Effective Bathroom Lighting For Style And Comfort
Bathroom lighting is often not given the consideration it deserves
. Perhaps people think that as they don't spend much time in their bathrooms during the day, lighting is not an important consideration.
However, the time spent in bathrooms is quality time that you spend on yourself in washing and grooming, and effective bathroom illumination can make a great difference in your quality of life. For one thing, the way you see yourself in the bathroom mirror in the morning can affect your whole day. Here are some tips on illuminating your bathroom to get the maximum effect.
When it comes to bathroom lighting, there are two types of lighting you need to get right. The first is the ambient lighting that makes your room safe and easily navigated.
Traditionally, the fluorescent strip or ring was the main bathroom lighting of choice with perhaps another smaller strip above the mirror. This provided a cold, clear functional light that got the job done but didn't make the bathroom into a very inviting place. Halogen bulbs and strips offer a much warmer glow.
Then there's the task lighting that allows you to perform your daily tasks with ease. These include bathing, shaving, getting dressed, applying makeup and so on. For these tasks, you need even light, free of shadows.
You need enough light in the shower, for example, to make sure you can conveniently use the shampoo and handle the water controls. One way to get this is from enclosed damp-location recessed down light in the ceiling.
Vanity lighting strips are one way to provide task lighting that also supplements the ambient light from ceiling fixtures. These give perfect light for grooming and other personal care activities. It's bright enough to get the job done, yet soft enough to make you look your best.
One important factor is the size of your bathroom. If you room is small, wall and mirror lights can take care of all illumination but larger spaces would require a ceiling light or two.
These functional types of illumination allow to you to carry out your daily tasks with ease. However, you also need to get the mood of your bathroom right and thus make it into a room to relax in and feel good. You can use lighting to do this in a variety of ways.
One way is to use cove or indirect lighting. This imbues your bathroom with a soft warm glow which is the perfect backdrop to long hot soaks in the tub. If you enjoy a long spell in the bathtub, another neat idea is to use recessed damp-location light fixtures to aim light beams around the edge of the bath to avoid glare and create a tranquil mood.
You can create cove lighting by hiding the source of light behind tray ceilings and skirtings, and beneath wall cabinets, for example. Other than a relaxing diffuse illumination, this gives your bathroom a stylish, contemporary look.
The fact is, you can be as creative with your bathroom lighting as you would be with any other room in your house. You're only constrained by the size and the height of the room. If you're ceilings are high enough, you might want to install pendant lamp shades, for example. These are available in a wide range of materials including glass, ceramics and various metals. You can get pedant lamp shades in everything from classic styles crafted from Murano glass to sleek modern aluminium.
If you bathroom ceiling is lower, you could opt for flush or semi flush ceiling lights. The latter are fixtures project from the ceiling and produce a gentle indirect light that's perfect for bathrooms. You should choose bulbs that are as similar to daylight to help you with putting on makeup and other tasks where you need to see clearly.
One thing to remember is that there are laws and regulations covering the use of electrical installations in bathrooms. These change frequently so you'll need to consult an electrician for up to date information.
Giving your bathroom the lighting it deserves brings rich dividends in improving your quality of life. To find out what's available, visit the web sites of online vendors to choose the best bathroom lights at the best prices.
by: Kathryn Dawson
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