Vanity lighting is one of the most crucial aspects of bathroom design. The bathroom’s overhead lighting is seldom enough to properly illuminate the vanity. Vanity lights have to be bright enough to use when shaving or applying makeup, but soft enough to highlight and flatter the skin tone. A simple mistake in shade or angle can result in shadows and uneven lighting, creating a rather unflattering reflection. Read on to find out what to avoid and some alternatives to common mistakes.

Mirror lights

A large, bright bulb on the ceiling seems practical enough, until you look at the mirror and see the shadows it creates over your face. Overhead lighting casts shadows under your eyes and nose, making it difficult to apply makeup or shave under those areas.  It also highlights bumps and uneven textures on your skin.

A better choice is to place lights around the mirror, illuminating your reflection rather than your face. This technique is called frontal lighting, and with the right placement and bulb choice, you can highlight your key features and eliminate unnecessary shadows. Experts recommend lining the edges of the mirror with light bulbs for a Hollywood-style art deco look. If you want something more classic, place wall sconces or bar lights on either side of the mirror.

Warm hues

Bright white lights appear harsh and increase contrast on your face. This creates unrealistic colors, making your skin appear pale and your blemishes appear darker. Avoid bare fluorescent lamps for vanities and other small sections of the bathroom. They are practical and cost-efficient for general lighting, but they over-illuminate closed areas and can be blindingly bright when you use the bathroom at night.

Modern bathroom lighting leans towards soft, muted lights in warm hues. Incandescent bulbs, once considered inferior because of their excessive heat and short lifespan, are regaining popularity because of their rich yellow tones. Put a translucent or frosted glass shell to diffuse the light and spread it over a larger area for a comforting glow.

If you still prefer power-saving fluorescents, look for one in a warm white, pink, or yellow hue. Look for low color temperatures – typically from 2800K to 3500K – to light an entire vanity area without over-illuminating.

Ambient lighting

For more even overhead lighting, choose a large lamp with a diffusing shell rather than a plain fluorescent tube. Tubes cast the light directly downward, leaving some spots overly bright and others too dim. Large, wide lamps spread light over the area, creating a soft, ambient light. This is also ideal if you have accent or task lighting on your walls or vanity, because bright lights can drown out smaller lights. Make sure it matches your bathroom’s size – smaller lamps for smaller floor areas – to avoid over-illumination.

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