Great Ideas For Hollywood Style Vanity Lighting

What Is Hollywood Style Vanity Lighting?

One of the most stylish vanity lighting trends comes in the form of Hollywood vanity lighting. Hollywood vanity lighting is a style of vanity lighting design that emulates the glamourous lighting found in Old Hollywood dressing rooms. This classic Hollywood aesthetic is timeless and dates back to the early to mid-20th century, adding glitz and glam to any vanity area.

In order to be sure starlets look their best under bright studio lights, Hollywood vanity lights are characterised by ultra bright lighting that is evenly distributed throughout the space. It is designed to be flattering light with the specific placement of the bulbs all around the mirror. This arrangement of bulbs reduces shadows and creates a well-lit environment for grooming and applying makeup, skincare and other personal care.

This specific design style has come to be associated with the Old Hollywood aesthetic. Today, many people want to replicate that aesthetic in their own homes to give it an air of luxury and sophistication.

 

How To Position Vanity Lighting

The placement of vanity lights for mirror setups is crucial if you want to nail the Hollywood lights vibe. Not only is the orientation of the lights itself responsible for the aesthetic, but you should also prioritise the practicality of the lights.

The first thing you should do is consider the layout and size of your vanity area. This will help you determine how many lights you’ll need to install for the right level of illumination. Bigger vanities will require more fixtures than smaller ones.

After getting an idea of how many lights you’ll need, you can work on selecting the right fixtures. If your vanity is in the bathroom instead of the bedroom, you’ll want to get waterproof lights that are IP rated for wetter areas.

As you install the lights around the vanity, do so in an evenly spaced manner. It is recommended that on the top horizontal row of lights, you leave two to three inches of space between them. The sides of the vanity should also have even spacing.

Finally, choose LED bulbs, preferably bulbous shapes to fit the vibe of Hollywood mirror lights. With all of these tips taken into consideration, you’ll have your Hollywood style vanity done in no time.

 

When Fitting Bathroom Vanity Lighting, What Safety Precautions Should You Take?

Vanity lighting for bathroom areas requires a little bit of planning. In such wet and humid environments, you’ll want lights that won’t rust or otherwise be ruined by the moisture. That’s where IP ratings come in.

IP ratings, or Ingress Protection ratings, measure a light’s ability to withstand certain conditions. IP ratings have two digits. The first digit indicates resistance to solid debris, while the second indicates the protection against moisture.

 

First Digit – Solids 

0  –  No Protection against entry of solids

1  –  Offers protection against entry of solid objects 50 millimeters or greater

2  –  Offers protection against entry of solid objects 12 millimeters or greater

3  –  Offers protection against entry of solid objects 2.5 millimeters or greater

4  –  Offers protection against entry of solid objects 1 millimeter or greater

5  –  Offers protection from entry of most dust

6  –  Dust Tight

 

Second Digit – Moisture 

0  –  No protection from moisture

1  –  Offers protection from vertically falling water droplets

2  –  Offers protection from water drops falling at an angle of 15 degrees

3  –  Offers protection from water drops falling at an angle of 60 degrees

4  –  Offers protection from splashing water

5  –  Offers protection from water from low pressure jets

6  –  Offers protection from water from high pressure jets

7  –  Offers protection from temporary immersion

8  –  Offers protection against immersion for an extended period of time

The lighting zones in a bathroom will also indicate which IP rating is required:

• Zone 0  – The area found inside the shower or bath itself. It requires an IP rating of IP67 or higher.

• Zone 1  – This is the area above the shower or bath. A minimum rating of IP45 is required, but you should choose an IP65 rated light.

• Zone 2  – This area reaches about half a meter from the perimeter of the bath and needs an IP44 rated light or higher.

Any area outside of these zones has no specific IP requirements, though a rating of IP20 is recommended just to be safe.

Beyond IP ratings, there is also the concern of working with electricity, especially in such a wet environment. Be sure you turn off the power before you install any lights to prevent electrical shock. Verify the electricity is actually off using a voltage tester before beginning. Installing a GFCI, or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, will also help. It shuts off breakers automatically if any abnormalities are detected.

Be sure that the wires are also secured using staples, proper cable clamps and other tools. Don’t run the wires through any area where moisture tends to build up, such as walls near the bath or shower.

