Guide to Perfect Bathroom Vanity Lighting

Stage and screen stars spend a lot of time on dressers in the dressing room to make sure they’re ready for the real spotlight. A properly placed dressing lamp emits a soft, diffused light, reducing shadows and making it easy for the star to look his best. While you may not be on stage in person, there’s no excuse for poor dresser lighting. Read on for a list of nine lighting dos and don’ts to become the star of your own bathroom.

1. Add Diffuse, Uniform

Light fixtures, chandeliers or wall lamps on either side of the light mirror will bring diffuse, even illumination to your bathroom vanity. If you have a double vanity with a large mirror, consider adding a lamp in the middle of it. If you have a double vanity with two mirrors, like this New York bathroom designed by Gertler & Wente Architects, add lights on either side of each mirror. This way, two people can dress themselves at the same time without taking up each other’s light.

2. Determine the Correct Height

Once you’ve decided on the perfect fixture on either side of your bathroom mirror, it’s important to determine the correct height. The exact height of the hanging fixtures depends on who uses the bathroom the most. But the general rule is to hang the fixture at eye level, usually 65 to 70 inches above the ground. The team at Zimal Contracting and Restorations hung two white chandeliers from the sloping ceiling of this bathroom in British Columbia.

3. Be Sure to Backlight Yourself

The backlight illuminates the shoulders and hair, making it easier to see clothes and shapes. This comes in handy around the dresser, so consider placing a light behind and above where you’re standing. Surface-mounted or semi-recessed fixtures with frosted lampshades, such as the one used by Custom CADD in Toronto bathrooms, can block glare and provide functional overhead lighting.

4. Be Sure to Use a Dimmer

When it comes to lighting, dimmer switches are your best friend, especially in the bathroom. Installing a dimmer on the lights around your bathroom vanity can make it easier for you to transition when you start your day and end your day more easily in the evening. Notice the warm glow of the three sconces in the Louisiana bathroom designed by Terry M. Elston.

5. Be Sure to Use a Floor Lamp

Turning on the lights in the middle of the night can be a hassle and can be uncomfortable for the eyes. Instead, consider adding a floor lamp, such as a built-in step light or a light under a floating vanity. They emit a soft glow, making it easy to see where you’re going without having to turn on the extra harsh lights. In Vancouver bathrooms designed by Kenorah Design + Build, lights mounted at the bottom of floating vanities help light the way for homeowners at night.

6. Do Not Use Clear Glass Lampshades or Exposed Bulbs

Design trends aren’t always in our best interest, and lighting is no exception. To complicate matters further, most of the fixtures are shot with the lights off or in a well-lit room, so you never see them in action until it’s too late. Avoid using clear glass covers or bare light bulbs in the bathroom, as they can create harsh glare. Instead, consider adding matte tones or fabric tones, like what Highmark Builders saw in Minnesota bathrooms.

7. Don’t Just Use Solid Metal Lampshades

You may be tempted to use solid metal lampshades because they’re stylish, but doing so in a bathroom with no other light source will plunge you into the dark. Here, the team at Coast View Construction added a skylight above the sink to counteract some of the shadows that will result from many of the metal and solid material tones.

8. Don’t Shine Spotlights on the Floor

If the spotlight shines on the floor instead of the stars on stage, they will be very angry. Again, one of the most common lighting mistakes is placing recessed downlights on exposed spots on the floor. Instead, place the downlight above countertops and other work areas where additional light can be used. This San Francisco bathroom designed by Total Concepts is a great example of a properly placed downlight.

9. Don’t Rely Solely on Backlit Mirrors

The soft glow from the backlit mirror provides a modern look and a stylish alternative to a night light. But backlit mirrors often provide more light to the walls than you do on your face, which is exactly where you need it most. So, consider adding wall lamps or chandeliers to the sides of the mirror for functional lighting. Design Milieu

The round mirror in the designed Washington, D.C. bathroom solves this problem with an LED frame that shines light on your face while still having a backlit effect.

Style is important, but remember that light is subject to the laws of physics. If you want to look radiant all day long, the right dresser lighting is important.