Bathroom Lighting Fixtures
- What to Consider Before Buying

Bathroom lighting fixtures and what you should consider before selecting them is frequently overlooked, so here I offer some advice.

When designing a home, one thing that doesn't get enough attention is planning the lighting scheme and this is especially true with the choice of bathroom lighting fixtures.

A lighting scheme might sound like something reserved for concert halls or theater productions, but it's more important in your home than you may think.

You want the lighting in your home to be inviting, easy on the eyes, reflect your mood, as well as being sufficient and functional.

That said, the one room that often receives little or no thought when it comes to lighting, is the bathroom.

Online shops give you a choice of 1,000 's of Lighting Fixtures and schemes, but making a decision on what's right for you and your bathroom may not be easy.

Online stores also have the advantage of being able to use search features. Using advanced search you can often find what you are looking for more quickly.

You could select lighting by the number of lights in the fixture, from different styles, types of finish and different price ranges. That certainly helps to narrow down the field.

However, it could still be difficult to visualize what the lighting will look like in your bathroom.

• Will it be adequate, not too bright or dark ?
• Will it offer the right color balance, not too white or yellow ? 
• Will it direct light to where you want it ?
• Will it cast shadows in places you don't want ?
• Will it create the right mood, say when taking a relaxing bath ?

Given these different aspects, it should come as no surprise that a single source of light is not going to satisfy all these requirements.

For example: Many women put their makeup on in the bathroom each morning. For applying makeup you need plenty of light, without it casting shadows and as close to natural light as possible.

Florescent bathroom lighting fixtures are never a good idea above a bathroom mirror.

This is because they give off a harsh white light that prevents you from seeing what you'll really look like in real daylight.

When it comes to bathroom lighting fixtures, the best kind is often natural daylight. It's the best and truest source of light you can find.

If you're designing a new bathroom, take advantage of as much natural daylight as you can whilst still maintaining your privacy.

If you have an existing bathroom where installing skylights or extra windows is not an option, then these are the main things you should consider when selecting bathroom lighting fixtures :

1. Consider the layout of your bathroom and the places where you want and need lighting, i.e. bathroom mirror, shower cubicle, bath tub, wash basin, cupboards etc.

2. Consider the type of light you want in different places i.e. soft yellow light that casts no shadows for the bathroom mirror, controllable lighting over the bath that you can adjust to set a relaxing mood.

3. Decide upon how many fixtures are needed for distributing the light over the area and the wattage of each light.

4. Consider where to place the bathroom lighting fixtures i.e. as wall lights or ceiling fixtures, or above or below cabinets.

5. Decide upon the type and design of each of the bathroom lighting fixtures i.e. cluster lights, spot lights, flush, wall mount, ceiling lights, rail lights, water submersed lighting etc.

The effect of different color schemes in your bathroom should also not be overlooked in you choice and positioning of lighting. For example, a light colored wall reflects light a dark wall will absorb light.

Home improvement stores and specialist lighting stores are also a good source for bathroom lighting fixtures.

You will often be able to see the different lighting fixtures in a bathroom setting that will help you visualize what effect and look it will have in your own bathroom.

Once you have decided on a type and style of light you can then always shop around for the right price.

Don't be afraid to ask for help and advice and shop around before you buy. You may find some fixtures you hadn’t thought of that will improve your bathroom far beyond what you originally planned.

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