visit her website at http: / / www.lightbulbmarket.com