Lighting fixtures are an important part of any bathroom, both in terms of design and function. While a plain light can brighten a bathroom enough to be usable, they cannot provide specific lighting needs such as mirror lights and accent lights. And with vanities, dressing areas, and tubs being built into most bathrooms, there are endless lighting options for anyone wishing to update their bathroom. Here are some of your choices.

Vanity lighting fixtures

These include mirror lights, cabinet lights, and sometimes small overhead spot lights. Also known as frontal lighting, vanity fixtures typically use low-voltage bulbs and have a sleek, simple look.

The most common vanity fixtures, as well as the mist tricky, are mirror lights. Because the light bounces off the mirror, mirror lights tend to be too bright and harsh, or too dim. The result is either an unflattering reflection with ghastly shadows, or too little light to shave, fix your hair, or put on makeup. For effective mirror lighting, surround the sides with light bulbs or place diffused lamps on either side.

Vanity lighting is available in various styles, from traditional strip lighting to elegant and contemporary wall sconces. There are also mirrors with built-in lighting, a perfect start if you are putting together a vainly from scratch. Most are available in soft, muted shades to better match the skin tone.

Ceiling fixtures

Ceiling fixtures provide general lighting, illuminating the entire bathroom area to make it functional. Unlike soft vanity lights, ceiling lights are large and bright. They are almost always the overhead type, either in a globe shell or a fluorescent lamp. The challenge of choosing a ceiling light is that they have to be bright enough to illuminate, but soft enough to be comforting. Warm to medium tones usually work best.

For a seamless look, try installing a series of down-lights instead of a single lamp. Place them over key areas such as the toilet, shower, and bathtub. This way, you can flick on the switch only where you need light, effectively avoiding glare and saving you power costs. Also use them with a dimmer to better control brightness.

Closet fixtures

Closet lights are small and cheap, but very useful. These lights help you find things in your bathroom closet without having to turn on the nearest overhead light. If you have a wall-mounted closet over a vanity counter, you can also install them underneath to provide frontal and spot lighting. If you have a small cabinet, use recessed lights to save space. Flush-mount ceiling lights are ideal for large walk-in cabinets. There are also simple under-cabinet lighting strips that you can install on the cabinet ceiling, floor or base, depending on your lighting needs. You may also want an automated door-jamb switch to automatically turn the lights off when you close the cabinet door.

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