How To Guides: Bathroom Vanity Lighting

In the bathroom, we tend to spend most of our time in front of the mirror: washing our hands, brushing our teeth, styling our hair, putting on makeup, shaving and so forth. Therefore, it’s no surprise that one of the most important light fixtures in the whole of the bathroom is the light fixture for the vanity. Many people struggle and often settle for a “beauty bar,” which can actually create unflattering light. Here are a few tips and tricks for creating flattering bathroom vanity lighting.

First and most importantly, keep in mind that your vanity lighting should not be the only source of lighting in your bathroom space. There should be a minimum of one other light fixture included in your bathroom lighting. The only time that this rule would not apply would be in a powder room that offers just enough space to use the commode, wash your hands and get out! Typically these spaces are less than 4 foot by 4 foot in size.

When lighting a bathroom vanity, there are three things you should consider: placement, bulb type and finally, the style of fixture you’d like to use.

Placement is important for bathroom lighting, especially over a mirror. Ideally, you want your face to be surrounded with light. This means having adequate lighting coming from all sides, which helps to minimize shadows that appear under the forehead, cheeks, chin and eyes.

With this in mind, you can go a number of ways. Many people opt for bar lights, which unfortunately, often leads to unflattering light. Instead, look for beauty wraps, which feature two hanging pendant lights on either side of the bar to help fully illuminate the face. They may cost a little bit more upfront, but these light fixtures are well worth the investment. Another option is the use of wall sconces that flank the mirror, as these will also help fully illuminate the face and create ideal bathroom lighting.

Once you’ve determined placement and what light fixtures you want to purchase, you’ll also want to consider the light source itself: in other words, the light bulb. Different light bulbs have different color qualities and you’ll want to take note of this before you purchase a fixture and a coordinating bulb.

This can be a bit more confusing when it comes to bathroom lighting, but simply put, most people look more flattering in warmer lights. Light bulbs will feature what is known as a ‘color temperature,’ which tells you what color they will look when plugged (or screwed) into a light fixture. Cooler lights give off a blueish hue, while warmer lights give off a more flattering, warmer hue. In short, the vast majority of people look best in warmer lights, so it may be best to opt for a light bulb that gives off warm light.

With placement in mind and the type of light you need to create the most flattering bathroom lighting, you can finally decide on a style of bathroom fixture. There are a number of different styles from classic styles, light fixtures with romantic lines, clean modern looks, Victorian styles, Arts and Crafts or Mission style light fixtures and many, many more. This makes it relatively easy to find a light fixture to suit your style and your bathroom lighting needs.