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Whether built new or recently
remodeled, today's more complex bathrooms demand intricate lighting
solutions. Task lighting must be bright enough to do its job,
but work well with indirect accent lighting designed to soften
the room's ambience by providing a warm glow. Lighting fixtures
and finishes must complement, rather than compete with plumbing
accessories, tile, paint and wallpaper.
Think of lighting the bathroom
the same way as creating the perfect ensemble, suggests Blitzer.
"You want everything to coordinate so that anyone walking
in views the room as a whole. Everything should work together
as opposed to supporting one astonishing fixture."
"When we look at the amount
of money that people invest in building or renovating bathrooms,
a proper lighting plan has the potential to deliver dramatic
results, costs only a small fraction of the project budget, and
yet it is often lacking or overlooked," said Gary Taylor,
president of Living Lighting of Ontario.
The right lighting can make
a bathroom much more gracious. "Lighting is an inexpensive
way to make the bathroom shine," says Todd Langner, vice
president of marketing and development for Cleveland-based Kichler,
a lighting manufacturer. "There's a great opportunity to
match the finish of the plumbing accessories with the light fixtures.
There is a huge array of styles in the market -- from very ornate
poly-resin cast products to sleek satin nickel fixtures with
opal matte glass in a variety of shapes and sizes."
While fixtures and finishes
range in design from sleek and clean to very ornate, contemporary
ranks as the top trend in bathroom design. "While contemporary
still makes up a very small percentage of home decor nationwide,
people seem to feel most comfortable with contemporary bathrooms
-- even if it doesn't necessarily represent the overall style
throughout their home," says Phillips.
Currently nickel owns the top
spot in bathroom finishes, followed closely by chrome and brass.
"Chrome and brushed chrome continue as important finishes,"
says Phillips. "Chrome coordinates best with mirrors, which
are essential in any bathroom." While some take a thoroughly
modern approach to bathroom lighting, others warm up to other
options. "We are seeing the influx of popular home decor
materials like iron and vintage glass being used to make a warmer
design statement," says Phillips. "This is a greater
continuity to what is happening throughout the home at large."
New technology has added options
as well. Fiber optics, with its remote light source, can create
twinkling star effects when inset into bathroom ceilings. Halogen
bulbs with their variety of sizes allow manufacturers to design
more ornate light fixtures. Unusual light sources like wall sconces,
sky lights, and lamps perched on a table, vanity or bathroom
island provide an unexpected touch. Shower lights brighten up
enclosed stalls. Reading lamps by the toilet provide more focused
light. Single sconces on either side of the mirror remain popular.
To be most effective, begin
your bathroom lighting scheme at the vanity with the lights that
do the most work. These lights must be bright enough so you can
see to shave or apply makeup, yet soft enough to compliment facial
features. Fixtures located on each side of the mirror should
be set at eye level to be most effective. Theatrical-style lighting
stripped along the sides and across the top of the mirror also
do a good job.
Bulb selection is as important
as choosing and placing the right fixture. For lighting vanity
areas, try colored or coated bulbs designed to enhance facial
features. Look for bath fixtures that light down so the heat
dissipates easier from the sockets and creates a longer life
for all bulbs. Recessed or canned lighting, however, is not the
most ideal as a bathroom's main or only lighting source as it
casts shadows across the face.
"When remodeling or building
a bathroom, don't be convinced that recessed lighting alone will
be adequate," says Langner. "You won't be happy unless
you have other light sources to fill in the gaps. It's important
to layer the light."
Layers of light also reduce
glare, important to our aging population. "As the eye ages,
glare becomes a bigger problem," says Blitzer. "The
eye needs more light to see well as the aging eye lens yellows
and thickens. By 55 years old, you need twice as much light to
see as you did when you were 20."
To further reduce glare, opt
for frosted white bulbs, rather than clear models and avoid fixtures
with exposed bulbs.
Check with local building inspectors
about electrical codes before installing any new lighting. Fixtures
used in wet areas must be approved for such a specific use. "Make
sure that your lamps are UL rated for damp locations insuring
safety," says Phillips.
Sometimes there are restrictions
on the placement of various types of lighting fixtures. Portable
lamps, for example, should not be put near a sink or tub because
of the possibility that it might fall into the water and electrocute
you.
Finally, don't worry about having
too much light, note the experts. "You can never have too
much light in the bathroom," says Phillips. "It's easy
to install a dimmer control to reduce the amount of light to
create a mood."
Ten Ways to Light Up Your Bath
When coordinating bathroom lighting,
combine fashion with function to make your fixtures supply ample
amounts of light. The American Lighting Association suggests
you check with the professionals at lighting stores and showrooms
for the broadest range of styles and knowledge.
1. Shower Power: Lighting in
the shower stall should be bright enough to help avoid spills
while making shaving and shampooing easier. Choose light fixtures
designed for use in wet areas.
2. Tub Tip: Tubs, like showers,
need good general light, which can be provided by a recessed
fixture. To avoid glare, aim the light's beam at the outside
edge of the tub.
3. Window Dressing: Windows
provide natural light to supplement or replace the electric options,
particularly during the day.
4. Night Bright: Create a nightlight
by illuminating the floor in the toe-space below vanities and
cabinets with a linear lighting system.
5. Get Glowing: Indirect (or
cove) lighting with its hidden light source is purely aesthetic,
adding a soft, warm glow to the bathroom.
6. Mirror, Mirror: Good mirror
lighting, like that provided by warm fluorescent vertical wall
sconces, will provide the even facial illumination necessary
for eliminating dark circles and shadows.
7. Vanity Fare: A halogen light
above the vanity provides cross illumination when used in conjunction
with wall sconces.
8. Table Topper: Table lamps
add a soft, human touch to bathrooms. Display them away from
water sources -- on tables, vanities, or multipurpose bathroom
islands found in larger homes.
9. Ceiling Fixture: A decorative
light fixture suspended from the ceiling provides an elegant
touch while adding extra light.
10. Potty Panache: Focused flood
or halogen fixtures over the commode provide good light for watercloset
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