Bathed in light Brighten a space or create a mood in your bathroom with the perfect lighting
THE RIGHT BATHROOM LIGHTING CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLD AND CLINICAL SPACE AND THE SPA-STYLE SANCTUARY YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED
Step inside the bathroom of your dreams – the feature tiles you’ve been lusting over, tapware to die for, and maybe even that freestanding tub you’ve always coveted. It’s a vision straight from your Pinterest board, but something is not quite right and the atmosphere is off. The culprit? Lighting. It’s one of the most important – yet often overlooked – elements of bathroom design and harnesses the unique power to sully even the most immaculate designs and luxurious of finishes. “Lighting plays a major role in any space, but especially the bathroom,” says Carmel Wylie, interior designer at GIA Renovations. “Seeing as it’s mostly hard finishes, it can be easy to turn the room into a clinical-looking space if your lighting isn’t right,” she warns. As the place in our home where we prepare to face the world as well as unwind, the room where we start and finish each day, there’s too much at stake to get it wrong, so read on for our expert’s guide on getting the light right.
POSITION PERFECT
Consider your lighting needs from the very early stages of design, and consult your licensed electrician for advice on safety regulations in bathrooms. “In creating a bathroom that strikes that perfect combination of functional, practical and beautiful, it’s important to consider what sort of lighting you need and when you need it,” explains interior designer Alix Helps of Alix Helps Interiors. Start by looking at what you want, breaking it down into general, task and accent lighting sources (keeping in mind the amount of natural light available). “Consider the proportions of the room and exercise some restraint,” adds Alix. While a central oyster light fitting, a series of downlights or a three-in-one heater and exhaust are popular choices for providing general light, they represent just one piece of the puzzle, says Alix. “The dim lighting won’t cut it for make-up application and downlights are great, but tend to produce some fairly unflattering shadows when placed directly over a vanity.”
FACE VALUE
The most hardworking spaces will require the most functional light sources, so when you turn your attention to the vanity where you’ll be applying make-up, doing your hair or shaving, task lighting is imperative. “This can be done by a downlight placed just in front of the mirror or a beautiful wall fitting,” suggests Carmel. To avoid unflattering shadows and select the most effective lighting, try to take a multifaceted approach by including a light above the mirror as well as a set of sconces either side, or opt for an illuminated vanity mirror instead. “Mirrors with LED lighting create beautiful ambience for a soft mood as well as being very functional,” reveals Daniela Santilli, bathrooms and kitchens merchandising leader at Reece Bathrooms. “LED lights in general are a fantastic choice to ensure consistent lighting in the vanity space every time, particularly for activities such as make-up application.” >
MOOD MAKERS
Increasingly cast as in-house day spas, our bathrooms offer us a place to escape and unwind, so setting the mood with ambient lighting has never been so important – yet it needn’t be complicated. “It can simply be adding a dimmer switch to your main LED downlight,” says Carmel. Be sure to maximise any access to natural lighting, be it upsizing your windows or installing a skylight as nothing is better than the real thing. The next best thing is wall lights or pendants that emit a soft, warm glow – more than just creating welcoming atmosphere, these also come in handy for those late-night toilet trips. “If you had a separate circuit for these, you have a greater chance of slipping back into bed without a vicious assault on the senses,” says Alix.
MULTI-TASKERS
There’s an age-old adage that suggests working smarter is better than working harder, but when you’re illuminating your bathroom, search out products that do both. The three-in-one light, heater and exhaust is a classic example, but the key is to ensure each function has its own switch to avoid disturbing the household with the sound of the fan, or sweltering on a summer’s day under the heat lamp. “We have clients who start work early or come home late, so we’ll add an LED strip on a sensor under the vanity,” says Carmel. “This way, there is enough light to get ready but you’re not waking anyone up in doing so.” Multi-functioning mirrors equipped with their own light source are another wise choice. “With added features such as defoggers available in the mirrors, the vanity space is ready for use at all times, even after the steamiest of showers,” says Daniela. >
“SET YOUR TASK LIGHTING BACK vanity FROM THE AND AIM FOR A NUMBER OF LIGHT SOURCES light TO BRING TO THE FACE”
~ ALEX HELPS, ALEX HELPS INTERIORS
GLAMOUR GLOW
Lighting in the bathroom is about more than mere functionality, as it creates a unique opportunity to make a style statement. “Pendant lighting is a great way to add a design feature to the bathroom, particularly around the vanity space,” says Daniela, also noting that feature wall lights are growing in popularity. “Wall lights are the jewellery of the room, in my opinion, and can really elevate the overall aesthetic in a bathroom,” agrees Alix.
“IF YOU GET STUCK WITH YOUR STYLE OF fitting, LIGHT LOOK BACK TO YOUR TAPWARE CHOICE. IF YOU HAVE SELECTED BLACK, THEN STICK WITH A BLACK FITTING” ~ CARMEL WYLIE, GIA RENOVATIONS