Bathroom Lighting Buying Guide

How to Choose Your Bathroom Lighting

Good un-shadowed lighting in a bathroom is the key to looking your best outside the bathroom. Too much light can be blinding and uncomfortable, too little light can be straining and can make simple activities difficult. An ideally lit bathroom will provide comfortable, adequate, un-shadowed light.

Bathroom Lighting Styles

Bath and Vanity

This is most popular type of bath lighting and is commonly found in the three bulb style but is also available in two bulb and four or more bulb configurations. This fixture is installed directly above the mirror and sink.The number of bulbs you will require depends on several things, including the shape and size of your mirror. The longer your mirror the more bulbs you will need to comfortably light the space.

Bathroom Sconces

Sconces are a great addition to the sides of a mirror and help to even out the light on your face and eliminate shadows during activities such as makeup application and shaving. In addition sconces add a decorative touch to help complete your overall design.

Bathroom Ceiling Lighting

Ceiling Lighting is used in addition to the lighting around the mirror. Ceiling lighting helps to illuminate the rest of the bathroom and can be used in the center of the room or in alcoves improving overall conformability and safety.

Bathroom Lighting Placement

The purpose of lighting around the mirror is to surround your face with light. A Bath and Vanity fixture is intended to cast light downward and the sconces are intended to illuminate from the sides. The Bath and Vanity fixture should be about the same width as your mirror. When hanging the fixture, take into consideration the relative heights of your family and install the lighting at about average forehead height. An average height in most homes is about 66" from the finished floor. The mirror should be hung 1-5" below the bottom of the fixture. The sconces should be equal height on either side of the mirror and positioned to fill in the sides of your face with light.

Most bathrooms will also require at least one Ceiling Fixture to properly illuminate the remaining area of the bathroom. If your bathroom has additional alcoves you may want to consider adding small fixtures in those areas for even overall lighting.

Matching your Bathroom Lighting and Plumbing Fixtures

Consider the finish of your bath sink faucets when purchasing your new light fixtures. Most manufacturers offer a variety of finishes to match bathroom faucets for a cohesive overall design.

Bathroom Lighting Tips

Use frosted or white bulbs rather than clear bulbs to avoid glare Incandescent lighting is best in the bathroom because of its warm daylight glow.

Shop for Lighting:

Bathroom Lighting Wall Sconces Ceiling Lighting