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Bathroom lighting can change your bathroom from being just another room in the house to a beautiful, relaxing area you love to be in. In this article, we’ll discuss bathroom lighting trends as well as how to incorporate the lights into your space.
What To Consider When Choosing Bathroom Lighting
When you are planning to buy new LED bathroom lighting, there are a few tips to keep in mind:
- PLAN FOR LAYERED LIGHTING – Ambient lighting, task lighting and accent lighting constitute the three layers of balanced bathroom interior design. Think about the lights you want to serve as the overall illumination in the room, such as chandeliers and pendant lights for the ambient layer.
For the task lighting, look to elements such as shower lighting and vanity lights. When it comes to accent lighting, you can opt for wall sconces or other sources of indirect light.
- CHOOSE LIGHTS THAT SUIT THE AESTHETIC – The overall bathroom design should be taken into consideration when choosing your lights. Look for finishes that work well with the decor, as well as styles that mesh well with it.
- CONSIDER THE BATHROOM’S SIZE – Lighting for small bathrooms will be different than the needs for lighting for larger spaces. Think about how bright you need the bathroom to be and how you can achieve that through lumens.
- BATHROOM FIXTURE PLACEMENT – Consider where you’ll be putting the lights and how much space you’ll need for them when considering the size of the fixtures. This includes bathroom ceiling light fixtures and bathroom wall lights alike.
Tips for Choosing Bathroom Vanity Lights
Vanity lighting is important for helping you get ready for the day. Proper lighting reduces unflattering shadows while allowing you to easily see what you’re doing. Below are a few mirror lighting tips to keep in mind:
- THINK ABOUT BRIGHTNESS LEVELS – Some people prefer super bright light at their vanities for maximum visibility. Others like them to have a warmer feeling. Decide how cool or warm you’d like the light to be, and keep that in mind when shopping.
- CONSIDER THE POSITION – Some designers swear that lights on each side of the vanity is the way to go to eliminate unflattering shadows. Others prefer the full wash of light that overhead fixtures can provide. Think about which you’d prefer, and allow it to influence your decision-making when shopping.
- CHOOSE THE RIGHT STYLE – From overhead bar lights to wall sconces on either side to backlit mirrors, there are a variety of styles and options to choose from. Opt for a light that fits in with the mood and style of your bathroom that also suits your needs.
- GET THE RIGHT SIZE – The size of your bathroom vanity and the space on either side of it will influence the size of the fixtures you need to get. This is especially important where bathroom downlights are concerned.
How To Create Ambient, Task and Accent Lighting in a Bathroom
Layered lighting consists of three main aspects: ambient, task and accent. With all three in your bathroom, you can enjoy a more balanced look. Here are a few ways you can incorporate each layer into your bathroom.
- AMBIENT LIGHT. This is the overall illumination that shines across the bathroom. This typically comes in the form of ceiling lights. Some options include:
- Hanging pendant lights
- Recessed spotlights
- Statement chandeliers
- TASK LIGHTING. Task lighting provides illumination in task-heavy areas, such as sinks and showers. Some task lighting you can add includes:
- Lights under cabinets and in storage areas
- Mirror lighting over sinks
- Shower lighting
- Vanity lighting
- ACCENT LIGHTING. Accent lighting can make your bathroom feel more cosy and inviting. Incorporate accent lighting by way of:
- Fixtures to highlight artwork or architectural features
- Lights in the bathtub
- Wall sconces in darker areas of the bathroom
How Important is Natural Light in a Bathroom?
When considering different modern bathroom lighting ideas, you can’t skip over the most abundant source of light: natural light. Natural light goes a long way in bathrooms with exterior windows or sky lights.
With good natural lighting, you won’t have to worry about lighting the bathroom during the day. This can save you money alongside energy efficient bathroom lighting in the form of LEDs.
Visibility is maximized in general when you have natural light. Even if you only have a little bit of natural light in the bathroom, you can supplement that light with additional fixtures to make it clear and easy to see.
Natural lighting also provides you with the most accurate reflection of your face in the mirror. This is important for applying makeup, as you’ll know that you’ll look the same in front of the mirror as you do outside.
Small bathrooms can benefit from as much natural light as possible. Such light streaming in through the windows can make the space feel far less cramped and perhaps even make it seem larger. Some of the best small bathroom ideas out there put emphasis on natural lighting when possible.
Advice on How To Get Your Bathroom Layout RightÂ
Be sure that your bathroom lighting turns out to be everything you hoped by following these steps.
- Determine the needs of your bathroom. Think about what kind of space you want to create and which elements you want to emphasize. This includes any vanity areas, shower spaces or other areas of interest.
- Determine the size. Take a few minutes to measure the size of your bathroom. This includes the length and width of the room, as well as the height of the ceiling.
