While we all look at the bathroom vanity as the most obvious place where lighting is needed in the bathroom, you must consider all of the areas in your bathroom and what type of lighting will be needed. Areas such as showers or water closets/toilet areas can be more well-defined (and/or used) with the right accent or task lighting. The American Lighting Association (ALA) recommends this lighting provides at least 3x as much light on the focal point as the general lighting surrounding it. What other things should know when lighting your bathroom? Here are 5 tips:
• For lighting around smaller mirrors, the ALA recommends fixtures be mounted at least 28” apart and 60” of the floor for best results and the shadow free facial illumination necessary for daily grooming tasks. With larger mirrors, a horizontal strip of lights can be mounted above the mirror, typically at 78” from the floor.
• Toe kick lighting provides added safety for middle of the night bathroom trips and can be especially helpful for those who are visually challenged.
• In the shower/tub area, recessed down lights with shielded fixtures will provide appropriate illumination and minimize glare.
• Adding dimmer switches can provide ambiance and offer comfort to the differing light sensitivities of multiple users.
• Experiment with bulb colors and their impact on how light works with the rest of the design.
These lighting tips will hopefully have you glowing about your new bathroom!
This post was developed using content from the article “ALA Provides tips for Lighting Kitchens & Baths” from Qualified Remodeler Magazine/ForResidentialPros.com, April 2013.
