For new construction or remodeling projects, selecting your bathroom’s premier lighting design can be intimidating. Different lighting choices are ideal for different parts of the bathroom. The shower, tub, and vanity require varying degrees of illumination and shade. Here are some suggestions for using lighting to transform your bathroom into a beautiful space.
1. Incorporate Layers of Lighting
Using three layers of lighting is a great way to improve the aesthetic appeal of your bathroom. Go for a combination of ambient lighting, from flush mounts, pendants, and chandeliers, combined with task lighting for everyday grooming tasks like applying makeup or shaving. As the third layer of lighting, use accent lighting to draw attention to the bathroom’s architectural details and decor. This approach will ensure a premier lighting setup that offers an even distribution of light.
2. Use Dimmer Lights
Adding dimmer lights gives you complete control over your bathroom’s lighting and overall mood. For small spaces, dimming the vanity fixtures may offer integrated task, ambient, and accent lighting. Dimmers are also an effective way of conserving energy. By dimming a bulb by just 10%, it will last twice as long as one at full brightness.
You can use modern dimmers with any light source, but it helps to know what to look for. Low-voltage and fluorescent fixtures need compatible dimmers, whereas 120-volt incandescent or halogen light sources need an incandescent dimmer. Dimmed bulbs will often buzz when the filament vibrates. A lower-watt bulb with a smaller filament should decrease or eliminate the noise.
3. Know the Different Types of Bulbs Available
Halogen bulbs are the gold standard. Low-voltage variants, which include an integrated transformer to convert 120 volts to 12 volts, are particularly compact and provide a wonderful sparkling effect. While they cost a few extra dollars more than incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs last three times longer.
Most bulbs feature screw-in bases that are marked medium-base (MB). They are shaped like typical incandescent bulbs and are ideal for most fixtures. The most recent compact fluorescent bulbs are up to ten times more efficient than conventional incandescent bulbs, and yet they provide superb color rendering. According to HGTV, a bathroom’s ambient lighting should be between 4,000 and 8,000 lumens, with task lighting in the mirror no less than 1,700 lumens.
Does your bathroom need an upgrade? Why not start with some great lighting fixtures? Contact Premier Lighting today for high-quality lighting fixtures at affordable prices.
