Bright Ideas for Your Bathroom
The glorious new tub,
the beautiful new fixtures, and the sleek countertops always get top billing in
the bathroom remodel. But don't forget one of the players most worthy of the
spotlight—the lighting.
Lighting designers say
a mix of different lighting types is essential in the bathroom to help blend
all the bathrooms elements and create a unified look.
Unlike other rooms of
the house, the bathroom is crammed with an assortment of materials and
finishes.
"You have wall
tile, floor tile, shower tile, faucet hardware, towel bars, wallpaper and paint
all in a space often smaller than 100 square feet," said Dan Blitzer, a
Manhattan-based educator for the American Lighting Association.
There are three
general types of lighting: general lighting provides overall illumination; task
lighting provides light for a specific task, like reading, homework, and
computer work; and accent lighting puts the spotlight on a piece of art,
plants, or other favorite possession.
Sara Susanka, a Minnesota
architect best known for her books, The Not So Big House (Taunton Press, 1998),
Creating the Not So Big House (Taunton Press, 2000), and Not So Big Solutions
for Your Home (Taunton Press, 2002), says a mix of lighting in different
intensities adds interest and depth to a small space. For example, she suggests
combining uplighting in a corner, a pool of light from a table lamp and accent
lighting on an interesting feature.
"It's the
contrast that makes it (the space) feel bigger," Susanka says.
Meanwhile, lighting
experts say that homeowners undertaking bathroom remodeling projects are often
in the dark when it comes to thinking about lighting.
"When we look at
the amount of money that people invest in building or renovating bathrooms, a
proper lighting plan has the potential to deliver dramatic results, costs only
a small fraction of t
Lighting experts
suggest you focus on all the elements of the bathroom, including:
·
Showers. Light fixtures should be bright enough so you can see
when you're shaving and shampooing. Also, choose one that can stand up to the
water.
·
Tubs. Experts say you'll want good general light, which a
recessed fixture offers. Aim the light's beam at the outside edge of the tub to
reduce glare.
·
Window. Keep dressings and blinds open during the day to provide
plenty of natural light.
·
Night light. Illuminate the floor in the toespace between
vanities and cabinets with a linear lighting system.
·
Glowing light. Indirect - also called cove - lighting through a
hidden light source provides a soft, warm glow to the bathroom.
·
Mirrors. Warm fluorescent vertical wall sconces will provide you
with even lighting on your face—essential for applying cosmetics or shaving.
·
Vanities. A halogen light placed above the vanity provides cross
lighting when used with wall sconces.
·
Table touches. Table lamps add a soft, human touch to the
bathroom. But be sure
·
The ceiling. For an elegant touch—as well as some extra
light—suspend a decorative light fixture from the ceiling.
·
The commode. Yes, experts even suggest placing focused floor or
halogen fixtures above the potty for watercloset reading.
Lowe's Home
Improvement Warehouse says on its web site that the options in bathroom
lighting have dramatically increased over the past few years. One of the most
popular trends is "design and combine" bath bars in which you choose
the wall bracket (or fitter) you like the best and then select from the many
available styles of glass shades to go with it.
And if you're afraid
you might overdo the lighting, don't be.
"You can never
have too much light in the bathroom," said Todd Phillips, president of
lighting manufacturer Quoizel. "It's easy to install a dimmer control to
reduce the amount of light to create a mood."
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