We continue our educational articles on bathroom design, product selection, and remodeling. Today we are going to talk about how to improve bathroom lighting. It is one of the most important elements of our bathroom. We know that there are many factors when choosing a lighting fixture. Decisions such as location, classification by location in space, general lighting effect, functionality, among others, usually totally influence the final result.
LED vs. incandescent
The most advisable thing is to have a device that is actually LED or Energy Star for all the benefits that this brings. Understanding the conversion of incandescent lighting that we are used to, LEDs can be confusing, but we can help you get the best and most comparable light possible.
Once that point is clarified, the location is important. Keep in mind that you can’t put a pendant light over a bathtub, like a chandelier, unless you have very high ceilings. Clearance is required from the top of the tub to the bottom of the fixture.
On the dresser, you probably want to see the selections that are mounted on the wall or on the ceiling. This will project the light further forward, making makeup application, shaving, etc. easier to see. This can be achieved with lighting within mirrors, often seen in hotels. If you choose lights that flank a mirror instead of a fixture that mounts over a mirror, don’t forget that those lights will affect the width of the mirror that can be used.
If your sinks are set a good distance from the ends of the vanity, that’s fine. When the sinks are very close to the outer ends of that vanity, lighting over the mirror on the wall is a better way to go. Some people have recessed lights just above their dresser. They want to go in this direction as it is a more modern and clean look.
The location, in this case, is very important. If they are behind you, they will cast shadows when you block the light source, making it more difficult to see their activities on the dresser. This is why we generally recommend that lighting, for best use, be wall mounted rather than recessed in the ceiling only. There are many other types of more ambient lighting such as lighted outlets, nightlight toilet seats, LED lighting strips that can be installed around a mirror creating a backlit glow or under your toe on the vanity.
These options provide both functionality and a softer option for fully lit room. There are many other types of more ambient lighting such as lighted outlets, nightlight toilet seats, LED lighting strips that can be installed around a mirror creating a backlit glow or under your toe on the vanity. These options provide both functionality and a softer option to have the room fully lit.