How to Create Layered Lighting in a Bathroom
Want a space where you can relax and unwind, but not sure how to achieve it? Our lighting experts can help
Say goodbye to glaring beams and clinical spotlights in the bathroom. A soft, layered lighting scheme instantly creates a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere and a more stylish look while remaining practical. Our experts explain how to create a successful layered lighting scheme in your bathroom – and the mistakes to avoid.
Professional advice from: Toria Thorpe of Lighting By Plum; Liz Bell of Absolute Project Management; Ana Maria Mihaila of Atudori Construction Services
Professional advice from: Toria Thorpe of Lighting By Plum; Liz Bell of Absolute Project Management; Ana Maria Mihaila of Atudori Construction Services
How many layers of lighting do you need?
You should have a minimum of three layers of lighting in a room, Toria says. “High, which might be downlights or a pendant; middle, which is wall lights or maybe a downlight on a picture, and low, such as floor-washers in the wall just above the skirting board or soft uplights behind a bath.
“Low-level is often the ‘wow’, where people think, ‘That’s nice,’” she says. “Having these different levels of light also means you don’t have to have so many glaring downlights above you.”
Liz Bell of Absolute Project Management says the level of light required will change “depending on the user and time of day. For showering in the morning, you’ll need good light; for doing make-up, you might need specific task lighting – bright and placed around the mirror. For middle-of-the-night loo trips, you want easy-to-use (one switch) low-level warm light,” she says.
Thinking of renovating? Find everyone you need, from interior designers to bathroom designers, and lighting specialists, on Houzz.
You should have a minimum of three layers of lighting in a room, Toria says. “High, which might be downlights or a pendant; middle, which is wall lights or maybe a downlight on a picture, and low, such as floor-washers in the wall just above the skirting board or soft uplights behind a bath.
“Low-level is often the ‘wow’, where people think, ‘That’s nice,’” she says. “Having these different levels of light also means you don’t have to have so many glaring downlights above you.”
Liz Bell of Absolute Project Management says the level of light required will change “depending on the user and time of day. For showering in the morning, you’ll need good light; for doing make-up, you might need specific task lighting – bright and placed around the mirror. For middle-of-the-night loo trips, you want easy-to-use (one switch) low-level warm light,” she says.
Thinking of renovating? Find everyone you need, from interior designers to bathroom designers, and lighting specialists, on Houzz.
Are dimmer switches important?
“Installing these allows for flexibility in lighting levels, accommodating different activities and moods,” Ana says.
“We usually suggest dimmable ceiling lighting in particular,” Liz says. “This can be a single pendant or downlights.”
However, Toria believes, “You want everything to be mains dimmable with a compatible dimmer switch. Even if it’s a low-level light anyway, you always feel as if you need less. And in a dark space, your eyes adjust.”
“The dimmer switch needs to be outside the bathroom,” Liz says, “but smart lighting systems can be used [instead], so you turn on with a switch then adjust as necessary with your phone or a remote.”
A low-voltage smart system also helps you avoid multiple switches, and settings can be programmed. “A smart system helps you set the scene,” Toria says. “You can have a practical programme, a chill-out programme, and so on.”
“Installing these allows for flexibility in lighting levels, accommodating different activities and moods,” Ana says.
“We usually suggest dimmable ceiling lighting in particular,” Liz says. “This can be a single pendant or downlights.”
However, Toria believes, “You want everything to be mains dimmable with a compatible dimmer switch. Even if it’s a low-level light anyway, you always feel as if you need less. And in a dark space, your eyes adjust.”
“The dimmer switch needs to be outside the bathroom,” Liz says, “but smart lighting systems can be used [instead], so you turn on with a switch then adjust as necessary with your phone or a remote.”
A low-voltage smart system also helps you avoid multiple switches, and settings can be programmed. “A smart system helps you set the scene,” Toria says. “You can have a practical programme, a chill-out programme, and so on.”
When should I plan the lighting?
Remember, for a layered system that really works for you, pre-plan your bathroom lighting. “Don’t leave it till the end,” Toria warns. “You’d then have to use existing light fitting positions, which generally are not in the right place. Then you’re restricted to what was in existence, and it’s linked to things such as the fan extractor. Those things can be really annoying.
“Be specific and get your own lighting – don’t necessarily just leave it to your electrician,” she adds. “Anything that’s integrated, they’d probably get off the shelf, and you’ll be left with fittings that don’t quite match, unless everything is the same colour temperature.”
More: How Long Does a Bathroom Renovation Take?
Remember, for a layered system that really works for you, pre-plan your bathroom lighting. “Don’t leave it till the end,” Toria warns. “You’d then have to use existing light fitting positions, which generally are not in the right place. Then you’re restricted to what was in existence, and it’s linked to things such as the fan extractor. Those things can be really annoying.
