It's true, we tend to spend a lot of time getting ready in the bathroom, so having the right lighting is essential. Find out how to pick the best bathroom lights in our guide below.

---

Bathroom Light Direction

Choose the direction of your light shades based on the type of light you want it to achieve: ambient, task or accent. Ambient lighting produces general lighting in a room, while task lighting focuses on specific areas for concentrated. Accent lighting is used to highlight decor and architectural features.

Up: An upward-facing light provides ambient light, illuminating the whole room with soft light. These are great to mimic natural light in your bathroom.

Down: A downward facing light creates focused task lighting on your vanity. This provides the best bathroom lighting for makeup or grooming.

Types of Bathroom Vanity Lights

Vanity Lights: Installed right above your mirror, these include between two and eight lights. Three bulb lights are the most common option, as they fit most vanity and mirror sizes.

Mirror Lights: Similar to a vanity light, mirror lights can also run vertically on either side of the mirror. Also known as a vanity light bar.

Wall Lights: Wall lights are placed on the sides of the mirror and contain a single source of light. Bath sconces are differentiated by their direction of light.

Recessed Shower Lighting: Lighting placed in the shower needs to be wet-rated, meaning it’s able to withstand direct moisture. Shower lights have a tempered glass lens to ensure that the bulb is protected. When choosing a shower light, match its finish with your shower head. Don’t forget to consider what trim size will fit and look best – trim sizes range from less than 8cm – 20cm or even more.

Tip: For the ultimate lighting combo, pair a vanity light with sconces on either side. This provides ample ambient lighting for the bathroom and task lighting for up-close actions.

Placement of Vanity Light Over Mirror

There’s no standard rule of thumb for choosing the right size light for your vanity. When placing a vanity light over your mirror, consider the size of your vanity. Installing a light that’s in scale with your vanity and mirror will make your bathroom feel balanced.

For example, if you have a 152cm vanity with two sinks in the middle, you can opt for one long bath bar 121cm across, or two 60cm bath bars. You can also add a pair of sconces on either side of the mirror.

If you’re installing wall sconces on either side of the mirror, place the lights at least 152cm off the ground to be at eye level and to provide the right amount of light distribution.

Tip: Install your vanity lighting 92cm – 122cm above your countertop height. This placement of your vanity light over the mirror helps to eliminate shadows and creates the best light balance.

Bathroom Light Bulbs

Now that you’ve chosen all the basics for your vanity light, you can begin considering the bulbs. The right type of light in your bathroom can make getting ready that much easier. There are two important measurements of lightbulbs to remember: kelvins and lumens. The kelvin (K) colour spectrum describes the colour of a light. The higher the kelvins, the bluer and more cool-toned the light will appear.

The lower the kelvins, the yellower and more warm-hued the colour will be. The best colour temperature for bathroom lighting is white light because it mimics the hue of natural daylight. We recommend 4000K – 6500K bulbs to achieve this. Lumens (lm) measure a bulb’s brightness. The higher the lumens, the brighter the lights will be. To adequately light your bathroom, you need 70lm – 80lm per square foot.

Tip: If you’re very sensitive to light, go with a warmer coloured bulb with less kelvins and less lumens.

Bathroom Lighting Ideas

Pair of Sconces

In personal bathrooms where you’ll be getting ready, sconces on either side of the mirror ensure that there are no harsh shadows and your face is properly illuminated. Look for semi-opaque shades that will diffuse the light and not be too bright for your eyes. If your bathroom is too small for a pair of sconces, opt for a vanity light installed above the mirror for a similar effect.

Elongate the Space

Lights installed just over the mirror draw the eye upward and elongate your ceilings. This is a great way to make your space look larger and brighter. If you choose shades pointing upward, you may want to add some sconces to provide more task lighting.

Layered Light

If you don’t have a lot of natural light in your bathroom, light layering is essential for creating a bright and inviting space. Combine a ceiling light for ambient lighting with vanity lights to brighten the area around your mirror. Bright, white lights open up the space – consider lights with a colour temperature of 3100K – 5000K to simulate natural daylight in your bathroom. When layering light, keep in mind that the light will reflect off of the mirror.

Lighting Up Large Bathrooms

For large bathrooms with a bathtub, add a chandelier or pendant for an elegant touch. These lights do not always need to be damp or wet-rated, as long as the bathroom is well ventilated. For a focal centrepiece, add a medium or small chandelier, pendant or flush mount light above a soaking tub or in the centre of the room.

Keep It Safe

Lights installed above vanities should be rated for damp or wet environments to make sure they stay in good condition and don’t have any safety risks – this is especially important if there’s a shower in your bathroom that creates humidity. Additionally, lights installed above a shower must be wet-rated because they’ll come into direct contact with water. If you're installing your light in a half bath, a dry-location light works fine. Remember that shade materials like glass, acrylic and metal do better in moist locations compared to fabric, which can easily stain.

Show Off Your Style

The right lighting puts the finishing touch on your bathroom and replacing your vanity light instantly transforms the aesthetic of your space. Make sure the finishes of your new light mimic the style of the rest of your bathroom for a cohesive look. For example, if your bathroom has a clean-lined, modern style, look for simple and sleek lights. For traditional styles, consider more decorative designs and darker hardware.