Of all the rooms in our new custom home house plan, bathroom lighting is one that is often overlooked initially.
Bathroom lighting is one of the most important design elements that will set your bathroom apart. Since it is where you generally will start and end your day, your bathroom lighting needs to be versatile. It should be suited to getting ready for work in the morning as well as freshening up and even a long soak in your tub.
To get it right, you will need to consider a variety of illumination sources: ambient light, accent light and task light. This involves the lighting fixtures, types of bulbs, placement and natural light, as well as how these considerations figure into your design scheme.
- Ambient Lighting: This is the base layer of lighting that is important for getting around in your bathroom.
- Accent Lighting: This lighting provides layers to highlight areas you want to show off in your bathroom design.
- Task Lighting: This lighting is for specific activities such as grooming and makeup application or showering.
With these thoughts in mind, here are our tips on better bathroom lighting.
SHADOW FREE BATHROOM VANITY LIGHTING
How do you pick the best bathroom vanity lighting for you? There is a wide selection of options available for virtually any bathroom design style. Layered lighting is important here because of the wide variety of tasks in the bathroom (shaving, cleaning, grooming, makeup application, hair styling, etc.)
Vanity side lighting is good for face-based tasks in front of the mirror as are bath bars. These should be mounted at roughly eye level to leave no part of the face in shadow. A down light over the sink provides illumination for the sink area.
TUB LIGHTING:
Other than your vanity, your tub and shower should be one of the brightest spots in your bathroom. Consider including wall sconces in the design near the tub and LED lights in the shower. A sconce is ideal for creating ambiance in the bathroom tub area. Note that building codes are strict about hanging fixtures near or over the tub. As a result, you should consider natural lighting near the tub. It also helps you get up and going in the morning to start your day.
OVERHEAD LIGHTING: Many homeowners love the addition of a small chandelier to provide general illumination and set the tone for the bathroom.
LIGHTING FIXTURES
Lighting fixture size is important and will be dependent on the size and style you are creating for the bathroom. Work with your design team to select fixtures that will make a statement and set the tone for your new custom home bathroom.