How to Light Your Bathroom, The Right Way

Just like any other room in your house, your bathroom's lighting needs special attention. This is necessary, as lighting plays a great role in creating the right atmosphere. Depending on the size of the bathroom, you may require a variety of lighting objects in order to produce the best effect. But how can you determine which one to choose? This post will show you how.

First, we must know the different types of lighting and its effects on a space. Let's go to the basics:

Ambient lighting is what's commonly known as the "fill-in light". The soft glow coming from this lighting type creates a cosy, comfortable setting. Usually coming from a central pendant lighting fixture or a series of downlights, ambient lighting produces a radiance akin to natural lighting. However, modern architectural techniques serve the similar effect: cove lights, installed in recessed parts of the space, give off a subtle yet beautiful illumination. This is perfect for bathrooms with high ceilings, and for those areas you want to indirectly highlight.

Mellow, moody and somewhat broody; this ambient lighting gives you enough illumination to see what’s inside this concrete-themed bathroom, minus the glare. The tempered glow that comes from the pendant light is supported by the cove lights by the sink. Choose this type of lighting when you want to create a warm, nostalgic setting without hurting the eye.

Similar Lighting: Glass Pendant Lights

Focus on your favourite areas. Take a hint at this picture: light up your bath with an ample ambient lighting as you take your bedtime soak. Choose modern lighting designs that won’t be intrusive to your décor, just like this pendant light. 

Similar Lighting: Factory Ceiling Pendant Light

Task lighting is where the it gets muscly. Opposite to the softer, romantic glow of ambient lights, task offers more concentrated illumination, making it the best choice for grooming and makeup vanities. It is best installed in a concise light point above or beside the mirror, allowing you to view your best reflection. This eliminates cast shadow, delivering a clear view as you go on with your daily grooming routine. Vertical fixtures or side sconces mounted on both sides produce an even light across your face for a maximum effect.

Here is a nice play at task lighting: a pendant cord with bulb hangs from the ceiling, creating a solitary gem among the series of LED track lights/spotlights that hover at the top of your head. This is layer of different lighting objects create a decorative charisma in this wood-and-grey bathroom.

Similar Lighting: E27 Pendant Light, LED Track Lighting

Balance is beautiful. Two wall lamps installed atop two mirrors create a perfect, symmetric look. This design creates clean, orderly character in the muted-toned bathroom.

Similar Lighting: Brasserie Two Arm Swing Wall Lamp

Fat Shack Vintage Tip:

Play with different types of light: task lighting for your vanity, and ambient lighting for the overall illumination of your space. If you must, you can also add spotlights and other forms of accent lighting if there are special corners you want to highlight.

Maximize the mood by installing dimmers. You get full control over your lighting plan without the hassle of switching it on and off. This is also helpful to avoid glares from your task lighting.

Choose lighting objects that match with your décor. Go for the visually inspired pieces if your bathroom interior looks bare and minimal. Otherwise, select basic pieces to complement the design of your bathroom.

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Images via Fat Shack Vintage Bathroom Pinterest board.