When it comes to interior lighting, bathrooms are probably given the least consideration of all the rooms in the house. The average client I meet doesn't think to invest there — save it for the living room or kitchen, they say. I see a lot of baths with inadequate lighting at the mirror. Often there's just a single ceiling fixture that's supposed to do it all. But as the bathroom increasingly becomes a place to relax and recharge, complete with steam shower and spa tub, the lighting requires extra thought. And when it's done right, the payoff is great. After all, this is the room where you start and end your day. A good lighting plan is a series of layers — placing ample light where it is needed for showers, shaving, or putting on makeup, for instance, while other light sources enhance the overall mood of the room. Decoding the Layers of Light Vanity lighting gets top consideration because these fixtures work the hardest to illuminate the head and face for grooming.

The most common mistake people make is putting recessed ceiling fixtures directly over the mirror. These cast shadows on the face, making daily grooming rituals more difficult. Vertical fixtures or sconces mounted on either side of the mirror are best for casting an even light across the face. But given the size and positioning of some vanity mirrors, sidelights can be impractical (mounting them directly to the mirror is always an option, but at greater planning and cost). Only then do I suggest a fixture for over the mirror. It should be placed 75 to 80 inches above the floor and, like all vanity lighting, contain at least 150 watts — ideally spread over a fixture that's at least 24 inches long so that the light will wash evenly over the hair and face. The shower is a secondary area of task lighting. In smaller bathrooms, if the stall has a clear glass door, a dedicated fixture may not be necessary. Otherwise, I recommend a recessed light with a glass lens (plastic will yellow).

Similar recessed fixtures work well over a freestanding tub or the toilet. This "fill-in" light serves as a substitute for natural light. It is most often supplied by a central fixture, usually a surface-mounted ceiling light. I encourage clients to think more creatively in their choices, suggesting they consider a pendant lamp or chandelier instead. Another option is "cove lighting" — rope lights hidden behind a molding dropped several inches below ceiling height — which adds a soft glow around the perimeter of the room. A small recessed spotlight directed at a piece of decorative art or a beautiful powder room basin creates another layer of light in the bathroom. Similarly, a recessed shower fixture can be angled (most can be tilted up to 35 degrees at installation) to highlight nice tilework or fixtures and make them sparkle. Lighting the Vanity Right To eliminate shadows under the chin, eyes, and cheeks, fixtures should be mounted on either side of the vanity mirror (or on the mirror's surface, if it's large), 36 to 40 inches apart.

The center of each fixture should be roughly at eye level, or about 66 inches above the floor. This will guarantee even illumination across the face for grooming.Summer Infant Bath Tub Seat A crisp white light tends to render skin tones most accurately. Pets For Sale In Rome NyHalogen bulbs set the gold standard. Bengal Kittens For Sale In Denver CoLow-voltage varieties (with a built-in transformer that converts 120 volts to 12 volts) are especially compact, and the smaller bulb gives a nice sparkling effect. Halogen bulbs cost a few dollars more than standard incandescents but can last three times as long. Many feature screw-in bases; those labeled medium-base (MB) are shaped like standard incandescents, so they fit most fixtures.

The newest compact fluorescent bulbs also offer good color rendering and are up to 10 times more efficient than regular incandescent bulbs. These are a lighting designer's best friend because they grant absolute control over the lighting, and thus the mood, of the room. In a very small space like a powder room, dimming the vanity fixtures might even provide all-in-one task, ambient, and accent lighting. Plus, dimmers conserve energy. The total savings depends on how much you dim the bulb, but one dimmed just 10 percent will last twice as long as a bulb at full brightness. Today's dimmers work for every kind of light source, though you need to know what to ask for. A 120-volt incandescent or halogen light source will need an incandescent dimmer, while low-voltage and fluorescent fixtures require their own compatible dimmers. Occasionally, dimmed bulbs will buzz as the filament vibrates. Switching to a lower-watt bulb (which has a smaller filament) should reduce or even eliminate the noise.

Attention to aesthetics in the bathroom doesn't diminish the importance of safety. Electricity and water are still lethal companions, and nowhere do they mingle more closely than in the bathroom. Always consult a certified electrician before tackling even the simplest lighting project. The National Electric Code requires all new outlets to have GFCIs, ground-fault circuit interrupters; the newer ones can be retrofitted to existing outlets. Even with a GFCI, freestanding plug-in lamps should never be placed near a sink or tub. Fixtures that are going to be within a certain distance of the tub or shower (usually 6 feet, though local codes vary) must be "wet" or "shower-location" rated. Don't confuse this with the less rigorous "damp-location" rating that's ascribed to most outdoor lighting. Where to Find It Ginger, Fort Mill, SC Mt. Scott by Rejuvenation The right light sets the scene in any bath -- and looks great doing it. Check out these lighting tips to help you determine which ones work best for your bathroom.

Lighting serves many purposes in a bathroom. It eases the transition from asleep to awake, guides you in your daily grooming routines, and helps you unwind after a long day. A single fixture doesn't do you or your bathroom's decor justice. To ensure adequate lighting, you need a variety of sources that provide illumination in three layers: ambient, task, and accent. "Thinking in terms of layers gives you the flexibility to address a variety of needs," says Mary Beth Gotti, manager of the GE Lighting Institute in Cleveland, Ohio.However, bathroom lighting isn't all about function. Fixtures, especially vanity lighting, also finish the look of any design scheme. "Light fixtures are art," says Marie Lail Blackburn, certified master kitchen and bath designer and owner of MLB Design Group in Seattle. "There are so many beautiful choices out there. The choice is very personal."These days, lighting applications -- not just the fixtures -- are catching the eyes of designers and homeowners alike.

You'll find mirrors and medicine cabinets aglow with integrated fluorescent or LED bulbs, and whirlpool tubs that embrace chromatherapy -- built-in lights that change from calming cool hues to energizing warm tones to influence your mood. "Master bathrooms are retreats where you go to relax, revive your spirits, and refresh yourself," Blackburn says. "Lighting plays a huge role in creating a peaceful atmosphere."Read on to learn how to cast the right amount of light -- and style -- in your bathroom. Lighting Buying and Planning Guide Ambient lighting: Ambient lighting is the base layer that brightens the overall space and lets you move about safely. Accent lighting: Accent lighting highlights particular elements of the bath that you want to show off, such as intricate tilework or a beautiful glass bowl sink. "You need layers so that your lighting isn't flat or sterile," says Susan Arnold, a lighting designer at Wolfers Lighting in Waltham, Massachusetts.Task lighting: Task lighting sheds light on specific activities you do most, from shaving to showering.

Side Lighting: To fully illuminate your face, plan for the equivalent of 75 watts of incandescent lighting on each side. If your mirror is centered above the sink, mount fixtures "just a few inches to the left and the right of the mirror -- as close to your face as possible," says Patricia Rizzo, DesignWorks program manager at the Lighting Research Center in Troy, New York. "The bottom of the shade housing the lightbulb should sit just above eye level." If your mirror stretches the width of the vanity, you can mount the fixtures directly onto the mirror, though this will likely cost more.Overhead lighting: Side lighting is best for minimizing shadows, but if it's not possible, place a fixture, such as a horizontal bar with multiple lights, above your vanity mirror. This fixture should provide the equivalent of 150 watts of incandescent lighting and be long enough to spread light evenly over your face. Mount it at least 78 inches above the ground and make sure it clears the mirror, "unless the shades are meant to drop down over the mirror," Rizzo says.