How to use a bathroom light:

For functional and visually pleasing lighting in a bathroom, you might need to consider the following strategies:

Prevent vanity shadows:

If you have incorrect lighting at your vanity such as a single overhead light, it actually places a lot of shadows and you will struggle to fix your hear, shave or put on some make up.

The best way to illuminate the vanity, would be to place two wall-mounted lights on either side of the mirror at eye level. This creates enough light so that there are no shadows and you get the optimum light for all facial tasks.

Fancy up your bathtub a little:

Accent lighting will dress up the space and create a relaxing atmosphere to the the warm glow. You could try using a mini chandelier to add a bit of elegance.

Installing these little lights underneath base cabinets will provide soft illumination at night. This enables you to navigate your home in he middle of the night without hurting your eyes.

Add some elegance to your mirror:

You can back light a mirror by wrapping lighting around the back side. If it is done correctly, you will notice a halo effect around it. It is an easy way to light the bathroom without turning on the main lighting but do not substitute it for functional task lighting at the vanity.

Different layers of light:

There is no such thing as a light that does everything but some lights will perform more than one role. In order to make the right choice, you need to understand the different layers of light.

Task lighting

This lighting illuminates the busy areas, which is probably your bathroom vanity or shower. The best task lighting at the sink area, is two lights that flank the mirror to provide cross illumination. With this method, you will prevent shadowing.

Accent bathroom Light

This form of lighting adds depth and dimension to the environment. You can use it to highlight plants or artwork, and give the area an illuminating glow.

Decorative bathroom light

This is purely eye candy as people say. The purpose of decorative lighting is to add interest to a space.

Ambient Lighting

This gentle light fills the room and bounces off the ceiling. Tubs and showers need general light, and recessed fixtures with white opal diffusers are one solution.

A single layer of light can never stand alone. If you only use ambient light, the people will look great because shadows are softened, but it might look like a cloudy day inside because there is no depth or dimension.

A room with only decorative lighting will distract the eyes every time

If you only incorporate accent lighting, you might create a museum effect. Every object would look great but people will be in a lot of shadows. Which are more important though, your stuff or friends and family?

How to choose energy-efficient lighting:

When you are looking for some energy-efficient light bulbs, there are three qualities that you need to consider:

Color temperature: a bulb should be between 2700 and 3000 kelvin. This ensures that your lighting blends in with incandescent lighting in residential areas.

CRI rating: Color rendering index (CRI) is important because it is how color is interpreted. A low CRI will mean that there is more gray, while a higher CRI will mean that the colours rendered, would be seen better. It is recommended that you use a CRI of 80.

Energy Star: This certification ensures that the light bulb went through longevity testing and has a minimum CRI of 80.

The post Designing Bathroom Light appeared first on Bathrooms.

Bathroom Lighting Tips

Mirrors: If you have more than one reflective surface, it will help to distribute light throughout the room. Mirrors are (obviously) a great choice for this purpose. A mirror above the sink is the best placement but you might want to consider having side mirrors or a full-length mirror elsewhere in the room. If you have a mirror opposite of one, it can help you the see the back of your head and to reflect more light.

Putting on makeup: One of the primary tasks in the bathroom that required specialized lighting is putting on makeup. Why do you need lighting? Makeup is reliant on colour accuracy, colour blending and manipulating facial features. You will need a very high color spectrum type of bulb to illuminate not only your face but the working surface. If you want to use makeup for a different environment, it would be best to get bulbs that mimic the light in that environment. Of course you want to look your best when you go out to work or even go dancing. If you can find the right bulbs to mimic the changes in light, your task will become a lot easier.

Energy Saving: You can save up on the cost of electricity by swapping out your bulbs. Always make sure of what type of bulb you are using and get the most energy efficient one you can. It could always help you to save more energy by having all the different lights on a switch. This means that you don’t waste electricity by leaving on lights that are not being used. Do not settle for cheap energy saving bulbs because they may burn out very quickly. The best energy-saving bulbs to get would be LED’s. They are not only very efficient but their light is pretty bright.

The post Bathroom Lighting Tips appeared first on Bathrooms.

Common bathroom lighting sources

Ceiling lights: These are great for overall room lighting or ambient light. It forces light downward onto the tops of our hear or surfaces, while casting shadows. It might not be the best bathroom lighting for your face. It is great for lighting up the whole room. If you have the correct ceiling lights it can only be beneficial. You can direct the bulbs to shine on specific items for decoration purposes.

Wall lights or scones: Lights that are placed at eye level are the best for applying makeup or inspecting your face. It does not cast any shadows along the facial features. Multiple bulbs are better than just having one on each side. Think of the old-fashioned makeup mirrors and you’ll get the idea. Certain colours might be filtered out of the bulbs if you use lampshades or  diffusers. When you apply makeup, the broadest spectrum of light will allow you to accurately see the colours. In this aspect, lampshades may not be the best choice. If you use them only for decoration, it can help to decrease the bulb’s brightness.

Chandelier lights: The purpose of the chandelier or pendant lamp in the bathroom is to be a decorative piece. The fixture might throw off light but it is actually meant to compliment the other bathroom lighting you have. Any chandelier you install should be rated for bathroom application. Please note that it must be placed high enough above main walkways.

Windows or skylights: Having natural light in the bathroom is ideal. It is not only the most accurate type of light with the best color rendering index but you will find that you don’t need to turn the lights on as much as you thought you would. Skylights are also beneficial because they light up the bathroom, even on gray days. It creates a greater sense of space within the bathroom and it floods the area with light.

Night lights: Night lights are only designed to be very helpful in the darkness of the night by providing a little bit of light so that you see either where you are going or to get the most important items. Please note that the wattage of these bulbs are extremely low and they are usually positioned near the sink, toilet or near the floor so that you can safely navigate during the night.

The post Bathroom Lighting Types appeared first on Bathrooms.