Gone are the days when you’d just put up one of those multiple lights with the centre heat light in the middle of the ceiling and be done with it. Now, choosing bathroom lighting can actually feel a bit overwhelming thanks to the sheer amount of options on offer. But if you follow some simple guidelines, you’ll soon be putting the fun into functionality. For bathroom light fixtures and fittings that really make a splash, here are my favourite bathroom lighting ideas for your next spruce up.
A little bit about bathroom lighting
Bathroom lighting experts like to talk about using the “three layers of light” to create a mix of lighting fixtures. Having several light sources enhances a bathroom to prevent it from looking too generic. Different zones of the space have different functions, so a variety of lighting choices is needed for the vanity, tub and shower areas.
For example, to create a soothing ambience in the tub area, you’ll want to avoid overhead fixtures in favour of wall sconces. And your lighting at the vanity is super important to get right. It has to give you the flattering, shadowless illumination you need to attend to your makeup or shaving and tooth care needs.
Bathroom lighting design
There are basically three types of lighting. These are:
- Ambient lighting (general or mood lighting) can be thought of as “filler” light, distributing light evenly through the room.
- Task lighting is functional, practical and necessary for daily grooming and beauty tasks. It’s usually found illuminating areas needing extra visibility (so around the mirror and vanity).
- Accent lighting (feature lighting) draws attention to special décor features but may also work as task lighting. Statement lights, which add personality and atmosphere, are a form of accent lighting.
So how you do you layer the different kinds of light to create the perfect mix of bathroom lighting fixtures?
Creating a lighting plan
Start by creating a good lighting plan. First, you’ll need to assess your needs. For example, think about:
- When do you use the bathroom most?
- What for?
- How much natural light is there?
- What’s the ambience you want to create?
- Are there any features you want to highlight?
- What’s the style or look you’re going for?
- What’s your bathroom’s ceiling height and scale?
Then, mark up a floorplan with the location of fixtures and fittings, windows and doors, light switches and pulls and so on. Work with your electrician to find workable solutions and discuss all the details, like the type of bulb or its colour or temperature. Remember they do this professionally and can be a great source of information.
Now, let’s take a look at 22 tips and tricks for bathroom lighting ideas.
1. Maximise natural light
When it comes to bathroom lighting, start with the natural light that you have flowing through. Make sure you really maximise it as a source of ambient light as much as you can. Then supplement it with your other layers of lighting. And for floods of lovely natural light, go ahead and leave windows as naked as your blissfully bathing self.
Lighting for white bathrooms
An all-white look is good for maximising light because white is fantastic at reflecting light. It can make small spaces seem much larger, so it’s a perfect colour choice for those with tiny bathrooms.
2. Warm metals
When it comes to lighting styles that suit white bathrooms, it’s a great idea to add accent lights to counteract the sometimes blinding starkness of the all-white aesthetic. Brass, both for tapware and for pendant lights, is a lovely way to bring warmth into a serene, minimalist, all-white bathroom.
3. Go white on white
Another chic look for a white bathroom is to feature white statement lights. It’s a crisp, fresh look that especially suits coastal or Scandi-style bathrooms.
4. Glam up with gilt
A contemporary bathroom can be given more character and maturity with touches of brass in the lighting. Glamorous gilt light fixtures inject a bit of elegance into a plain room. And they’re especially good at warming up spaces that feature a lot of stone.
5. Look for organic lightshades
Warm up and personalise an austere all-white tiled bathroom with natural materials like rattan. You could even look into DIY basket pendants, especially if you love a coastal vibe.
6. Try timber lights
Have a minimalist, coastal-flavoured bathroom with timber cabinetry? Consider timber light fittings to add to the natural textures and warmth.
7. Install a skylight
If you’re renovating, you should consider installing a skylight if you can. Skylights let a lot of light in, without causing too much glare or shadow. They can definitely be affordable, so take a look around. This bathroom’s skylight creates lovely waterfalls of sunlight in the tub area.
Lighting a dark or coloured bathroom
White bathrooms definitely look clean and inviting and I can understand their everlasting appeal. But there’s been a big move towards exploring dark-to-black bathroom palettes in recent years. Why? Because a dark palette can feel very soothing and its “masculinity” often appeals as well. And if you light it the right way, this look can work. Similarly, if you love a richly coloured bathroom, clever lighting is important to ensure appropriate illumination.
