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Bathroom Lighting Buyer's Guide
The bathroom is primarily a space for getting things done, so good lighting is crucial to performing daily grooming functions. It is important to have proper lighting in the bathroom for applying makeup, shaving and more. Carefully selected fixtures can not only provide necessary light, but also add beauty to the space.
How Much is Too Much?
General lighting advice recommends an over-the-mirror fixture as well as wall sconces on either side to eliminate shadows on the face. Typically, bathrooms are separated into areas, so each area may also require its own light. It is best to have too much light in a bathroom than too little. Plan to have 300 watts of light for every 50 square feet of bathroom space.
Illuminating Your Bathroom
Consider a recessed fixture to provide light in the shower area and plan for ample light in the mirror/vanity area. If lighting these areas will not provide enough light for the entire space, add a ceiling fixture.
The mirror area is the focal point of the bathroom, and the place where the most grooming takes place. Using an over-the-mirror light complemented with sconces will eliminate the shadows caused by a single, recessed light placed directly above the mirror.
Placing Bathroom Lighting
Sconces should be centered about 66 inches above the floor and at least 28 inches apart, depending on the size of the room and fixtures. These lights are ideal for accenting and reducing shadows on the face.
Over the mirror fixtures provide even lighting and should be placed 75 to 80 inches above the floor. These come in strip and globe options, which can be turned up or down depending on your style.
Emphasize any art work on unusual plumbing fixtures with a spotlight and position ambient lighting so it provides enough light for the entire space.
Choosing the Right Bulb
The light bulbs in the bathroom will have a big impact on how people appear in the space. Different types of light bulb cast light across different parts of the color spectrum, so choosing a light bulb can narrow down which lighting fixtures to consider. Try a bulb with a spectrum closest to the light you are in for most of the day to ensure you prefer in the proper light.
Incandescent blubs have the best color rendering, but use more energy than the other types of bulbs. “Warm” light is best in bathrooms, because our skin looks best in the warm light.
Halogen bulbs provide light closest to natural daylight. These bulbs can be very focused, so be sure to take that into account.
Fluorescent blubs are known for producing cold, sterile light, but are actually available in a number of spectrums today. Choices range from warm hues to cool. These bulbs are the most energy efficient.
Additional Considerations
Most bathroom lights will not be directly exposed to water, but will still need to withstand steam from a shower. Select fixtures that are suitable for damp locations and use a ventilator or open windows to control moisture.
Enhance bathroom lighting with a dimmer switch, which allows you to control the level of light that you need.
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