Bathroom Lighting in Large and Small Spaces
We are drawn to them, these glittering bits of glass, to appraise, stare, scrutinize. What are they? Our bathroom mirrors!
In fact, mirrors are almost irresistible. Therefore, if you have bad lighting in your bathroom, your reflection in the mirror may be fraught with shadows, dark spots and we end up wondering if we really look like that?
No. But bad lighting will make even the most beautiful person look ghoulish and tired. The good news is that we can help.
The problem with most mirrors is that they require side lighting to do their job properly. That means that lights should be mounted on either side of the mirror, sometimes called ‘task lighting’. You can achieve a low-quality version of this in a pinch if you have overhead lighting which is at least 24 inches across, although, as you may have noticed, the lights in a star’s dressing room are always on the sides--with good reason. They project a more accurate portrayal of the subject. In addition, bathrooms should have another light source, so-called ‘ambient lighting’, such as an overhead light, recessed lighting, or one of many other options to create another overlay of lighting.
The folly of many attractive bathrooms is they don't make the occupant look attractive when the lighting is poorly planned.
Back to our mirror. Want to get a good idea of what lighting should really consist of in a bathroom? Look no further than your local hair salon or movie studio. Side-and-ambient mixes can be found in virtually all salons. Why? Because the combination offers a true picture.
Most larger bathrooms, even those without a window, usually have an overlay of lighting by sheer virtue of their size. But, smaller bathrooms are not only often neglected by builders when it comes to natural light, but they also get passed over for quality lighting with a good overlay. As a result, that downstairs guest bathroom creates an unfortunate portrayal of you and your guests. As a side note, when you go to sell your home, potential buyers ALWAYS look at this bathroom first.
While lighting doesn’t sell a home, great lighting can really benefit a home and can make a great first impression in a competitive real estate market. “Something as simple as lighting has a huge impact on buyers,” a local real estate broker told us, “so I always turn on the lights and open the blinds.”
Whether you are planning to sell your house, or you just want to add some zing to your home, great lighting can not only make that bathroom stand above the rest, but it can also make you look great.