Small bathrooms present a long list of design challenges due to their quirky angles and restricted space. But they needn’t be the cramped, dark, dingy places people often think they are.
All you need to turn a small bathroom into a bright, functional space is the correct lighting and know-how. Below, we’ve compiled the top 7 small bathroom lighting ideas guaranteed to make it feel brighter, roomier, and more inviting.
7 Small Bathroom Lighting Ideas to Transform Your Space
Effective lighting is important in any type of property. But in a confined space like a small bathroom, it’s even more essential.
Choosing the best bathroom and wetroom lighting isn’t easy. Good lighting is a simple, cost-effective way to make a bathroom feel bigger, improve visibility, reduce the risk of accidents, add a touch of luxury, and enhance the general ambience. Without the right lighting, your bathroom can feel dark, gloomy, and claustrophobic, and it could even put off potential buyers and scupper a potential sale.
The first rule of any small bathroom is that lighting should provide ample illumination without dominating the space. Then, by strategically positioning light fixtures in optimum locations and selecting the right bulbs for your needs, your small bathroom will become a functional oasis of calm and tranquillity.
If you’re in the process of renovating a small bathroom or wetroom, here’s why you must give lighting the full attention it deserves.
1. Choose Traditional Overhead Lighting
The most conventional method for lighting a small bathroom is with overhead lighting. The wide beams will brighten any room and illuminate those nooks and crannies that poor lighting can’t reach.
With overhead lighting, opt for sleeker fixtures that aren’t too bulky, so they don’t clutter the ceiling and overpower the room. That can mean something as simple as a single central ceiling light or dome light or a series of recessed lights that provide ample coverage across the entire bathroom.
2. Consider Decorative Lighting
If you’re eager to explore more complex designs, decorative lighting could be the answer to your small bathroom illumination problems. Features like wall sconces are a practical, space-saving and stylish solution, providing ample lighting for your needs.
You can squeeze decorative lights into the tightest spaces to offer extra illumination. Alternatively, install them on either side of a feature mirror so the light reflects back into the room to make it even brighter and more appealing. You can even find wall sconces with extendable arms that allow you to direct light into the areas that need it most.
3. Install Recessed Lighting
Recessed lights, also known as downlights, could have been invented with small bathrooms in mind. They are an excellent option for any confined rooms as they take up very little space and provide a clean, contemporary look which is ideal for modern bathrooms and wetrooms.
Another advantage of recessed lighting is that it can be installed in various places in a small bathroom, offering added flexibility in unconventional layouts. For instance, recessed lights could be installed flush with the ceiling, so they illuminate the entire room. Similarly, you could add recessed lighting under a vanity cabinet or above a shower or bathtub where a direct, task beam is required.
4. Go for Vanity Lighting
Vanity lighting is similar to decorative lighting in that it is commonly installed above or on either side of a mirror. The difference is that vanity lighting is always positioned above your small bathroom washbasin or vanity unity where it brightens your face and makes it easier to perform daily self-care tasks.
Whether you’re applying makeup, shaving, or brushing your hair, vanity lighting provides an even spread of shadow-free lighting so you can see exactly what you’re doing. Light bars and sconces eliminate any dark areas and improve visibility, while LED vanity lights offer enhanced energy efficiency in addition to a crisp, clean light.
5. Experiment with Layered Lighting
Even in the tightest bathroom spaces, layered lighting offers an effective and practical solution. It enables you to achieve an evenly balanced and visually attractive system that illuminates even the darkest spots using multiple light sources positioned at different levels.
Layered lighting also offers greater flexibility by combining overhead, task, and vanity lighting for enhanced illumination from multiple sources. This approach also allows you to experiment with plinth lights which are decorative light fixtures that come in strips, kits, or individual lights that strike a perfect balance.
6. Harness Natural Light
Of all the small bathroom lighting ideas, a perfectly good solution could be staring you in the face. So, before you splash out on expensive bathroom lighting, always evaluate the amount of available natural light you could leverage.
For example, you may be lucky enough to have a window or skylight in your small bathroom. Measure how much sunlight can enter the room on a typical day as a starting point. Adding some strategically placed mirrors will exaggerate the natural light even further and highlight those darker areas that would benefit from additional lighting to improve visualisation.
7. Decorate With Lighter Shades
The size and dimensions of your bathroom or wetroom should determine the colours you choose for your walls, furniture, fixtures, and fittings. Darker hues like deep blues or burgundy make spaces feel smaller than they are, so these are best avoided if you’re looking to create a bright and airy room.
Where space is a premium, opt for lighter shades like classic creams, gentle blues, or soft greys that give the illusion a room is bigger than it is. This also allows you to choose complementary tiles for the floor, shower, and backsplash, enhancing the brightness you’re looking for. In addition to improving light and vision, decorating a small bathroom in lighter colours helps create a relaxing, spa-like ambience at a minimal cost.
Small Bathroom Lighting Ideas: Choosing the Correct Light Bulbs
You’ve selected the appropriate lighting for your small bathroom, now it’s time to choose the ideal light bulb for maximum lighting effect.
When it comes to picking the right light bulb for your bathroom, you should always consider the following:
- Bulb brightness: Bulbs with high lumen output are ideal for small bathroom spaces. They’ll deliver ample light but are subtle enough to avoid creating any nasty glares.
- Energy efficiency: LED lights are a great option not only for small bathrooms but for the rest of your property. They are more energy efficient than standard bulbs, last longer, and can reduce electricity bills without compromising the quality of light.
- Colour temperature: Think about your ideal colour temperature before purchasing bulbs. A colour temperature range between 2,700K and 3,000K are common in bathrooms, while lights with a warm temperature create a soft cosy atmosphere.
- Fitting size: It may seem obvious but always select light fixtures that are proportionate to the size of your bathroom. For small bathrooms, that means minimal fittings that won’t overwhelm the space you have.
Looking For More Small Bathroom Lighting Ideas?
If lighting is a key consideration of your renovation project, our wetroom design services are here to help. We’ll also ensure you have the right wetroom waterproofing and drainage solution backed by our unique lifetime guarantee. Get in touch today to discuss your small bathroom or wetroom project.
