Bathroom Light Fixtures

It is a good idea to equip your bathroom with several different light sources that can be controlled independently.  Your main areas of concentration will be the vanity or mirror lighting, the bath or shower lighting, and the general room lighting.

General room lighting

Probably the most popular choice for general bathroom lighting is the recessed light fixtures.  These fixtures are, as the name suggests, recessed into the ceiling, creating a flush or almost flush surface.  They are great because they do not call too much attention to themselves and, with the right placement, can provide nice, even lighting for the bathroom.

While there are other options for ceiling light fixtures, most bathrooms are too small for anything grand.  If you decide against recessed lighting, make sure the fixtures you do choose are small enough that they neither overpower the look of the room nor get physically in the way.

Bath and shower lighting

If you decide on recessed lighting throughout the room, you will probably have at least one over the bath or shower.  Another option, though, is the heating lamp.  This can be a priceless little addition to your bathing time when the temperature outside drops. 

If you plan to install a heating lamp yourself, make sure to check the voltage requirements of the product.  Also, if you have an older house, it is not a bad idea to check, and replace if necessary, your wiring.

Vanity lighting

The lighting around your mirror might be the most important in the room.  To avoid any "shadow areas" or heavy backlighting, you want a soft, even light on your face.  The right fixture will have a translucent lens, or glass.  A clear lens may cause a strong glare and an opaque covering may prevent the light from reaching your face directly.  The lens should be free of any color that may tint the light.

The placement of your vanity fixture will affect the evenness of the light.  Many vanity fixtures attach directly above the mirror.  If this is the type of fixture you like, be sure that it is wide enough to cover a majority of the mirror to avoid a spotlight effect.  Other fixtures come in pairs, running vertically along the sides of the mirror.  These work well to illuminate both sides of the face. 

If you do not like the traditional vertical lamps, two wall sconces flanking the mirror will work just as well.

More information on bathroom fixtures