The effectiveness of your bathroom lighting can make or break your bathroom design. It can spell the difference between a cold and dark space that you dread entering and one that you can bask in for hours. Here are some ideas on how you can use your lighting to maximum effect.
Opt for side lights
In most cases, you could do away with the single overhead light on your vanity. Although they are useful for lighting up the rest of the room, they really won’t flatter your appearance too much, producing shadows and various other unflattering effects. For better results, you should go for sidelights that still provide adequate illumination but don’t produce the harsh, unflattering effect of overhead lights. For best results, install the side lights approximately 60 inches from the floor. This will ensure that your face gets the most possible illumination.
Go for “daylight” lights
Beauty experts generally agree that humans look their best in lighting that is as close to daylight as possible. When planning your bathroom lighting, shop around for lights in white color palettes, regardless of whether they are clear or frosted. You may also want to look into available options in LED lighting fixtures which provide plenty of light without the heat and energy tradeoffs involved with traditional lighting options. If you need the equivalent of a 60-watt incandescent bulb, you will want to ask for a 450-lumen LED light.
“Bright” versus “soft” lights
You don’t necessarily want the same amount or type of light at all hours of the day or the night. For more lighting flexibility throughout the day, consider installing a light dimmer. These are available for most types of lighting, including incandescent and LED, and they allow you to control the intensity of the light according to your needs.