There are four types of lighting you can install. The four basic types are accent lighting, general lighting, task lighting and decorative or sparkle lighting. Professional decorators and designers usually combine the first three types of lighting in a room, sometime even the four of them. For the bathroom, task lighting is the most basic and critical lighting fixture you can install. Proper lighting design will greatly assist you in your bathroom routine such as applying of make up, dressing a wound, shaving and when you are putting on your manicure and pedicure.

1st Tip: Task lighting should be placed above the vanity mirror, near the sink. You can also opt to place it at each side of the mirror instead, depending on the aesthetic value of your preference.

2nd Tip: It is highly recommended that you install incandescent or halogen fixtures in your vanity mirror. This way, you are able to control the brightness of the lights by just installing a dimmer.

3rd Tip: Remember that it would be better to ‘over light’ than not to have enough light. If you do not have enough light, you will need to add another light fixture. If you have more than enough light, a dimmer is all you need to control the brightness in the room. Whatever amount of lighting you need, the dimmer will let you achieve it without having to install or uninstall another lighting fixture.

4th Tip: If you can find one, it is best to have neodymium light bulbs as your lighting fixture for your vanity mirror. It closely simulates sunlight that is why it is preferred by many. Neodymium is like an incandescent light bulb but with a slight bluish tint in it. The bluish tint is caused by the neodymium placed inside the glass envelope. This is the reason why it is less yellow than the ordinary incandescent light bulb.

5th Tip: Refrain from using recessed down lights because it causes too much shadow on your face. You can use this type of lighting anywhere else in the bathroom but not in your vanity mirror.

6th Tip: Near your vanity mirror, you might want to install a small lit concave mirror. This will magnify the image on the mirror plus, the additional lighting will help you in specific tasks such as applying your make up or shaving.

7Th Tip: Take also in consideration the lighting for your bathtub, shower or Jacuzzi area. To illuminate these areas, you can use two recessed downlights with special shower trims. If your bathroom is already fully constructed, then a remodel or recessed housing is appropriate. You can also choose to install a shower trim that has a glass diffuser and special gasket or a shower trim with a domed glass diffuser for uniform light distribution.

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If your bathroom also has vanity light fixtures, you’ll want to match the style of those so that a natural look is achieved.  That’s not to say that it should be the same design, but one that will allow them to complement each other.  If the vanity light is stainless steel and a square design, you’ll want a wall fixture that is a square(ish) and stainless as well.

One of my favorite things about shopping for a bathroom wall light fixture is that you don’t have to limit yourself to the bathroom lights!  Any wall fixture for any part of the house will work.  What this means for you is that your options are almost limitless.  If you find a kitchen light that you absolutely love, you can install that in the bathroom as well.  The electricity is the same in the bathroom as it is in every other room of the house!

Bathroom wall lights are dual purposed.  They look great and give your bathroom a very “finished” feel, and they provide light (imagine that!).  A well placed wall light can direct light towards the mirror in a way that will help light the face in a balanced way to help shaving and putting on makeup.  The perfect setup is vanity lights above and wall fixtures on each side of the mirror, and lights for the shower enclosures.  Most counters have a reflective quality that will bounce light upwards, and light will come from all sides of the face.

Dark paint on the walls also increases the need for wall lights.  Most bathrooms only have vanity lights, and a recessed light over showers.  When walls are painted any color other than white, the light will not reflect very well and the bathroom becomes very dark.  Dark bathroom always feel like dungeons!  Add the extra light with bathroom wall lighting fixtures.

To get the most dramatic effect from a bathroom wall lighting fixture, install a dimmer light switch.  This gives you complete control over the bathroom’s lighting, and can turn it from a place to take care of “business” to a romantic and relaxing getaway.  The best way to do this is with a dual light switch.  One switch is for the vanity light, and the other is only a dimmer for the other lights in the bathroom.  The last thing you want is to have to fiddle around with a dimmer switch in the middle of the night when you have to go to the bathroom.

Unless you already have existing wall fixtures in the bathroom, electrical and drywall work is going to be needed.  The work certainly isn’t difficult and with some knowledge of both of those, most people can take care of it themselves.  If you doubt your skills, I recommend hiring a professional to come and help.  The drywall and wiring work is basic, so you can expect a reasonable price and it should be completed in a day or two.  Professional handymen are a great resource for projects like these, and you’ll save money by not having to hire two separate people.

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Bathrooms are the most commonly looked over area in the home by my clients.  Most people just don’t think to invest in bathroom light fixtures, and this leaves that area of the house feeling forgotten and unattended.  Bathrooms are beginning to play a more important role in the home, as multi-head showers and saunas are being installed, but many people are forgetting the importance of lighting and its effect on the entire room.

A bathroom lighting fixture is much more than the light that goes above the mirror.  There are many delicate things that happen in bathroom, things like shaving and putting on makeup need quality light to be done as well as they can be.  A simple plan of where the light shines and how it should look will help you transform your bathroom to extraordinary levels.

When planning your bathroom lighting fixtures, careful attention must be paid to angles and positions of the lights.  Think of the mirror like a flash on a camera, and how harsh and direct light can create sharp shadows on the face.  This type of lighting is going to make shaving and makeup very difficult.  A bathroom vanity light fixture should be above the mirror with bulbs that all the light to shine down.  For increased quality of light, fixtures should be on the sides of the mirror as well.

Choosing the correct bulbs is also very important.  My family is very energy-conscious and uses compact fluorescent lights all throughout our house, except in the bathroom.  CFL bulbs cause the skin to appear very yellow, so we use halogen bulbs that give off a great balance of white light, and last a very long time.  Most bathroom light fixtures are a series of lights that require multiple bulbs.  This can be a major drain on the power meter, so use the lowest voltage light you can.  60 watt bulbs are usually too dim for single use, but when there are 4-5 of them they can be very effective at lighting a large area.

Master bathrooms should always be equipped with a dimmer for the main lights.  This offers the ultimate lighting control and can turn a bathroom from a place to do your “business” to a romantic and relaxing getaway.  Dimmers are surprisingly easy to install, and can be done by the average weekend-warrior who understands how to turn off power to the switch, in just a few minutes.

Bathroom lighting is what makes a bathroom feel like it’s part of the home, and the proper light fixtures are key to making it happen.

Related posts:

1. Bathroom Vanity Light Fixtures
2. Bathroom Wall Light Fixtures
3. Choosing Bathroom Light Fixtures

Related posts:

1. Bathroom Wall Light Fixtures
2. Bathroom Light Fixtures
3. Brushed Nickel Bathroom Lighting