Bathroom lighting - brighten up!

Turn your cold bathroom space into an inviting and warm area with the right bathroom lighting and accessories for your design.

When lighting our homes, the bathroom lighting sometimes gets left in the dark. But considering it's where we begin and end each day, it's high time this workhorse enjoyed a bit of the spotlight, too.

So what is the secret to good bathroom lighting? According to Michael Katsanevas, from Lumen8 Architectural Lighting in Brisbane, there are four 'layers' of light you need to consider: task, ambient, accent and decorative.

Bathroom task lighting options

In the bathroom, task lighting is all-important. When shaving, preening or plucking, you want the bathroom lighting to be bright enough to reveal even the sneakiest of chin hairs, yet natural enough to avoid those embarrassing makeup muck-ups.

"The best option is to have bathroom lighting on both sides of the mirror, in addition to above," says Michael. "This will cast an even light across the face and eliminate shadows." 

Whether you choose incandescent, LED or even fluorescent bulbs, make sure the light they emit is within the natural daylight spectrum. Bulbs that are mostly yellow or white will not reflect your natural skin tone.

Ambient bathroom lighting

In the bathroom, your ambient (or general) lighting should be soft, warm and relaxing.

"A lot of the time, if the bathroom isn't very big, the vanity lighting will be the lighting solution for the whole bathroom," says Michael.

If this isn't sufficient, low-lying LED strips or step lights will give the room a soft, candle-like glow and create the perfect atmosphere for those long, luxurious soaks in the tub. "These can be recessed into the wall under a floating vanity, or incorporated into some joinery," Michael suggests. 

And if you dread the blinding glare that greets you on a 2am toilet run, consider connecting your ambient lights to a motion sensor. This way you won't have to fumble for switches or light up the entire house every time nature calls.

Lights that add a touch of cool

Just because the bathroom is primarily a place of function doesn't mean you can't inject it with a bit of fun and funk as well.

Michael suggests using accent lighting, such as spotlights, to highlight any interesting tiling or artwork. This will help create an interesting focal point and give the room some depth.

"If it's a larger bathroom you might also want to incorporate chandeliers to add that glamorous, decorative touch," he adds.

Electrical regulations

Finally, a word of warning: It is important to check the regulations that apply if you have a hand shower and the types of lighting you can install, and where.

Contact a lighting consultant in your area to find out how you can get the right bathroom lighting for you: