When it comes to the bathroom decor, the brightest
ideas depend on light
or more appropriately, lights. Today, a well-lit
bathroom depends on a savvy lighting mix.
“Good lighting is essential for people
to see themselves in a
complimentary light,” says Todd Phillips,
president of lighting manufacturer
Quoizel. “Whether we are putting on
makeup or combing our hair, we want a
positive view of ourselves, which can only
be accomplished by using the right
light source.”
Like the rest of the house, the bathroom
reflects consumer’s changing
lifestyles. More spacious and multifunctional,
these once-utilitarian water
closets have become glamour havens—private
retreats designed for
relaxation, escape and self-indulgence.
“The bathroom is the part of the house
with the densest assortment of
materials and finishes,” says Dan Blitzer,
Manhattan, NY-based continuing
educator for the American Lighting Association.
“You have wall tile, floor
tile, shower tile, faucet hardware, towel
bars, wallpaper and paint all in a
space often smaller than 100 sq. ft.”
Whether built new or recently remodeled,
today’s more complex bathrooms demand
intricate lighting solutions. Task lighting
must be bright enough to do its job, but work
well with indirect accent lighting designed
to soften the room’s ambience by providing
a warm glow. Lighting fixtures and finishes
must complement, rather than compete with
plumbing accessories, tile, paint and wallpaper.
Think of lighting the bathroom the same way
as creating the perfect
ensemble, suggests Blitzer. “You want
everything to coordinate so that anyone walking
in views the room as a whole. Everything should
work together as opposed to supporting one
astonishing fixture.”
“When we look at the amount of money
that people invest in building or renovating
bathrooms, a proper lighting plan has the
potential to deliver dramatic results, costs
only a small fraction of the project budget,
and yet it is often lacking or overlooked,”
said Gary Taylor, president of Living Lighting
of Ontario.
The right lighting can make a bathroom much
more gracious. There’s a great opportunity
to match the finish of the plumbing accessories
with the light fixtures. There is a huge array
of styles in the market—from very ornate
poly-resin cast products to sleek satin nickel
fixtures with opal matte glass in a variety
of shapes and sizes.
While fixtures and finishes range in design
from sleek and clean to very
ornate, contemporary ranks as the top trend
in bathroom design. “While
contemporary still makes up a very small percentage
of home decor nationwide, people seem to feel
most comfortable with contemporary bathrooms—even
if it doesn’t necessarily represent
the overall style throughout their home,”
says Phillips.
Currently nickel owns the top spot in bathroom
finishes, followed closely
by chrome and brass. “Chrome and brushed
chrome continue as important
finishes,” says Phillips. “Chrome
coordinates best with mirrors, which are
essential in any bathroom.”
While some take a thoroughly modern approach
to bathroom lighting, others warm up to other
options. “We are seeing the influx of
popular home decor materials like iron and
vintage glass being used to make a warmer
design statement,” says Phillips. “This
is a greater continuity to what is happening
throughout the home at large.”
New technology has added options as well.
Fiber optics, with its remote
light source, can create twinkling star effects
when inset into bathroom
ceilings. Halogen bulbs with their variety
of sizes allow manufacturers to
design more ornate light fixtures. Unusual
light sources like wall sconces,
sky lights, and lamps perched on a table,
vanity or bathroom island provide
an unexpected touch. Shower lights brighten
up enclosed stalls. Reading lamps by the toilet
provide more focused light. Single sconces
on either side of the mirror remain popular.
To be most effective, begin your bathroom
lighting scheme at the vanity
with the lights that do the most work. These
lights must be bright enough so
you can see to shave or apply makeup, yet
soft enough to compliment facial
features. Fixtures located on each side of
the mirror should be set at eye
level to be most effective. Theatrical-style
lighting stripped along the
sides and across the top of the mirror also
do a good job.
Bulb selection is as important as choosing
and placing the right fixture.
For lighting vanity areas, try colored or
coated bulbs designed to enhance
facial features. Look for bath fixtures that
light down so the heat
dissipates easier from the sockets and creates
a longer life for all bulbs.
Recessed or canned lighting, however, is not
the most ideal as a
bathroom’s main or only lighting source
as it casts shadows across the face.
When remodeling or building a bathroom, don’t
be convinced that recessed lighting alone
will be adequate. You won’t be happy
unless you have other light sources to fill
in the gaps. It’s important to layer
the light.
