10 Ideas to Transform the Lighting in Your Bathroom

Bathrooms today have to be hard-working – efficient for those early mornings, but also a calming retreat where you can relax at the end of the day. Lighting plays a big part in both the mood and efficiency of a bathroom, so if you’re planning a revamp, make sure you spend a bit of time thinking about it.

Are you planning just to update your existingbathroom? A new lighting scheme can transform things – whether you add astriking pendant, improve your mirror lighting or fit a dimmer switch, youcan give your room a whole new feel. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Pack a punch with pendants

We’re more used to seeing pendant lights over kitchen islands and dining tables, but they can work in bathrooms too. In this picture, the pendant adds a strong, modern feature of the bathroom and a good balance with the vintage bath and bench. It also highlights the beautiful ceiling. 

2. Create a cluster

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Pendants can also look striking grouped together and add a sculptural element to your bathroom. These simple white snowdrop pendants add focus to the bathing zone and work well with the jungle feature wall.

Minmin KP, Pexels

Rather than the usual recessed spots in a ceiling, do something different and sink them into the floor to highlight a particular feature, or create a subtle focus on key areas.Here, the sinks are highlighted in a stylish way to fit in with the Moroccan theme.

Word of advice on this route – it should beplanned early to ensure all the necessary wiring is in place in the floor. 

4. Flatter with glamorous side lights

Create an old-fashioned ‘Hollywood’ dressing-room feel by installing strips of bare bulbs around a mirror. Lights like these look as good turned off as they do on, when they cast a flattering, shadow-free reflection for anyone getting ready for their close-up.

If that’s a bit over the top for your style, a more low-key route is to install a pair of elegant wall lights either side of the mirror for similar shadow-free results.

5. Concealed lighting

Julie Aagaard, Pexels

This is when you can’t see the source, but can still see the light it emits – it is the perfect way to add atmosphere to a bathroom. It offers the chance to get much more creative with your lighting and give your room a real wow factor. Here the light around the mirror and the dark walls give a very dramatic look.

Concealed lighting is often architectural lighting, as it’s worked into the fabric of the building, so this is definitely one you’ll need to plan for.

6. Zone with colour

There are few areas in your home where you can use coloured lighting to such good effect, as zones are so clearly defined in the bathroom. Emphasise the zones by using different lights in each – bright and white for high-use areas, and something a little calmer, such as blue, for the bath and shower.

7. Continue a theme

If your bathroom has a particular theme, then continue this in the lighting. This bathroom pictured has a slick, gold modern take on Art Deco and the pendant light perfectly fits. Details are key to a cohesive design, and lighting is a brilliant way to add another layer to your bathroom scheme.

8. Focus on a feature

NELBali Photography, Unsplash

Bathrooms are by no means solely functional spaces, and your choice of lighting should reflect that. As well as focused task lighting over a basin, for example, you could think about positioning your lights to showcase a statement element, such as this beautiful outdoor shower.

9. Highlight a niche

Joey, Pexels

Sometimes, just a little subtle lighting can work wonders and add interest to an otherwise plain-looking bathroom. Try illuminating an inset shelf to transform it from something utilitarian into an attractive feature.

Here, the lighting picks out the beautiful middle eastern arches, the brickwork, pretty candles and houseplants too.

10. Try out a dimmer switch

Rumman Amin, Unsplash

Try fitting a dimmer switch to your main task light, as this will let your eyes adjust first thing in the morning and help you wind down in the evening. Dimmers are available for halogen and LED lights, so you can control the intensity of all your bulbs. This dimmer light featured keeps the bathroom light low for early morning or late evening soaks.

Start your bathroom transformation today and get in touch with us at Buzz Electrical for a free quote, email us at info@buzzelectrical.co.uk or call us on 01386 423 600

Adapted from an articleby Lara Sargent via Houzz