“Be specific and get your own lighting – don’t necessarily just leave it to your electrician,” she adds. “Anything that’s integrated, they’d probably get off the shelf, and you’ll be left with fittings that don’t quite match, unless everything is the same colour temperature.”
More: How Long Does a Bathroom Renovation Take?
How easy is it to install ‘hidden lights’?
The key to a relaxing space is keeping the light source itself hidden. “So you might have little alcoves with some mini downlights in it or a line of light, making sure you can’t see the direct light source from the position you’re sitting in, as that can be quite harsh,” Toria says. “The light source might be behind a baffle or set high into a fitting.
“If you have a floating vanity unit or loo that’s set up off the floor, with lighting set underneath it, it’s a hidden glow that’s a much softer effect,” she adds.
“Recessed LED strips can be used both to create bright, flat light that’s great for doing make-up or cleaning, and a subtler light setting for a more spa-like experience,” Liz says. “These work particularly well inside niches or under shelves, and as a way of highlighting feature tiles.”
The key to a relaxing space is keeping the light source itself hidden. “So you might have little alcoves with some mini downlights in it or a line of light, making sure you can’t see the direct light source from the position you’re sitting in, as that can be quite harsh,” Toria says. “The light source might be behind a baffle or set high into a fitting.
“If you have a floating vanity unit or loo that’s set up off the floor, with lighting set underneath it, it’s a hidden glow that’s a much softer effect,” she adds.
“Recessed LED strips can be used both to create bright, flat light that’s great for doing make-up or cleaning, and a subtler light setting for a more spa-like experience,” Liz says. “These work particularly well inside niches or under shelves, and as a way of highlighting feature tiles.”
What temperature of light should I choose?
Choosing the right colour temperature for bulbs and light fixtures is key to the final effect in your bathroom. Avoid banks of cold, bright white light if relaxing is important for you.
“We say never mix colour temperatures – always keep the lighting temperature the same and go for a warm white, not the cool end of the spectrum, because it’s too harsh and blue,” Toria advises. “We tend to use 3,000 Kelvin, because that works for everything – it’s a neutral white on the warm spectrum. Just because it’s warm doesn’t mean it’s not bright.
“Everything is LED now,” she continues. “We would advocate integrated light fittings, rather than bulbs from a DIY shop you put in yourself. It’s about longevity and better-quality fittings, but also, if you start to swap bulbs, you end up with a mix of different colours.”
Choosing the right colour temperature for bulbs and light fixtures is key to the final effect in your bathroom. Avoid banks of cold, bright white light if relaxing is important for you.
“We say never mix colour temperatures – always keep the lighting temperature the same and go for a warm white, not the cool end of the spectrum, because it’s too harsh and blue,” Toria advises. “We tend to use 3,000 Kelvin, because that works for everything – it’s a neutral white on the warm spectrum. Just because it’s warm doesn’t mean it’s not bright.
“Everything is LED now,” she continues. “We would advocate integrated light fittings, rather than bulbs from a DIY shop you put in yourself. It’s about longevity and better-quality fittings, but also, if you start to swap bulbs, you end up with a mix of different colours.”
What’s an IP rating?
Whatever kind of layered bathroom lighting scheme you go for, a key consideration is the IP rating, which is a measurement of water resistance in light fittings. “You’ll need to ensure every fitting is IP-rated to the correct level, depending on placement in the room,” Liz says. “Your lighting designer and/or electrician should be able to help with this.”
“There are different zones for lights in the bathroom,” Toria says. “The lower the zone, the more highly rated the fitting needs to be. Everything should be minimum IP44 in the bathroom; anything lower veers towards normal fittings that rust, or will be impacted by water.
“If your fitting is in the shower, you don’t want water to penetrate the light, so you can start going to submersible lights of IP67, which is the next level up,” she adds.
Whatever kind of layered bathroom lighting scheme you go for, a key consideration is the IP rating, which is a measurement of water resistance in light fittings. “You’ll need to ensure every fitting is IP-rated to the correct level, depending on placement in the room,” Liz says. “Your lighting designer and/or electrician should be able to help with this.”
“There are different zones for lights in the bathroom,” Toria says. “The lower the zone, the more highly rated the fitting needs to be. Everything should be minimum IP44 in the bathroom; anything lower veers towards normal fittings that rust, or will be impacted by water.
“If your fitting is in the shower, you don’t want water to penetrate the light, so you can start going to submersible lights of IP67, which is the next level up,” she adds.
How do I light a mirror?
“Lighting around a mirror is key in a bathroom,” Toria says. “You want a light either side equally spaced, directing an even distribution onto your face. If it comes from above, you get nasty shadows.