Layers of light also reduce glare, important
to our aging population. “As
the eye ages, glare becomes a bigger problem,”
says Blitzer. “The eye needs
more light to see well as the aging eye lens
yellows and thickens. By 55
years old, you need twice as much light to
see as you did when you were 20.”
To further reduce glare, opt for frosted
white bulbs, rather than clear
models and avoid fixtures with exposed bulbs.
Check with local building inspectors about
electrical codes before
installing any new lighting. Fixtures used
in wet areas must be approved for
such a specific use. “Make sure that
your lamps are UL rated for damp
locations insuring safety,” says Phillips.
Sometimes there are restrictions on the placement
of various types of
lighting fixtures. Portable lamps, for example,
should not be put near a sink
or tub because of the possibility that it
might fall into the water and
electrocute you.
Finally, don’t worry about having too
much light, note the experts. “You
can never have too much light in the bathroom,”
says Phillips. “It’s easy to
install a dimmer control to reduce the amount
of light to create a mood.”
TEN WAYS TO LIGHT UP YOUR BATH
When coordinating bathroom lighting, combine
fashion with function to make your fixtures
supply ample amounts of light. The American
Lighting
Association suggests you check with the professionals
at lighting stores and
showrooms for the broadest range of styles
and knowledge.
1) SHOWER POWER: Lighting in the shower stall
should be bright enough to help avoid spills
while making shaving and shampooing easier.
Choose light fixtures designed for use in
wet areas.
2) TUB TIP: Tubs, like showers, need good
general light, which can be provided by a
recessed fixture. To avoid glare, aim the
light’s beam at the outside edge of
the tub.
3) WINDOW DRESSING: Windows provide natural
light to supplement or replace the electric
options, particularly during the day.
4) NIGHT BRIGHT: Create a nightlight by illuminating
the floor in the toe-space below vanities
and cabinets with a linear lighting system.
5) GET GLOWING: Indirect (or cove) lighting
with its hidden light source is purely aesthetic,
adding a soft, warm glow to the bathroom.
6) MIRROR, MIRROR: Good mirror lighting, like
that provided by warm fluorescent vertical
wall sconces, will provide the even facial
illumination necessary for eliminating dark
circles and shadows.
7) VANITY FARE: A halogen light above the
vanity provides cross illumination when used
in conjunction with wall sconces.
8) TABLE TOPPER: Table lamps add a soft,
human touch to bathrooms. Display them away
from water sources—on tables, vanities,
or multipurpose bathroom islands found in
larger homes.
9) CEILING FIXTURE: A decorative light fixture
suspended from the ceiling provides an elegant
touch while adding extra light.
10) POTTY PANACHE: Focused flood or halogen
fixtures over the commode provide good light
for watercloset reading.
Whether your bath is large, sprawling retreat or a tiny, more utilitarian space, the lighting needs for bathrooms are fairly universal. The first consideration is the intensity of light. It’s temping to blast a bathroom with sheer wattage. After all, its where you shave, where you hunt through drawers for the fingernail file, and where you try to read all that tiny print on the medicine bottles.
But it’s also the place where you have to walk in and look directly at your face first thing in the morning. It’s a place for putting on makeup and styling hair. It’s also, if you’re lucky, a place to unwind with a long, hot bath-great read purely optional. So good lighting in the bathroom has to be serviceable but flattering, bright but adjustable and easy to achieve with some simple lighting tricks. Start with a bright light in the middle of the room (more for large bathrooms) so that when you hit the switch in the day and at night, the entire room lights up as needed.
You’ll also want a light over the shower or tub where seeing your footing is essential, especially with older users. The more fixtures you have, the greater the needs to test the overall wattage in order to not over or under whelm a space. Then, at the vanity, install lighting that bathes faces with warm, flattering light from the sides not just from above, which is an unflattering angle. Consider different switches on for a dimmer over the general light, another for the wall sconces to provide even greater control in your lighting scheme. If there’s a tub, you may also want the option to lower the lights with a dimmer switch to create soft, relaxing glow to unwind with a soak after a long, hard day.
Recessed cans above a tub and toilet are best for general purpose light. Just make sure whichever fixture you choose is rated for a wet location. The two sconces bounce light across the face, ideal for bathroom lighting. Used alone, without the overhead light, they create soft ambience in the bathroom.
LAYERS OF LIGHT
FIRST LAYER: OVERALL LIGHT
Ceiling fixture(s)
Recessed fixtures
(In large bathrooms)
SECOND LAYER: TASK LIGHT
Sconces, Hollywood, strip lighting in vanity area.
