Your bathroom can be more than just a room to clean and get clean in. With the right lighting, you bathroom can sparkle and shine at the flick of a switch. These 6 unique bathroom lighting ideas might just be the inspiration you need.
Your bathroom can be more than just a room to clean and get clean in. With the right lighting, you bathroom can sparkle and shine at the flick of a switch. These 6 unique bathroom lighting ideas might just be the inspiration you need.
While you’re busy choosing bathroom fittings, tiles and other details, it’s easy to overlook the importance of lighting. In any bathroom, lighting is important. In a small bathroom, lighting can make the difference between bathroom design success and failure.
Here are 6 bathroom lighting ideas to give your bathroom a totally new look and feel. Once you’re done inside, give the backyard a dress up with these pergola lighting ideas!
1. Light your bathroom from multiple angles
One of the biggest design mistakes you can make in a bathroom is to assume one overhead light is all you need. While an overhead light will illuminate your bathroom, it does nothing to improve the ambience, and it’s anything but flattering.
2. Combine ambient and “task” lighting
All good home lighting ideas combine form and function. In the bathroom, that means considering both “task” lighting and ambient lighting together. For example, If you’re shaving or applying makeup at your vanity, and have only an overhead light, parts of your face will be in shadow.
Task lighting is anything that performs a specific function, light vanity lights or feature lighting. If your electrician has installed lighting around your vanity, it can even serve a dual function, allowing you to see what you’re doing, while also flattering the appearance of your whole bathroom.
3. Use multiple circuits to light your bathroom
This one sounds a little dull, but some of the most useful bathroom lighting ideas are the simplest. Having separate switches lets you customize your bathroom lighting on the fly, especially if you have dimmers installed.
For example, having overhead lighting and wall lighting on separate switches means your bathroom can be a cosy place to relax, but you can also easily switch to your task lighting when getting ready for work or a night out. You may want soft lights while relaxing in the bath, but will need brighter lighting after your morning shower. Strategically placed lighting, separate switches, and dimmer switches let you precisely control your bathroom lighting for the situation.
4. Use LED strip lighting for a modern look
There’s nothing more exciting than a futuristic look, be it tasteful or even a little tacky! LED lights not only look awesome, but are also very energy efficient.
To offset the harshness of LED lighting, and to add a great design feature, use them in hidden cabinet recesses, as well as out in the open. A combination of both, on separate circuits, let you dial in just the right amount of light.
5. Take advantage of natural light
It’s all well and good to create a beautiful, modern lighting setup in your bathroom, but there’s nothing like flooding a room with natural light. If you have a window that you can use without destroying your privacy, open it!
If opening the window wide isn’t feasible, consider frosted glass or blinds, or even a skylight. These will let light into your bathroom, but none of those prying eyes.
6. Think outside the box
Bathroom feature lighting won’t do much for your ability to see, but it can make you bathroom quite a sight! A clever lighting feature can transform your bathroom from somewhere to get things done, to your home’s main attraction.
Small, coloured, and waterproof lights are cheap to buy and install these days, so it’s never been easier and more affordable to try something a little different.
How to choose bathroom lighting
When choosing bathroom lighting, ask yourself three questions:
- What style of lighting complements my bathroom design?
- Where do I need task lighting?
- How can I use lighting to enhance the appearance of the bathroom?
You might want to start by choosing overhead lights. Should you install recessed lighting or would a pendant light or chandelier be a stylish addition to the bathroom? You might decide to use a combination. The recessed lighting can illuminate your shower and bath, while the pendant light or chandelier can be a focal point of the room.
Wall lights can provide task lighting around the vanity, but can also make magic in a small bathroom. At night, dim lights cast shadows on the wall and turn a small bathroom into a soothing space that’s perfect for relaxing in the bath after a long day.
If you’re building a new bathroom or renovating a smaller bathroom, consider installing recessed shelving with lighting. The recessed shelving can be used for practical purposes, or you can have a shelf for displaying a sculpture or vase of flowers in the bathroom.
Browse our Bathroom Design Ideas pages and you’ll see dozens of ways lighting has been used to enhance bathroom design. How will they work in your bathroom? What combination of lighting do you need?
Don’t forget to include natural lighting, but remember that when the sun goes down, you’ll rely on your electric lighting. Do you want to walk into a bathroom with just one harsh overhead light or would you prefer to be able to choose between soft ambient light and task lighting?
The choice is yours, but if you’re going to the expense of installing or renovating your small bathroom, installing better lighting can be your bathroom’s crowning glory.
