Lighting and Design Ideas For a Small Bathroom

Trying to come up with bathroom lighting ideas on your own can be tricky. This is especially true when you need small bathroom lighting ideas to make the space seem brighter and feel easier to use. In the article below, we will offer some guidance on small bathroom lighting and how to make the most out of each fixture.
 

How Many Bathroom Lights Do You Need?

As you consider the number of lights you will need for your small bathroom, think about both general and task lighting. If you have any small bathroom ceiling lighting ideas involving fixtures with high lumen counts, your wall lights won’t require as many lumens.

You may also want to simply have an extra wall light or two to create a moody, atmospheric place to relax in the bath after a long day.
 

How To Light a Small Bathroom

Bathroom lighting is important regardless of the size of the room itself. You spend a lot more time than you likely realize in this area, and it should be well lit to reflect that. Below are some things to consider when choosing your small bathroom light fixtures and deciding their placement. 

• LAYER THE LIGHTING - Layering can instantly improve the illumination level in your bathroom. The layers consist of ambient lighting, task lighting and accent lighting. Ambient lights will usually come in the form of bathroom ceiling lamps, while bathroom wall lights will tackle the job of providing task and accent lighting.

The task lighting will most often come in the form of LED mirror lights near the vanity area. Bathroom mirror lights not only provide plenty of task lighting, but it can also be a form of decorative bathroom lighting. You can also install lights above the shower or bath area as another form of task lighting.

• MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR STORAGE - You can have light coming out of every area of the room when you use under cabinet lighting. This lighting provides low level illumination and serves as a nice nightlight. You can also choose to add strip lighting to the interior of the drawers to better illuminate their contents.

• KEEP YOUR CEILING LIGHTING SUBTLE - Smaller bathrooms tend to have less vertical space. This means that hanging large pendants in them can leave the space feeling crowded and hard to navigate. One way to avoid this issue is to choose recessed ceiling lights. These will stay out of the way while providing ample illumination and giving the bathroom a modern feel.

• TAKE ADVANTAGE OF REFLECTION - Light-coloured walls and mirrors can easily move the light from the LED bathroom wall light around the room. This is especially beneficial in bathrooms with no windows that receive no help from natural lighting.

Fixtures that have a metallic, glossy finish with high shine will also help bounce the illumination around the room for a more even spread.

• ADD DOWNLIGHTERS ABOVE THE BATH AND IN THE SHOWER - Having a line of downlights over the bath can create a moody space and give you just enough light to relax. Be sure that you choose correctly rated lights in this area to prevent moisture damage. Installing downlights in the shower itself may also provide plenty of indirect lighting for you to see without it being too glaring and harsh on the eyes.

Small Powder Room Lighting Ideas 

• ADD DECORATIVE DETAIL - Using small bathroom sconces, you can highlight various areas in the bathroom and give the space plenty of personality. They can be installed in task-based areas or simply used as accent lighting to set a mood.

• HIGHLIGHT ANY FEATURES - If your bathroom has a unique architectural feature or a clawfoot tub, you can use small bathroom wall lamps to draw attention to it. Uplights that sit low to the floor will draw attention to these elements by illuminating them directly.

• TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOW LEVEL LIGHTING - One way to brighten your bathroom is to bring the light from the top down. Pair your ambient lighting with under cabinet lighting and other forms of low level lighting to ensure there are no shadows near the floor.

• ADD PERSONALITY - You can employ LED bathroom lights as a way to distract from the small size of the room. Using lights with fabric lampshades or unique colour finishes can bring attention to the details of the room instead of its potentially cramped nature.

• FOCUS ON THE VANITY - As the main focus of the bathroom, the vanity area does most of the heavy lifting. Keep that in mind when selecting lights and choose mirror lights that provide ample illumination and style.

• CHOOSE SLIMMER LIGHTS - Having bulky lights can make an already cramped space feel even more so. Narrow lights that take up less space and provide plenty of illumination can make a small bathroom seem brighter and more open.

• CREATE SYMMETRY - To make the bathroom less busy and more pleasing to the eye, focus on symmetry. If you install a wall light on either side of a vanity or cabinet, for instance, be sure that they line up with each another.

• BRING IN DIFFERENT LIGHT SOURCES - If your powder room or small bathroom has a window, you can use that to your advantage. Pay attention to where the natural light shines and compensate for any shadows using additional modern bathroom lighting.

