Lighting Tips for Small Bathrooms

The right lighting can play an important role in opening up a small bathroom so that it looks and feels larger. Here are 6 lighting tips for small bathrooms. While these tips are ideal for small baths, they will work just as well in a larger space.

Seek Out Space-Saving Lighting Options. You may have under-counter lighting in your kitchen, but don't overlook the advantages of this space-saving lighting option in the bathroom. Under-counter lighting will work especially well if you have cabinetry or shelves high on the bathroom walls so that lighting fixtures can be installed beneath them, diffusing light over a wide area. Additional space-saving lighting options to consider for a small bathroom are recessed ceiling lights or strip lighting above the large mirror over the sink.

Eliminate Dark Corners. Be sure that your small bathroom has enough lighting so that the entire room is illuminated. Dark corners and large shadows not only will make the room less cheerful but they also will make it feel smaller. Install additional lighting fixtures if necessary to brighten your small bathroom and make it more inviting.

Take Advantage of Natural Light. If your small bathroom has a window, take advantage of the natural light it provides by choosing sheer curtains that offer a measure of privacy while letting in plenty of light. Another option is to eliminate curtains entirely and replace clear glass in a bathroom window with frosted or stained glass that will let in natural light while protecting your privacy. A skylight also can be a wonderful source of natural light in a small bathroom, but, because of cost or construction limitations, installing a skylight may be impractical in many baths.

Add Wall-Mounted Lamps. If it is too expensive to install recess lighting in your small bathroom or if you need more light in specific areas of the room, consider strategically placed, wall-mounted lamps.

Don't Overlook the Little Things. Little things can brighten and save space in your small bathroom: replacing frosted glass globes with clear glass and selecting high watt bulbs where possible can help to brighten a small bath at modest expense, and a night light can be replaced with a lighted light switch.

Install More or Larger Mirrors. Adding more and/or larger mirrors in a small bathroom can help to create the illusion of more space in two ways. First, reflections in mirrors create a greater sense of depth in a small room and, therefore, tend to open it up. Second, mirrors can help to brighten a small space by capturing and reflecting light back into the room.

Sources:

Julia Ritzenthaler, www.uniquevanities.com, Small Bathroom Design Ideas: Bathroom Vanities, Mirrors and Lighting

Coral Nafie, interiordec.about.com, Bathroom Makeovers in a Weekend

nouveaubathrooms.com, Bathroom Designs Magazine - The Latest Trends in Bathroom Design