THIRD LAYER: ACCENT LIGHT
Lamps
Toe-space lighting
Strip lighting
Lighting is important, especially in a small bathroom. With less space, it must work even harder.
Consider lamps they add a classy touch in bathrooms and are useful when placed by the sink or vanity (plugged into a GFCI outlet to prevent electrical shock, of course). Especially if there’s also a small upholstered chair or other comfortable furnishing for grooming, a lamp adds a touch of the boudoir, allowing for gentle light cast across the face.
Flattering light is vital. Avoid using recessed lights directly over a vanity because the sharply downward light is unflattering to faces. Instead, position two sconces, one on each side of the sink, to provide more light from the sides. The range, sizes, and styles of sconces available today match virtually and décor, from plush and romantic to modern.
Mini chandeliers are more popular now in bathrooms. Ceiling heights are getting taller, allowing more decorative fixtures to replace the standard flush-mount.
Ceiling fans with integrated lighting are no longer basic and utilitarian in the bath, fans 36 inches or less help to circulate air.
The furniture and accessories markets greatly influence lighting design. For the past few years, we’ve noticed greater emphasis on darker tones, but know they are beginning to lighten up.
Fashions are leaning toward a luxuriant comfort coupled with casual elegance meticulously designed for style.
Some bathrooms are in the middle and have no natural light source. If a window isn’t an option, include at least a skylight to prevent having to flip a switch every time you enter the bathroom. Plus, natural light makes a room a more pleasant place to be and is more flattering to skin.
Combine natural light with organic materials, including a warm stone; you’ll enhance rather than detract from the lighting scheme in this small-scale bathroom.
Install lighting at the vanity, whenever possible, on each side of the mirror where people will stand. This fills in shadows and is extremely flattering, not to mention useful for performing various grooming tasks. Sconces should be located at face height for best effect. You’ll need at least 120 watts at the vanity for good lighting. In bathrooms less than 100 square feet, vanity lighting alone may be sufficient, though it’s a good idea to have the option of an overhead light as well.
But the right illumination choices still make or break lighting. Take cues from its mix and match style when choosing your own fixtures.
Check out fixtures first. The type of lighting you use may be further dictated (or inspired) by the type of fixtures available. Many overhead lights have built in ventilation fans, a great idea for areas over showers and tubs or in water closet type of toilet areas. And some also have a night light option where the switch turns on a small bulb next to the larger bulb to prevent a blast of light in the middle of the night. It’s a great option for leaving on all night, especially if you have guests or children who might have trouble reaching the switch easily when half-asleep.
Take advantage of the sun for its warmth and energetic feel, and include windows as both a stylistic and lighting element in your bathroom. The mini double wall sconces flanking in the window illuminate the sink and mirror space when natural light is unavailable.
Find luxurious lighting for luxurious lighting elements. If you’ve got special touches, such as a fancy shower or whirlpool tub, expand on that with lighting, such as toe-space lighting under the toe-kick of any cabinets to show off a beautiful marble floor or strip lighting to safely highlight the step leading up to a tub.
Choose incandescent (with its skin flattering warm-spectrum lighting) or fluorescent lights (mandated by code in some states) with warm- rather than cool-spectrum lights whenever possible so looking at yourself in the morning is happier experience.
Love to read in the tub? Make sure you’ve got enough bright light. Most codes (and good sense) rule out lights close to the water but a quality overhead light over the tub should do the trick. Put it on a dimmer so you can lower the light as needed and supplement with space-enhancing candles for better light close to the tub.
Check codes first. Especially around whirlpools, showers, and linen closets, around whirlpools, showers, and linen closets, code might dictate what kind of lighting you can use. In a closet with shelves, for example, a fluorescent near fabric, paper or other flammable materials may be the only type of light allowed.
Reflective material in any room particularly in a bathroom brightens a space with a light fixture.
Grooming area.
With bathrooms as personal home spas, designers are lighting them accordingly. Soft, radiant lighting is key from the vanity to the shower stall. “Gone are the days of harsh bathroom glare.”
In the bath, satin finished nickel is still the material of choice.
Crystal makes its way into wall sconces, in designs that make distinct reference to the past.
The past still provides design inspiration; many popular fixtures come in clean cut styles with a hint of history.
Finishes, including oil rubbed bronze accented with silver and a creamy glass, provide old world bathroom elegance.
Intricate designs with a natural inspiration transform wall sconces from ordinary to extraordinary.
Sconces should be positioned to each side of a mirror to provide the best light for a face.