Decorating a Small Bathroom 

• USE COLOUR - If you want to avoid a bathroom that is dull and dark-looking, adding splashes of colour may help. This can include everything from the shades on your lamps to the colour of your furniture to any art that you might hang on the walls.

• INCORPORATE TILE - By adding tile to the side of your bath, you can trick the eye into making it seem bigger than it actually is. Tile can alter perception when placed in an eye-catching pattern, which not only improves the look of the bathroom but can also make it feel larger and more pleasant.

• USE COOL, LIGHT COLOURS - The quickest way to make a small bathroom feel even smaller is to use dark colours on the walls and in the decor. To brighten up a room and decorate it as well, use cool colours or neutrals such as taupe, white and cream.

• BRING IN SOME PANELLING - Using panelled-effect walls, you can create a period-style atmosphere in your bathroom. Instantly add character and personality by incorporating a ribbed effect panel, and use it to add contrast by choosing a darker finish for it.

• MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SPACE - Instead of worrying about where you will possibly fit in a cabinet in your small bathroom, incorporate storage into what is already there. A half-shelf mounted on the wall can keep toiletries off of the vanity. A mirrored cabinet can give you extra room for medications and other storage behind its door.

• DIVERSIFY THE MATERIALS - One way to distract from the size of the bathroom is to incorporate plenty to look at. By mixing materials such as wood, marble and metal, you can enhance the details of the room and make it a more charming space to be in.

• USE FEATURE WALLPAPER - To take the attention off of the size of the room, you can also add eye-catching wallpaper to one of the walls. Placing it around the vanity area can accomplish this while also generating a focal point in the room.

• MAXIMISE FLOOR SPACE - By choosing floating vanities, you can create the illusion of more space. Floating vanities affix to the wall, leaving space open underneath for storage if needed. Or, the space can be left open and accented with low level under cabinet lighting that can serve as a night light.

• DEFINE THE ZONES OF A BATHROOM - Using small furnishings or wall paint, you can define the different spaces in a small bathroom. This will give the illusion of size and make it seem larger.

• TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WALL SPACE - Instead of taking up precious storage space in a cabinet for towels, use empty wall space to your advantage. Hang towel racks near the shower on the wall in especially small bathrooms to keep it functional and decluttered.

• CHOOSE GLASS - Choosing glass where you can over opaque materials will leave more of the bathroom visible, in turn, making it seem larger. You can accomplish something similar by adding a mirrored wall, which can make the room size feel doubled.

• TILE ONLY HALF THE WALL - Adding tile to the lower half of the wall, especially in a bathroom with a sloped ceiling, can make the vertical space appear greater and enhance the illusion of size.

Why LED Lighting Is Best for a Small Bathroom

The question of how to choose bathroom lighting fixtures for small places can be a tricky one to answer. Smaller rooms have certain limitations that larger rooms do not.

Ultimately, the best lighting fixtures for small bathrooms are going to be ones that have the most illumination power while taking up as little room as possible. LED lights are the most versatile tool for this job.

LED bathroom lighting stands out among traditional light bulbs in any room in the house. This is, of course, also true for bathrooms, especially small ones. A dark, small bathroom can benefit from the versatility that LED bulbs have to offer, helping make it feel warmer and more welcoming.

You can choose between a variety of warm and cool colours to suit the mood of your bathroom. LED bulbs also come in various lumen counts, so you can get specific with just how bright you want the light to be.

Small bathroom lighting that uses LED bulbs will also last considerably longer than traditional halogen bulbs. LED lights are designed to run for tens of thousands of hours. A halogen bulb is only rated for around 1,000 hours.

LED modern bathroom lighting also uses 80 percent less energy than a halogen bulb. By needing less energy to make light, LED bulbs require less electricity as well. Combined with their longer lifespan, you’ll be saving money both in the short- and long-term using LEDs.

They are also environmentally friendly. LED bulbs consume less energy, outputting a smaller carbon footprint. Beyond that, they are made from recyclable parts, so you can feel better about your resource consumption when you use LED lights.
 

What LED Colour Temperature is Best For a Small Bathroom Area?

Whether you are looking to add practical or decorative bathroom lighting, the LED colour temperature of the bulbs is important to note. Colour temperature refers to a light’s coolness or warmth as represented on a scale of 1,000 to 10,000 Kelvin. Warmer colours are on the lower end of the spectrum, while cooler lights are at the top.

When it comes to small bathroom light fixtures, warm colours tend to be best. Bathroom ceiling lights that are warm will cast a nice glow around the room that is gentle on the eyes but still highly visible. The same can be said for accent lighting. Try to choose colours in the 3,000k to 3,300k warm white light range for best results.

