Bathroom Lighting Ideas: Your Complete Guide

Title: How to Choose Bathroom Lighting Upload Date: May 25, 2021 Description: Learn how to choose the right bathroom lighting for your space. This comprehensive guide covers lighting types, placement, and design principles. Video Credit: Build with Ferguson

The Three-Layer Approach to Bathroom Lighting Design

The first subject I always cover with my clients is not floor tiles, not their choice of tapware or finish of their vanity. It is lighting. In my experience, a bathroom that does not have a well-put-together lighting scheme looks flat and lifeless even when everything else is perfect. This is a real shame since lighting tends to get put off last by homeowners. It usually then turns out that you only have one downlight over your vanity and you end up staring at your face with bags under it every single morning.
The professional way to approach lighting in a bathroom is to think about it in three layers: ambient lighting, task lighting and accent lighting. Ambient lighting is general, like recessed downlights that have their lights set to a wet-area rating using dimmable LEDs with a warm colour temperature usually set between 3000K to 4000K. I like 3000K the most because it gives you a very warm and relaxing environment that looks very spa-like and also enhances skin tones in task lighting. Task lighting is for specific tasks like shaving, makeup and teeth brushing so you need light that goes directly on your face. Accent lighting, like strip lights behind a niche or a vanity, a LED strip around the feature wall, or a pendant over an open space outside the wet area adds depth and atmosphere. A combination of three of these lighting layers, all operating from their own individual dimmable switches, means you have all the control over the look, feel, mood and functionality you will ever need. It is the difference between a basic lighting arrangement and a professionally designed bathroom lighting ideas scheme.

Bathroom vanity with side-mounted sconces and mirror task lighting providing shadow-free illumination at eye level

Task Lighting: Vanity, Mirror and Vanity Area

The area you should really think about first is your vanity area. It is one place where good task lighting can have a real impact since you will be starting and ending every day here and need to look good! There are plenty of bathrooms with one single downlight directly above the mirror. This is the most common bathroom lighting ideas mistake and the worst possible thing you can do since you end up casting a harsh shadow on your face with the lights over the top of your head.
A better option is to add a sconce on either side of the mirror to illuminate the room with soft light. These sconces should be placed at eye height to cast even and shadow-free light onto your face. This is about 1600 to 1700mm from the floor. Where you don't have wall space on either side of the mirror to hang sconces, a backlit LED mirror would do the same thing. An LED lighted round mirror starts at $178 and can get up to $734 for a larger oval design with anti-fogging and dimmable brightness built in. You could also get a lighted shaving cabinet that is essentially a bathroom mirror, storage cabinets and built-in lighting all in one. This starts at $390 and can range to $1,096. For general lighting in a vanity zone, your goal should be a lux rating at face height of around 300 to 500 lux.

Bathroom showing recessed downlights installed in wet zone with appropriate IP ratings and electrical safety features

IP Ratings and Zones: The Bathroom Electrical Regulations

At this point, you will be thinking about your bathroom window ideas and the bathroom design and layout but this all has to come into line with the minimum safety requirements for bathroom electrics. Australian standards divide all bathroom spaces into a series of specific electrical zones (AS/NZS 3000:2018).
Zone 0 is inside a bath or a shower base and the only lighting fixtures allowed are IPX7-rated with a maximum of 12 volts for the supply. Zone 1 is up to 2.5 metres from the floor, 1.2 metres from the showerhead connection and requires a minimum rating of IPX4 and does not have a switch or power point. Zone 2 is 0.6 metres from the outside of Zone 1 and has the same minimum IPX4 requirements. Zone 3 doesn't specifically specify any IP requirements but I recommend all electrical fittings in a wet area should be at least IP44. All lighting and power circuits in a bathroom have to be wired with a residual current device rated at 30 milliampere or less (AS/NZS 3000:2018). All electrics in the bathroom including wiring for lights and power outlets, installing an LED mirror, adding a heated towel rail must be done by a fully licensed electrician in all states and territories.

Shower niche with warm white LED strip lighting creating feature lighting and ambiance

Feature Lighting: Niches, Windows and Statement Fixtures

I love recessed LED strips inside shower niches as one of the best bathroom niche ideas; they look gorgeous on products and give you a soft source of light to find your way during a middle-of-the-night trip. Make sure the correct IP rating is chosen for the zone, and select warm white (2700K to 3000K).
Bathroom wall ideas like backlit feature panels positioned behind the vanity are another great option. A hidden LED channel behind a floating vanity will give the soft appearance of a floating glow, especially when used in conjunction with a dark bathroom vanity with sink in matt black or woodgrain finishes. In the case of a larger bathroom, a statement pendant hanging from the ceiling in Zone 3 can become a true feature, just double check the location with your electrician first.
Windows will always be the primary source of natural light in the daytime, but frosted glass, clerestory windows or skylights can reduce our reliance on electric lights during the day whilst still keeping things private.

Licensed electrician installing bathroom ceiling light fixture with proper tools and safety compliance

Planning Your Lighting Layout and Working with Specifications

Having a lighting plan laid out before you start your rough-in stage will save you both time and money. Get in touch with your electrician early, ideally before any lining is put up in your bathroom. You should mark your plan with the position of your switches and dimmer locations, and the number of fixtures that will be needed in each specific zone.
When budgeting for bathroom lighting ideas, expect to spend around $500 to $3,000, with costs determined by the number of fixtures and quality. Dimmer switches usually add $50 to $150 per circuit, but are worth every cent. When you come to choosing a fixture, make sure the IP is correct for the zone, ensure it is SAA certified and the colour temperature suits your bathroom palette. I usually specify a 3000K light in every fixture to keep a consistent look; mixing them up creates conflicting colours which breaks up a cohesive palette. If you are considering a bathroom cabinet with lighting or 900mm vanities, make sure you have thought about where to position the mirror and whether the width of the vanity will be suitable.

References

AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical Installations (Wiring Rules), Standards Australia

FAQs

What colour temperature works best for bathroom lighting?

For the majority of bathrooms, I would recommend going with 3000K as the primary temperature, it is the right mix between a relaxing feel and being able to clearly see what you are doing. A 3000K colour temperature will also flatter the skin tones and give warmth in the room come the evening hours. With an LED mirror that allows you to adjust the colour temperature to your choice, there's no reason to be committed to cooler options in your entire bathroom.

Should I mix different light fitting types in my bathroom?

The key here is layering; that means mixing up light sources. For a layered look, you can use recessed downlights as your background source, add in your task lighting from sconces or a backlit mirror, and then LED strips can be used as the finishing accent. The most important factors in creating a cohesive palette is to maintain a consistency in the finish across all fixtures and keep your colour temperature all the same. So although your style may vary, matt black fixtures across the board in 3000K will appear as one.

Do I need a licensed electrician for all bathroom lighting work?

Yes, it is a strict rule. According to AS/NZS 3000, all electrical work in bathrooms is required to be carried out by a licensed electrician. That includes installing the downlights, LED mirrors, adding the dimmer and putting in the heated towel rail.