How To Provide Good Bathroom Lighting

By Michael Russell

Proper lighting is the key for a more versatile and hospitable bathroom environment. For a long time, our bathrooms were clad only with simple overhead fixtures. However, newer bathrooms are becoming huge and luxurious. These new changes have paved a way to the creation of more improved lighting. The new lighting schemes create more adaptable and friendly atmosphere.

Decorators admit that there is no single correct way to light a bathroom. To come up with the best possible lighting scheme, including the best combination of bulbs and fixtures, decorators often consider three different factors. These include the personal preference of the client, the size of the room and the décor.

To have an effective lighting scheme, any room in the house requires not just one but a combination of ambient lighting, task lighting and accent lighting. The same is true with a good bathroom lighting scheme.

Your bathroom requires general lighting. This form of lighting provides illumination for the entire room eliminating any shadows and provides light to the floor for safety. This type of lighting is called ambient lighting. This often comes from the ceiling-mounted fixtures and natural light coming from skylights and windows. It is more advisable to use recessed ceiling fixtures because these create less glare than those fixtures that hang below the ceiling. These can have either incandescent bulbs or compact fluorescents. The National Kitchen and Bath Association of the United States recommends that 2 ½ to 4 watts of incandescent light should be enough for every square foot area. Natural light can also provide ambient lighting. Additional windows can increase the amount of natural light that enters a room. Frosted glass or glass blocks can provide privacy if needed. On the other hand, a skylight will provide at least five times more light than a window of the same size can provide.

Task lighting, on the other hand, provides illumination to activity areas such as the sink, vanities and showers in the bathroom. This also contributes to the general lighting of the room. Lighting the task areas will lessen the chances of accidental falls. If you are fond of reading while you soak, lighting the bathtub will prove beneficial. Ceiling mounted downlights that are moisture proof, are recommended for enclosed shower or tub where steam can frequently become thick. Moreover, a tub without a shower enclosure can work well with just one or two recessed incandescent downlights that are 60 or 75 watts each. Adding a dimmer to these lights will enable you to change the mood of your environment to a more relaxing atmosphere. Light switches should be placed at least 6 feet from the tub or shower.

Finally, special features of the room and decorative pieces are highlighted with accent lighting. In the bathroom for example, you can install a row of halogen mini-lights on the overhang of bathroom platform step or on hanging tapestry to accentuate the mood and provide a more attractive and interesting effect. Accent lighting should be three times more intense than those provided by ambient lighting. You can use an eyeball lens that can highlight a specific feature of the room.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Lighting
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Bathroom lighting A great way to enhance the ambiance in your bathrooms

by Stephen Neal

Bathroom lights need to be practical, functional, and decorative. Ideally, they need to go with the other fixtures and fittings, which are a part of a bathroom decor. These lights need to enhance and complement a person's interior decoration needs. They have to be a perfect blend of style with functionality. They would need to provide general or ambient illumination so that the bathroom is well lit.

When it comes to bathroom lighting, there are a plethora of choices. One can find shower lights, vanity lights, spa lights, and other lights targeting specific areas in the bathroom. While choosing these lights, one needs to give the maximum weitage to ease of use. The lights in the bathroom – used for activities such as shaving, bathing, and applying makeup - need to be easily accessible, within reach, and easy to turn on or off – as the case might be. Also, the lights in a bathroom need to be positioned carefully; placing lights in strategically over mirrors can reduce the formation of shadows to a significant extent.

The style and decor of lighting fixtures are the other factors which should be considered while buying bathroom lights. Great looking lighting fixtures in your bathroom can enhance the look of your bathrooms. And you can choose from a wide collection of bathroom lights available in myriad styles. There are modern, classical, or contemporary design options to choose from. The geometrical shaped lighting fixtures and great for modern bathrooms. The smooth and sleek looks of chrome bathroom lights go well with a contemporary decor.