Tips and Tricks for Lighting a Small Bathroom

Having a small bathroom light fixtures guide at hand will allow you to make the most of your new bathroom lighting scheme. Here, you’ll find some small bathroom and small powder room lighting ideas to help you create the perfect bathrooms on any floor of the house. 

• USE BATHROOM WALL LIGHTS - Since smaller bathrooms naturally have less space, it’s a good idea to have fixtures that don’t clutter up or obstruct the room. An LED bathroom wall light in a small bathroom can provide plenty of illumination without taking up any floor space or even vertical space below the ceiling. 

• DON’T FORGET VANITY LIGHTING - Using LED mirror lights for a small bathroom can provide another source of out-of-the-way illumination and practical task lighting. LED Mirror lights not only make it easier for you to see while using the mirror, but it can serve as an indirect source of accent and mood lighting as well. 

• LAYER THE LIGHTING - Small bathroom wall lights and ceiling lights should be used together to create a layered lighting scheme. Including ambient, task and accent lighting will give the bathroom a balanced and well-lit appearance. 

• USE REFLECTIVE FINISHES - Metallic finishes will reflect light and move it around the room, making the space brighter without having to add any extra fixtures. 

• MAKE THE MOST OF NATURAL LIGHT - When considering small bathroom ceiling lighting ideas, you should take into account any natural lighting in the room. Bathrooms with higher levels of natural light will need less ambient illumination. 

• CHOOSE THE RIGHT FIXTURES - Small bathroom sconces, recessed ceiling lights and other fixtures that stay out of the way are ideal for small bathrooms. This will limit visual clutter and avoid overcrowding the room. 

• CREATE VISUAL DEPTH - Use accent lighting on unique architectural elements to create a dramatic look. This will also work well as mood lighting when you want a spa-like feel in your bathroom. 

• CHOOSE MINIMALISTIC AMBIENT LIGHTING - The best ceiling light for a small bathroom is one that stays out of the way. Avoid pendants and chandeliers and instead opt for recessed or surface mounted ceiling lights.

How To Make a Small Bathroom Look and Feel Bigger 

Small bathrooms and powder rooms are convenient, but it doesn’t take much to make them feel cramped and crowded. Check out some of these small bathroom lighting ideas to make your bathroom feel like a roomier and more comfortable place to be.

Natural light should be the first thing you consider when planning your bathroom lighting. If possible, install some skylights and windows in the room. Natural light has a way of making a space feel more open, which your small bathroom can benefit from.

One of the best small bathroom lighting tips and tricks anyone can give is to take advantage of mirrors. Adding mirrors will bounce the light around the room while also giving the illusion of depth. Both of these will combine to create a larger, more spacious-looking room.

You can also create the illusion of a taller bathroom. By lighting vertical elements in the room, such as decorative features or textured walls, you can make the ceiling seem higher than it really is.

Revamping the entire room with spaciousness in mind is another option. Choose a light-coloured paint that will reflect the light, unlike dark colours that absorb it. You should also limit the amount of décor that you have in the space to minimise visual clutter.
 

Tips and Tricks for Designing an Ensuite Bathroom

Planning and designing the lighting scheme is an integral part of lighting the ensuite. Read on to get inspired by some ensuite bathroom lighting ideas. 

• MAKE THE SPACE LOOK LARGER. With glass walls between the bedroom and bathroom, you can make the ensuite feel like an extension of the bedroom itself. This will give the illusion of space while also allowing more light to bounce around, helping it seem larger than it is. 

• PERFECT THE LAYOUT. It is important to work with the appliances and layout of the bathroom when installing lighting. Walk-in showers in a corner and a sink with plenty of room are key elements of an ensuite. They make performing tasks simpler and easier while also avoiding a cramped feeling in the bathroom. 

• INSTALL A DOUBLE BASIN. Double sinks provide a luxury hotel feel while also giving couples plenty of room to get ready together. 

• CONSIDER STORAGE. Whether you plan to use a mirror cabinet or have dedicated shelving in a room, storage is important for a clutter-free ensuite bathroom. You can choose a lighted mirror or use strip lights around storage to ensure plenty of illumination. 

• USE MATCHING FINISHES. Choosing an ensuite lighting fitting with the same material as your mirrors, towel racks and door handles will create a seamless flow throughout the bathroom. This cohesive style will make your ensuite feel luxurious and intentional, like a resort or hotel bathroom would be.