8. Mix tones
If you like a very dark bathroom, keep it from looking like a dungeon by introducing a range of textures and tones, including some lighter ones. And, obviously, bring in lots of light, both natural and artificial. For example, matte black tapware can beautifully punctuate marble and tile for a minimalist aesthetic, and then soften it all up with a glass statement pendant.
9. Lighten up with downlights
If you are going for a minimalist look and love the idea of dark walls, consider having a lighter-coloured roof, to avoid an overly cavernous feeling. Recessed downlights in the ceiling will keep things perfectly illuminated.
10. Have concealed lighting
When it comes to dark bathrooms, having plenty of light sources is a must. This might mean cove lighting, concealed bar downlights, or backlit vanity mirrors. The diffuse warm ambient light from above provides sufficient illumination. And it lifts the heaviness of a dark colour scheme and the use of stone.
11. Coloured tile and dangling pendants
Hanging glass pendants contribute to the clean lines of this sea-green bathroom. Tiles are wonderful for helping bounce light around the space. Here, a skylight also allows in plenty of light to counter the solid expanse of saturated colour.
(Love this tile look? Installing tiles is best left to the professional tilers for a flawless look.)
Pendants, bulbs or sconces?
12. Group pendants
Multiply the impact of a glass pendant light by hanging a cluster of lamps above the vanity.
13. Hang Scandi-style light bulbs
Apart from sconces and pendants with shades, you could also go for the exposed bulb look. Revealed bulb fittings make good duty lights while creating a gentle, unobtrusive ambience.
14. Install a horizontal light bar
Think about installing a long, slim light bar on the ceiling and down the sides of a large mirror. It delivers a clean, linear look for a minimalist bathroom.
15. Light it up
Do you have a feature ceiling to show off? Don’t compete with the lighting—choose understated, recessed central light fittings. (Love a painted feature ceiling? Painting a ceiling can be a real pain in the neck, and there’s no shame in getting some help with your bathroom painting.)
16. Add sconces for task lighting
A pair of vintage sconces on either side of the mirror offers the best lighting for intricate beauty tasks, as well as having a decorative effect. You can add a lot of personality with a pair of vintage sconces. You can evoke the classic Parisian glamour of yesteryear with an ornate antique mirror and antique sconces on either side. Add fresh flowers, play a little Edith Piaf, et voila!
17. Add cove lights
You could also try cove lighting, where lights are embedded in recessed cabinets or ledges. This kind of lighting generates a good amount of ambient light but it can also act as accent lighting to highlight curated objects.
18. Go retro
Give a nostalgic nod to a brightly tiled bathroom by adding a quirky, vintage plastic light fixture. Or, how about a chandelier for old-world vibes?
19. Use lights to go industrial
Industrial interior design. It’s a mid-century style that was repopularised by 1980s romcoms. (You know, all those singles with stunning apartments “in the meatpacking district of New York”). And the style is still going strong well into the new millennium. There are plenty of replica styles or just go with simple metal pendants.
20. Make a statement
One of the most important bathroom lighting ideas is to include a statement or feature light. A tiled or wallpapered bathroom has plenty of texture, and that provides the ideal backdrop for stunning architectural ceiling lights.
21. Be Boho with candles
Don’t forget that energy-efficient option: candlelight. Collect gorgeous vessels to fill with candles for the classic candle-lit bath. The subtle illumination of candlelight creates a soothing ambience. And it sets a relaxed, romantic tone.
22. Go for bespoke
Finally, go beyond these bathroom lighting ideas and get exactly what you want by working with a lighting professional. Create a custom lighting system within your practical constraints and your imagination. Try online searching for someone in your area to take your bathroom lighting ideas to. Or try asking your electrician for a recommendation.
And that’s a wrap on our best 22 bathroom lighting ideas. Proof that there’s clearly a wide variety of choices available for you to consider when it comes to upgrading your bathroom lighting. And the beauty is that lighting is something you can play with whether you’re renting, renovating or building.
Over to you—which bathroom lighting ideas align most with your taste? Let me know in the comments below.
My bathroom needs work, how much will it cost?
Have these bathroom lighting ideas inspired you? If you’re thinking of updating your bathroom, you might like to have a go at estimating how much your dream bathroom rejuvenation will cost. Our price guides can help. For example, see:
Planning to remodel your whole bathroom? You’re probably also looking at bathroom flooring, waterproofing and ceiling fan installation.
Need more inspo first? Try our recent blogs covering modern house designs and general bathroom design ideas.
