Selecting Guest Bathroom Lighting Fixtures When Remodeling

The Right Lighting Can Improve Your Bathroom's Functionality, Beauty, and Safety

For many homeowners, the guest bathroom and powder room are the last spaces to be remodeled. Redesigning a guest bathroom or powder room is an excellent chance to showcase your style and create a relaxing sanctuary for your visitors.

One key element to consider when designing your space is bathroom lighting. Choosing your lighting (with consideration to the varying needs of your guests) can be challenging. Working with a professional designer can help you create a balanced lighting plan that will improve functionality and create an atmosphere of comfort and relaxation for your guests.

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In this post, we will explore some of your lighting options and learn how to create a layered bathroom lighting plan to make your guest bathroom more functional and infuse it with your style!

First, Create a Layered Bathroom Lighting Design

A good lighting design incorporates several different types of lighting specific to particular functions in the bathroom. Your bathroom lighting plays a role in creating an aesthetically beautiful, functional, and safe space.

The bathroom is a multi-functional room, so you want lighting appropriate for different times throughout the day. For example, if you wake up early to take a shower, you probably don't want super bright lights, however, when applying makeup in front of the mirror, you want bright light. Having the flexibility to adjust the bathroom lighting levels is important. So you might consider dimmable options.

Layered lighting is crucial in every room in your home, including the bathroom! When creating layered lighting, incorporate the three different types of lighting. They are:

• Ambient Lighting - Recessed lighting is an excellent choice for ambient lighting. You can put the fixtures on a dimmer switch to adjust the light level in the space. Dimming the lights is a great way to set a relaxing mood for a warm bath after a long day.

• Task Lighting - Setting sconces on either side of your bathroom mirror is an example of task lighting. Your sink and bathroom mirror is where your husband will shave and where you'll apply makeup before a night on the town. Sconces work to balance your space. When properly placed, sconces can eliminate shadows and give you more natural light, perfect for applying makeup.

• Accent Lighting - Accent lighting can include an elegant chandelier over the soaking tub or a spotlight on a sculpture in a niche. While a smaller bathroom might not need all three types of lighting, you can often combine types. For example, a chandelier or pendant is an accent light. Placing it on a dimmer can make it also function as an ambient fixture.

General Lighting Tips for the Guest Bathroom

Many homes have out-of-date bathroom lighting. When remodeling, an update to the overall wattage (or ambient lighting) is necessary. When planning your bathroom lighting, you need to focus on function and safety, but you also want to create a mood. Especially for your guests, a bathroom is a place of sanctuary, refuge, and privacy where they can relax after a long flight or drive. Having a mix of fixtures in the guest bathroom, including task lighting around the vanity, decorative ceiling fixtures, and recessed lighting, allows for a mix of lighting options sure to satisfy your guests.

Here are a few general bathroom lighting tips for your guest bathroom.

1. If you're struggling with a dark space, don't discount the power of natural light. A design-build professional will work with you to create a design that maximizes the sunlight in your space. For example, opening the space with a skylight or large windows creating a relaxing, natural atmosphere.

2. Consider adding dimmers to fixtures. This allows your guests to set their own atmosphere. During the day, they may not want the full force of the lighting fixtures, and at night, having a dimmer is a great way to create a more relaxing mood to help them wind down.

3. Always ensure that any fixtures you choose are UL damp-rated or wet-rated for maximum durability and safety. Damp-rated fixtures are perfect for a mirror and overhead lighting. Wet-rated fixtures are needed for any lighting above the shower or bathtub.

4. Make a statement if you have a larger bathroom. Consider adding unique accent lighting. Push a little outside your comfort zone and look for a fixture that is a little bigger and a bit more dazzling. That statement-making fixture might end up being the bathroom lighting element that sets the entire aesthetic for the space.

5. Consider using mixed metals. Just because your faucet is brushed nickel doesn't mean that your bathroom fixtures must be brushed nickel. Mixing metals is a great way to add style and uniqueness to your bathroom space. A good rule when mixing metals is to use each finish more than once in the room. For example, brushed nickel shower hardware combined with brass robe hooks, vanity pulls, and mirrors.

If you're considering a bathroom remodeling project or upgrading your guest bathroom, call Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We work hard for our clients to provide them with the bathroom of their dreams! If you're ready to talk and live in the greater Madison, Wisconsin area, give us a call to discuss your project!

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