“If you have a double vanity unit, it’s good to have two mirrors and put a wall light in between them,” she continues. “If you don’t have space for a wall light, use a mini pendant you can drop down to wall light level, in the centre of the mirror. And you want something that glows – no dark shades.”
“You want to avoid downlight bulbs pointing directly at a mirror or in your face (or at very shiny tiles), so adjustable directional ones can be useful,” Liz adds.
“Consider mirrors or mirror cabinets with integrated lighting,” she says. “These sometimes include adjustable temperature settings, so you can see how your face will look both in daylight and in moody bar lighting.”
However, Toria adds a word of caution for using items, from mirrors to baths and vanity units, that come with integrated lights. “The problem is they are often cold white,” she says. “If your mirror lighting is cold and the rest of your lighting is warm, it kind of jars. And you can’t really change the fitting.”
“Lighting around a mirror is key in a bathroom,” Toria says. “You want a light either side equally spaced, directing an even distribution onto your face. If it comes from above, you get nasty shadows.
“If you have a double vanity unit, it’s good to have two mirrors and put a wall light in between them,” she continues. “If you don’t have space for a wall light, use a mini pendant you can drop down to wall light level, in the centre of the mirror. And you want something that glows – no dark shades.”
“You want to avoid downlight bulbs pointing directly at a mirror or in your face (or at very shiny tiles), so adjustable directional ones can be useful,” Liz adds.
“Consider mirrors or mirror cabinets with integrated lighting,” she says. “These sometimes include adjustable temperature settings, so you can see how your face will look both in daylight and in moody bar lighting.”
However, Toria adds a word of caution for using items, from mirrors to baths and vanity units, that come with integrated lights. “The problem is they are often cold white,” she says. “If your mirror lighting is cold and the rest of your lighting is warm, it kind of jars. And you can’t really change the fitting.”
Can I put lights in a shower?
Lights in showers are becoming ever-more popular for that spa experience. However, a word of advice. “The one thing people get wrong is they put a downlight directly above the showerhead, then you get a horrible reflection back onto the ceiling and a shadow underneath,” Toria says.
Her top tip? “If you use multiple mini downlights on the ceiling, but really tight to the wall, you create a scallop or cone of light down the tiles, but also get them out of the way of the shower head. They create a nice effect and less light, as they have a narrow beam, but it’s enough to be practical.”
You can also try a “shadow gap” – that narrow line or strip of light where the ceiling meets the wall (you can get plasterboard which has this built in). “This is again tight to the wall,” Toria says. “It works really beautifully if you have a marble or polished plaster wall, for example.”
Lights in showers are becoming ever-more popular for that spa experience. However, a word of advice. “The one thing people get wrong is they put a downlight directly above the showerhead, then you get a horrible reflection back onto the ceiling and a shadow underneath,” Toria says.
Her top tip? “If you use multiple mini downlights on the ceiling, but really tight to the wall, you create a scallop or cone of light down the tiles, but also get them out of the way of the shower head. They create a nice effect and less light, as they have a narrow beam, but it’s enough to be practical.”
You can also try a “shadow gap” – that narrow line or strip of light where the ceiling meets the wall (you can get plasterboard which has this built in). “This is again tight to the wall,” Toria says. “It works really beautifully if you have a marble or polished plaster wall, for example.”
Should I rule out ‘fancy lights’?
Finally, it’s all too easy to think that bathroom lights should be minimal recessed spots or simple wall sconces, but, Liz says, “Pendant lighting or decorative wall lights can create a visual focal point in a bathroom.”
Consider all the options to make a more glamorous statement or create a truly special bathing space.
Tell us…
How have you layered light in your bathroom? Did you find this advice useful? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Finally, it’s all too easy to think that bathroom lights should be minimal recessed spots or simple wall sconces, but, Liz says, “Pendant lighting or decorative wall lights can create a visual focal point in a bathroom.”
Consider all the options to make a more glamorous statement or create a truly special bathing space.
Tell us…
How have you layered light in your bathroom? Did you find this advice useful? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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We’re increasingly using our bathrooms as places to switch off and escape, and layered lighting – using a combination of several different types of light for a softer effect – plays a central role.
“When you have layered lighting, you’re creating a mood and atmosphere that invites relaxation,” Toria Thorpe of Lighting by Plum says. “You feel more comfortable without necessarily knowing it’s because of the lighting.”
Ana Maria Mihaila of Atudori Construction agrees, saying, “Layering different light sources in a bathroom creates a balanced, more aesthetically pleasing environment.”
Done right, a layered scheme will cover all the different ways you use your bathroom, too. “For example, bright, task-orientated lighting may be needed for grooming activities, while softer, ambient lighting can create a relaxing atmosphere for a bath,” Ana says.