Bathroom Lights Buying Guide

Although the bathroom may be one of the smallest rooms in a home, it may be the one that needs the most attention when it come to lighting. Whether you are applying make-up or shaving your face, you want to see clearly. You want to make sure that shadows are kept to a minimum and that the fixtures reproduce natural lighting.

At the same time, the bathroom is a private, intimate space. Many people use bath time as an opportunity to relax, meditate, and ruminate on their day. Accent lighting can make this room even more special.

To add another consideration to the bathroom, it's a place where water is always a factor. Water and electricity can be a dangerous mix. So you need to be especially careful about the placement and type of light fixtures. Make sure that any light fixture placed near the bath or shower is rated for wet locations.

Most people automatically think about flush-mounted lights when they are designing their bathrooms. There are many advantages to a flush-mounted ceiling light. They don't take up a lot of room and they usually provide good, even light. Also, flush-mounted fixtures have a simple, clean look, which reinforces the idea of a bathroom as room which will be kept neat and clean at all times.

But you don't need to limit yourself. A small chandelier can often fit into a bathroom space, and makes bathing a bit more of an aesthetic experience. Try to pick a short chandelier, unless you have very tall ceilings, as people often reach their arms up in bathrooms.

Recessed can lights are another option as ceiling fixtures, although not for ambient light. But placing a can light with a heat lamp light bulb near the shower is a wonderful way to stay warm when you are drying off.

Or, if you want to be very efficient, you can combine a ceiling light with a ventilation fan, getting double-duty out of the same ceiling space.

Almost all the bath light fixtures sold are designed to attach to the wall. There's a good reason for this. Ceiling lights tend to cast shadows downwards. But when you are shaving or applying make-up, you want to avoid facial shadows. Wall light fixtures shed light from eye level or below. Combined with ambient ceiling light, this gives good coverage of your face without heavy shadows.

Wall sconces are a practical and beautiful way to give some side light in the bathroom. Sconces and brackets are available in thousands of designs with anywhere from one light socket to eight. The most popular number of sockets seems to be either two, three, or four.

Mirrors call for special attention. You do not want any light glaring into the reflection. One solution is to place a wall sconce with frosted glass on either side of the mirror.

Another is to place a fixture on the top of the mirror, so that the light falls forward on your face, rather than behind. Or you can place a strip of lights, called Broadway lights on the upper edge of the mirror.

Beyond the ceiling and walls, you can add lighting accents through smaller, less utilitarian lights. For example, you may want to add a small table lamp to your bathroom counter or toilet tank.

Candles also help to create a mood, especially if you use scented candles. Individual candleholders can be placed on countertops, or you can find some wall brackets that hold small candles. Dimmer switches are another great way to control the lighting and the mood in your bathroom.

You may want to design your bathroom to complement the architectural style of your house. Or you may want to use the room to contrast the predominant décor of your home. Here are some of the most prevalent decorative styles available.

Arts and Crafts The Arts and Crafts style harkened a return to simplicity after the excesses of the Victorian period. It emphasizes sturdy materials, such as bronze and iron, and strong plain lines.

Art Deco Based on the industrial boom of the early 20th century, Art Deco light fixtures have a timeless, classic beauty. Their clean lines make them a natural fit in the bathroom.

Colonial Colonial style light fixtures are both simple and elegant, recalling the refined sensibilities of our founding fathers.

Mission Mission style is often characterized by strong geometric shapes. However, when it comes to bathroom fixtures, the severity is softened into simple, feminine curves.

Rustic Rustic isn't an architectural design, but it is growing in popularity as an interior decoration style. Rustic pieces are designed to look as though they were fashioned out of natural wood, so even metal Rustic fixtures have a twiggy look to them.

Victorian Victorian fixtures are modeled after the gaslights used during Queen Victoria's reign. The stems on the fixtures tend to be thick, as the original lights needed hollow tubs to carry gas to the light. They are very ornate.

One final consideration is the type of material you want in your bath fixture. Many manufacturers offer their designs in a variety of different materials and finishes. Nickel, chrome, bronze, and brass are the most common, but there are many fixtures available in pewter, iron, platinum, and gold as well.

As with all kinds of light fixtures, the prices vary widely, according to the quality and aesthetic value of the fixture. There are many good bathroom light fixtures available for less than $50. There are some that cost more than $500 and a few that are over $1,000. But the vast majority of bathroom light fixtures are priced at $100-$250.

With that much variety, you're sure to find something that pleases you, no matter what your budget is.

Craftmade 
George Kovacs
Hinkley
Kalco Lighting
Kenroy
Kichler
Maxim Lighting International
Minka-Lavery
Progress Lighting
Sea Gull Lighting
Thomas Lighting
World Imports