Where is the best place to put lighting in the bathroom?

To eliminate shadows under the chin, eyes, and cheeks, fixtures should be mounted on either side of the vanity mirror (or on the mirror's surface, if it's large), 36 to 40 inches apart. The center of each fixture should be roughly at eye level, or about 66 inches above the floor.

Is it better to have bathroom lights facing up or down?

Most vanity lights can be mounted with lights pointed up or down. Remember to mount the fixture with the lights pointed up for ambient lighting and pointed down for task lighting.

How do you light a bathroom properly?

Maximize natural light.

“It's the way people see you in the world.” So make sure window treatments let the light pour in. If you're designing a new home or renovating, the best place to put a bathroom is facing north: light from a northern exposure is indirect, creating a soft, diffused light.

How many lights should you have in a bathroom?

General Lighting Rules

As a standard, you want at least one watt of incandescent light for every square foot of space that you have in the bathroom. However, if you are using indirect lighting, recessed lighting, or your bathroom is on the dark side, you will want to increase this by at least half, maybe even 100%.

What is the most flattering lighting for a bathroom?

To look your most attractive in the bathroom, you want lights that flank or encircle the mirror, as you might find in a backstage dressing room. Shaded or covered sconces positioned at head height about the room will further smooth and soften your appearance.

How to Get the Best Bathroom Lighting Design

Should bathroom walls be dark or light?

White and light colors are the paint colors most people choose because the bathroom is small, but dark colors work well in small bathrooms too, even if there is no natural light coming into the space. It really comes down to the look you are going for and how you want the space to feel.

Should bathroom lights be warm or cool?

Bathroom lighting experts often recommend sticking to the warm white light, as shown in the color/temperature breakdown below. (Hint: Try warm white 2700-3000 kelvins (K) for the most flattering bathroom lighting).

How far above bathroom mirror should lights be?

Above-Mirror Light Height

The standard bath vanity light height is roughly 75 inches to 80 inches from the floor, above the mirror. If your bathroom mirror height is above the recommended vanity lighting height, there's no need to change it.

Can bathroom lights be on same circuit as rooms?

While the NEC suggests that bathrooms circuits must be dedicated to the bathroom and not serve other rooms, your local jurisdiction may allow it, so check with your local building inspections on this.

What is best color for bathroom?

Soothing neutrals in blue, green, and gray will help create a relaxing, spa-like vibe for your bathroom. Look for colors inspired by nature like soft sage, sky blue, and ash gray. If you prefer warmer colors, opt for a pale yellow, warm beige, or even a delicate blush color to give the space a welcoming glow.

Where do you put lights in a small bathroom?

To light a small bathroom, ceiling downlights and wall lights can be used to draw the eye upwards and to the perimeter of the room, enhancing the sense of space, while reflective surfaces such as mirrors will help bounce light around to achieve the same effect.

Where should I put LED lights in my bathroom?

Another very frequent use is to place the LED strips around the perimeter of the bathroom or on the lower perimeter of the bathroom furniture. Thus we have an indirect light source that we can use when the tasks we want to perform do not depend on a strong light source.

Should you put LED lights in your bathroom?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED light bulbs can last up to 25,000 hours, which significantly outlast traditional light bulbs. Therefore, LED light bulbs are some of the best bathroom fixture bulbs because they are energy-efficient and less prone to overheating.

Should bathroom lights be centered over sink?

If your vanity light fixture is going over a single sink bowl, the fixture should be at least ¾ the size of the length of the mirror. Center it above the sink, and never select vanity lights that exceed the length of the mirror.

Should lights hang over bathroom mirror?

Vanity lighting tips to make your bathroom shine

Vanity mirror lighting should never overhang the mirror. Make sure the fixture isn't extended past the mirror to avoid down lighting, which will cast shadows on the face. Take advantage of accent lighting to create a warm glow.

Should I have a light above my shower?

Can you put a light over the shower? The simple answer is yes. You must choose a bathroom ceiling light that is rated for damp or wet areas. While these may seem like standard fixtures, they have extra features like a rubber gasket and glass lens or diffuser, that make the light moisture-resistant.

Can outlets and lights be on the same breaker?

You can combine electrical receptacles and overhead lights on one circuit due to the fact that lights generally draw significantly less power than large appliances. This will allow you to distribute the power consumption throughout the breakers in your panel effectively.

Does a bathroom fan need to be on its own circuit?

Bathroom Circuits

If the vent fan has a built-in heater, it must have its own 20-amp circuit. This is called a "dedicated" circuit because it serves only one appliance or fixture. Heat lamps, wall heaters, and other built-in heating appliances may also require dedicated circuits.

What is code for wiring a bathroom?

The NEC requires that all outlet receptacles in a bathroom be GFCI protected. Outlet circuit must be 20 amps: The outlets in a bathroom should be served by a 20-amp circuit, separate from the lighting circuit, to provide power items such as curling irons, razors, and hairdryers.

Do vanity lights have to match faucet?

As a rule of thumb, it's always a good idea to match your light fixtures to any other finishes in your bathroom. If you plan on hanging a sconce on each side of your mirror for instance, then your bathroom will have a more cohesive look to it if the sconces match the existing bathroom accessories.

How many lights should be on a vanity mirror?

For double-sink vanities or those with wider countertops, a multi-light vanity fixture above mirror can be a good solution—choose a configuration of 2, 3 or 4 lights—and ensure the light is about ¾ the width of the mirror or no wider than the cabinet, regardless of how the mirrors are installed.

Should bathroom lighting be daylight or soft white?

Warm white is great for bigger living spaces where you would like to give the room the ambiance of warmth, and an inviting sense. However, for bathrooms where you want the space to look and feel clean, there has been lengthy research conducted that says 'daylight' LED lighting is more preferable.

What color should you avoid in a bathroom?

According to Apartment Therapy and others, greige (gray-beige) is among the worst choices for a bathroom. Greige is an example of a shade that can be a winner in other rooms but tends to feel dingy in a bathroom. In a similar vein, overly earthy colors should also be avoided.

What colors make a bathroom look bigger and brighter?

So what colors make a bathroom look bigger? According to basic design principles, light colors such as white, crème, pastel blue, gray or yellow will visually expand a room, while dark colors such as a deep red, green or brown, will make a room feel smaller.

What color is best for a small bathroom?

Classic White. "Lighter colors reflect light easily, which gives the room a bigger appearance," says Piercy. Unsurprisingly, a classic white paint is the perfect choice when it comes to creating the illusion of a bigger bathroom.