- Remember IP ratings. IP ratings will tell you how resistant a light is to both moisture and debris. IP65 rated waterproof lights are necessary in wet areas of the bathroom, though you could get away with lower ratings elsewhere.
- Choose the best arrangement for the lights. Sit down and sketch out your bathroom and play around with the placement of the bathroom light fixtures to find the layout that looks the best to you.
- Be realistic about your existing bathroom. You’ll need to work with what you already have in your bathroom when installing new lights unless you plan on remodeling the entire room. Plan your lights around the furniture and fixtures already in place to get the most cohesive look.
- Be mindful about ventilation. You will need to be able to place a vent to remove hot, humid air from the bathroom. It’s generally best when this vent is near the bath or shower.
- Think about the drainage. The plumbing may dictate where certain elements of your bathroom need to be placed, so keep it in mind when planning out your bathroom.
Popular Bathroom Colour Schemes for 2023
Popular bathroom ideas and decor shift with the rest of the trends, and this year, there are a few notable colours for you to consider.
- Light blue – Light blue colours provide a sense of serenity and relaxation in the bathroom. It can be refreshing in the morning and easygoing at night.
- Light green – Pale green is a refreshing and soothing colour that looks beautiful all year round. It promotes feelings of tranquility and being close to nature.
- Soft grey – A soft, subtle grey is a timeless trend that works well with all types of bathroom decor. It is neutral and provides a nice backdrop against decorations in all colours.
- Taupe – The gentle appearance of taupe is a classic colour with neutral, earthy tones. This makes it easy to pair with various light and surface styles and is particularly good for those who like to redecorate and spruce things up often.
- Charcoal – Dark colours were once discouraged in small bathrooms, but they have been given a new lease on life. Charcoal is a popular colour choice due to its sophisticated, mysterious appearance and is commonly used in spa style bathrooms.
What Are The Bathroom Design Trends For 2023?
Alongside modern bathroom lighting, there are some other general design trends you can consider when styling your new bathroom.
- Lighter, neutral tones – Using light woods, off-white walls and marbled countertops, you can create a neutral looking space that is trendy and fresh.
- Various tiles – The mixing and matching of tiles is a trend right now. Choosing geometric tiles for more than just a backsplash can add character and personality to your bathroom.
- Natural inspired – Using wood, stone and earthy colours, you can create a nature-inspired bathroom that is light, open and airy.
- Blues and greens – Matte blue and green colours are particularly popular, especially for cabinetry.
- Bath tub focal point – By designing the rest of your bathroom around a free-standing tub, you can create a trendy, modern bathroom that you’ll love to relax in.
How Much Can a Bathroom Remodel Cost?
When you plan to remodel the entire bathroom and not just the bath and shower area, it’s a good idea to know how much you’ll need to fit into your budget to pay for the project. Though prices may vary from project to project, you can expect a bathroom remodel to range between £1,500 and £7,500. On average, you can expect it to cost around £4,500.
Bathroom Lighting IdeasÂ
Modernise your bathroom with the LDC469 3 Watt Mini Recessed LED Bathroom Downlight as your ambient light. The light recesses into the ceiling and shows only its outer rings, available in grey or black. The fixture produces 3000k warm white light with a brightness of 120 lumens. The overall diameter is 50 millimeters and requires a 40-millimeter cut-out. The light is rated IP65, making it safe for use anywhere in the bathroom.
Create a beautiful ambient light layer with the Onyx 6 Watt Black Bathroom LED Downlight Fitting. This downlight recesses into the wall and has a light head you can tilt to provide directional illumination. It outputs 430 lumens of 3000k warm white light at a 38-degree beam angle. The light is fashioned out of premium material given an anodized black finish. It has an IP65 rating, which makes it safe for use anywhere in the bathroom. It measures 100 millimeters in diameter.
Bring contemporary style into your bathroom with the addition of the LWA431 6 Watt Round IP65 Bathroom Wall Light. This wall light features a simple disc shape available in your choice of white or black to suit any bathroom style. It washes 600 lumens of 3000k warm white light back onto the wall behind it in a halo formation. The light measures 180 millimeters in diameter and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for placement anywhere.
Enjoy a classic lighting scheme in your bathroom with the LBL298 10 Watt Round Bathroom Ceiling Light. This ceiling mounted light features a black or white base plate and an acrylic diffuser over the light to soften the illumination. It outputs an ultra bright 1000 lumens of 3000k warm white light with a CRI of less than 80. The fixture is manufactured out of durable aluminium and measures 150 millimeters in diameter.
Perfect for your vanity area, the LWA339 12 Watt LED Stainless Steel Bathroom Wall Light is a classic style sconce commonly used for such purposes. The light features a medium-length bar design that hosts four LED bulbs behind opal acrylic shades. The back plate is fashioned out of premium stainless steel and measures 540 millimeters in length. It outputs 960 lumens of 3000k warm white light and is rated IP44.