Many amongst you might be using your bath areas as places of relaxation and solitude. Soaking in a warm bubble bath while keeping the lights dim might be the ideal way to reduce the stresses and strains of the day gone by for many of you. To create such an ambiance though, the right kind of bathroom lights would be needed. You can use wall scones, wall down lights, or an overhead lights with dimmers to create that perfect setting, where all your troubles would seem distant and far fetched.

From bathroom spots and down lights, wall lights, and art deco lights, to Edwardian lights and other forms of traditional bathroom lighting, the choices in bathroom light fixtures are more than one. And the best part is that there are some well-known online stores offering some amazing options in bathroom lighting at reasonable costs. These online ventures also offer crystal chandeliers, antique chandeliers, antique lanterns, and other options in decorative lighting for people who are interested. The costs are reasonable, the designs and styles are varied and interesting, and the online catalogs featuring the best designs are just a click away. No wonder, these online stores are much in demand.

To know more about an online store selling some amazing designs in bathroom lighting, you can visit periodstylelighting.

Stephen Neal is a well known author who writes article for periodstylelighting.co.uk, antique lanterns, lanterns bathroom lighting, bathroom lights, and many more ideas and turns their designs into reality.

Article Source: Bathroom lighting A great way to enhance the ambiance in your bathrooms

Tips When Picking Your Bathroom Lighting

by Michael Selvon

Whether you're combing your hair or unwinding with a relaxing bath, good bathroom lighting can impact the way you feel. Bathrooms are not just about functionality anymore. Today's home owner wants a bathroom designed for style and comfort.

When renovating a bathroom, most homeowners think about tiles, faucets, colors, towels and accessories. However, few people consider how proper lighting can make the room look spectacular. In this article, we have some residential lighting advice that will make your bathroom a relaxing oasis.

Bathroom lighting has come a long way in recent years. Instead of boring, traditional residential lighting, homeowners can creatively use cabinet lighting, hanging lamps, vanity lights and even contemporary chandeliers to illuminate a bathroom. When choosing lighting for the bathroom, think about the color of the floor and wall tiles, the kind of fixtures and accessories you have, and whether you'll need to install additional electrical outlets. Be sure to speak to a lighting specialist who can advise you about the wiring that you'll require.

Most people begin their bathroom remodeling plan by focusing on the light fixtures around the counter and mirror. You'll want bright, even light that allows you to see clearly while shaving or applying makeup, but light that doesn't give you dark, harsh shadows.

Fixtures like wall sconces should be located on each side of the mirror and set at eye level to be most effective. Theatrical-style lighting stripped along the sides and across the top of the mirror also do a good job.

Lighting fixtures and finishes must complement, rather than compete with plumbing accessories, tile, paint and wallpaper. For example, if the existing vanity lights have a nickel finish, then don't choose new lighting fixtures with a chrome or brass finish. You want a pulled together look where all of the accessories and fixtures complement each other.

Bulb selection is as important as choosing and placing the right fixture. For lighting vanity areas, try colored or coated bulbs designed to enhance facial features. Look for bath fixtures that light down so the heat dissipates easier from the sockets and creates a longer life for all bulbs.

Recessed or canned lighting, however, is not the most ideal as a bathroom's main or only lighting source, as it casts shadows across the face. Fixtures equipped with incandescent bulbs behind glass or plastic diffusers provide the most flattering light. If you opt for more energy-efficient fluorescents, then choose warm white tones. They come closest to the color of incandescent bulbs. Use frosted bulbs to reduce glare.

Residential lighting has come a long way. Instead of boring frosted light coverings, consider mini chandeliers made of glass, hanging lamps with interesting designs that coordinate with your color scheme, or even iron chandeliers that give the room an edgy feel.

When you choose your lighting fixtures take a picture of the room with you so that there is no guess work involved. Take your time and make sure you're happy with your choices so that your bathroom becomes a space that you can relax in.

Visit Mike Selvon portal to learn more about bathroom lighting. Your feedback is much appreciated at our lamp chandelier blog where a free gift awaits you.

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