Generally speaking, it is likely a better idea to have a qualified electrician come and wire the lights for you. They have an understanding of all of the safety protocols as well as the lighting codes and regulations.

 

 

What is The Best LED Colour Temperature For Vanity Lighting?

Colour temperature is simply a way to describe how warm or cool a light is. One of the perks of using LED vanity mirror lights is that they come in a variety of colour temperatures. So, which one is best for your Hollywood bathroom lights?

To have bright illumination for grooming and styling, there are two options you can choose. Lights between 3,500k and 4,000k provide bright, crisp, neutral coloured lighting. If you want lights that are a little warmer, we recommend a colour temperature between 3,000k and 3,300k.

Ideally, you’ll also want a light with good CRI. CRI, or colour rendering index, informs you about how well a light reflects the colours of objects it shines on. The higher the CRI the better. Oftentimes, cooler lights and daylight colours are the best choice for this. After applying makeup, you can be sure you will look the same outdoors as you did indoors with no surprises.

 

Why is Vanity Lighting Important?

LED vanity lights and vanity lighting design in general are important elements of your bathroom or bedroom’s design. It provides task lighting that is clear and visible while you perform grooming tasks.

With heightened visibility, you will be able to see yourself more clearly while performing such tasks. You can also avoid shadows on your face while applying makeup or shaving. This helps you get a more natural and accurate look at your reflection.

High quality mirror vanity lights also enhance the safety of an area. They help by reducing the risk of injury and accidents. This is especially important when shaving to help prevent nicking yourself with the razor blade.

From a design standpoint, it can also generally improve upon the look and feel of your bathroom. Hollywood lights for mirror areas give it the glitzy, sophisticated look of Old Hollywood style dressing rooms while also creating a focal point in the space.

With vanity lights, mirror areas can also help set the mood in the bathroom. Using them as an indirect light source when soaking in the bath can make it more relaxing and lend a spa-like experience.

Do’s and Don’ts When Lighting A Vanity Area

Getting vanity lighting for dressing room areas right doesn’t have to be hard. Below are vanity lighting ideas and tips to ensure you love the end result.

 

DO: 

• DO layer the lighting. Vanity lights shouldn’t be the only source of illumination in the bathroom. Layer them with ambient ceiling lights or even task and accent lighting around the space.

 

• DO choose LED bulbs. LED bulbs not only allow you to choose from different colour temperatures, but they also will be more pleasant to use. LEDs don’t give off heat like halogen bulbs, so you won’t be sweating off your makeup as you apply it.

 

• DO space lights evenly. To achieve Hollywood vanity lighting, you’ll need to install the lights at even intervals. This is critical to getting the aesthetic right.

 

• DO consider dimmable lights. If you want to use your vanity lighting as both task lighting and indirect light, dimmer switches can help. Turn the lights up brighter for grooming and down low for relaxation.

 

DON’T:

• DON’T forget CRI. For the most accurate representation of colours, choose bulbs with a high colour rendering index.

 

• DON’T underlight the space. Bright lights are important to a vanity if you want to be able to see what you’re doing. Choose lights with appropriate lumen counts to ensure balanced lighting.

 

• DON’T neglect safety. When installing the lights, it is crucial that you take care to do so safely. In most cases, it may be better to have a professional come and install the lights for you.

 

Vanity Lighting Ideas

 

1. LWA338 9 Watt LED Stainless Steel Bathroom Wall Light

With the LWA338 9 Watt LED Stainless Steel Bathroom Wall Light, you can get classic Hollywood style vanity lights with ease. This wall mounted light features three round LED bulbs featuring opal acrylic shades. Not only does this enhance the Hollywood aesthetic, but it also pleasantly diffuses the light. It generates 720 lumens of 3000k warm white light and is safe for the bathroom with its IP44 rating.

 

2. LWA339 12 Watt LED Stainless Steel Bathroom Wall Light

For larger vanity areas, try the LWA339 12 Watt LED Stainless Steel Bathroom Wall Light. This wall light features a steel backing that hosts four round LED bulbs, each with acrylic opal shades. It shines 960 lumens of 3000k warm white light, making it a perfect vanity task light. The IP44 rating ensures its safety for use in humid bathrooms.