Bathroom renovations and remodels still top the list of the most popular home improvement projects. And for good reason — it’s a room that gets repeated use every day. A well-designed bathroom improves the beauty and functionality of a home. It also may boost its resale value. A bathroom remodel consistently ranks in the top 10 list of projects with the highest return on investment, according to Remodeling’s latest Cost vs. Value Report.

But bathroom remodeling can get costly quick, with the national average at $26,606 for a mid-range project. If you set your sights on updating your bathroom and don’t want the time and financial commitment of a full remodel, look no further than lighting. Lighting placement, intensity, and fixtures all work together in a bathroom to create a mood and illuminate areas where you get ready for the day. Working with a local lighting showroom is the best way to make the most of your bathroom lighting and budget.

 

“I do have customers that say, ‘I didn’t think I could afford to buy from the showroom, but you showed me I can,’” says Marsha Smuts, sales associate with Phillips Lighting & Home in Modesto, California.

Lighting experts will help you make the right choices for your bathroom’s size, layout, and decor style. To get you started, here are five bathroom lighting ideas for a more stylish and functional space.

1. Stay on Task

The bathroom is one of the rooms in a home that’s overwhelmingly task-focused. Proper lighting is essential for showering, bathing, shaving, putting on makeup, and getting dressed for the day. Builder-grade lighting or lighting in older homes is often inadequate. Address this type of low-hanging fruit first when creating your bathroom’s lighting plan.

 

Types of lighting to consider:

 

Bathroom vanity lighting: Fixtures above the bathroom mirror are common, however you can get creative with installing a pendant light on each side for a more modern and dramatic look.

 

Wall sconces: Place sconces at eye level or just above eye level on each side of the bathroom mirror to reduce facial shadows.

 

Lighted mirrors: Cast yourself in the best light with a backlit mirror that also offers some ambient light to the rest of the room.

 

Recessed downlights: Illuminate specific areas like above a shower, bathtub, or above countertops.

 

 

 

 

2. Opt for Overhead Light Sources

There’s a misconception that a vanity light is all that’s needed in a bathroom. While task lighting will take care of the bulk of your bathroom lighting, you’ll still need a source of ambient lighting. This type of lighting usually comes from overhead and provides an even cast of light throughout the room. A bathroom lighting fixture like a decorative chandelier or pendant light is an appealing way to create an even overhead glow.

 

3. Control the Mood

Getting the light right in a bathroom is also about intensity and quantity. For example, you’ll need more light on a cloudy afternoon than you would on a sunny morning. Dimmer switches are the unsung lighting heroes in a bathroom. They allow easy control of the amount of light for ambiance – turn them up to get ready for the day, or move them down for a soothing bathtub soak in the evening.

Accent lighting is another consideration for the bathroom and can improve visibility and safety. A few examples include:

Cove lights: Uplights installed along ceiling molding offer a subdued and consistent glow from above.

Undercabinet lights: LED strips can be affixed beneath cabinets and shelves to illuminate their contents.

LED toe-kick lights: LED strip lighting placed under a floating vanity illuminates the flooring around it for evening and nighttime safety.

 

4. Fit Fixtures to the Room

If light fixtures aren’t scaled appropriately to a room, they look awkward and out of place. While a large crystal chandelier won’t work in a powder room, a smaller pendant light or flush mount would be a great choice.

You’ll also want to take your bathroom’s style into consideration when selecting your fixtures. Some fixture styles are more timeless and work with a number of decor styles than others. This is where enlisting the expertise of a professional lighting consultant is a real benefit, as they can help you explore possibilities you might not have discovered on your own.

 

 

“Be open to options, and come in with a mindset to see what is out there. . . Let your consultant lead you down a path that maybe you haven’t been down before,” says Marty Lepper, lighting designer with Urban Lights in Denver, Colorado.

 

5. Stay Timeless

Trendy or timeless in the bathroom? Homeowners often ask this question when visiting a lighting showroom. Trendy design features are refreshing and fun, but sometimes it’s hard to know how much is too much.

Super trendy light fixtures can look dated in a bathroom pretty quickly. Homeowners tend to update a bathroom every five to ten years, so its important features and fixtures can stand the test of time. You’ll want your selections to look great now and five years from now. And if you’re planning to sell your home in the near future, timeless features are more appealing to buyers than trendier pieces they’ll want to replace after move-in.

 

Bathroom Lighting Takeaways

If you’re on a budget for home improvement projects this year, lighting is a cost-effective way to get the look you desire for less compared to other features and fixtures. Discover what’s possible — get a done-for-you bathroom lighting plan by visiting a Lighting One member showroom near you. When you visit, bring photos of your bathroom space for a specialist to make suggestions that will complement your existing cabinets, plumbing, flooring and decor.