Most people don’t give lighting in bathrooms a second thought. They would rather focus on lighting in, say, the kitchen. That’s all good and well, but misplaced fervor. Dressing a steak for dinner needs lighting, but applying makeup needs more attention to lighting. And small bathrooms somtimes need a little more thought about how to light the space.
There can be many spaces, both functional and aesthetic, in a bathroom. Think through how to light each type of area. Let’s start with the vanity space. This is going to be where you “do your work” on your grooming each day. As such, you do not want to put canned lighting over it. This will create deep set shadows on your face. That’s the last thing you want. If you have a large mirror, you will want to place spreading lighting over the mirror. This will help to illuminate the face evenly. The best of all worlds is to place lighting on either side of the mirror. This allows for the most even facial coverage of light.
The other spaces in the bathroom allow for choice. The shower area may require its own lighting if it doesn’t have transparent doors. Also, think through decorative spaces. A well placed sconce can do wonders to adding appeal to this space. Again, remember the bathroom is a place of peace and serenity. We want to convey that in all elements, including lighting. Don’t forget to think about ambient light coverage. This helps fill the entire space with light and offers a delightful feel.
Another thing that most people gloss over is light bulb selection. Lighting comes in all shades of white. Think about where you want to land in the white color band – ranging from a brilliant white to a white approaching the yellow scale. Brilliant white tends to denote a cold and clinical feel. This isn’t what you are going for in the bathroom space. Also, whenever possible, go with dimmers for your lighting. This gives you control over the lighting of the space given a myriad of conditions.
Now, small bathrooms sometimes offer a particular challenge when it comes to lighting. If you have an attic bathroom, you know what I mean. Those sharp angles can throw shadows and make the space look very uninviting. The key is to think about how light will be thrown in the space and where the potential shadow spaces will be. You will have to get creative to fill those spaces. Throw everything in the tool kit at it. One great idea in a space like this is rope lighting around a top molding. This gives off multi-directional light that will help to fill those voids. But it probably still won’t be enough. Accent those spaces, utilize cans, and make it work.