Visionary (and Super-Functional) Bathroom Lighting Ideas

Left-of-centre lighting need not be impractical, as these enviable bathroom beauties reveal

Joanna Tovia 29 November 2016

Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails

Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More

Comment2

Click "Embed" to display an article on your own website or blog.

Lighting is often last on the list when it comes to a bathroom redesign, but don’t underestimate this important aspect – it can set the mood, steal a scene, and save you money. The lovelier your lighting, the less you have to rely on expensive tiles, tapware and fittings to make your bathroom shine. As these ideas will show you, the right lighting set-up can add functionality to what needs to remain a practical space for bathing and beautifying, but will also give you the freedom to turn it into a relaxing escape when you need it to be.

Studio Razavi

Off centre
Break up the symmetry of your bathing space with off-kilter lighting rods. They will do more than add a designer edge – extending the lighting on the walls either side of the mirror as well as overhead will illuminate your face from all angles… just what you need to apply make-up, shave, or do whatever else helps you look your best. A magnified mirror that pulls out from the wall is another practical addition that will give your bathroom luxury-hotel status.

LORRAINE COLSON | Architecte d'Intérieur

Wall sconces need not look old fashioned. These funky numbers, positioned at disparate heights, allow you to shine light just where you need it and give this bathroom a personality all its own.

Luigi Rosselli Architects

Layered lighting
Modern bathrooms are about mood as well as practicalities, and the right lighting can set the scene brilliantly when relaxation is in order, rather than just rushing out the door. If you’re planning your next reno, think about layered lighting much as you would in a living area. Bright lights, well positioned, are good for primping and priming; soft and dimmable pendants are good for a long, hot bubble bath. No candles required.

See more bold black bathrooms

Minosa | Design Life Better

The recessed LED lighting in this bathroom is layered and multi-switchable, allowing its occupants to soften the lights at night, or amp up the wattage as needed. Layered lighting means you can scale back on the colour, texture, and attention-grabbing features in a bathroom. In this one, a pared-back colour palette and large-format tiles that eliminate grout lines allow the lighting to do its job without visual interruption, and enhance the size of the space.

Minosa | Design Life Better

In a niche
Overhead lights that brighten the whole bathroom at the flick of a switch are not always appealing, especially when you’re up so early it’s still dark outside or when you’re winding down before bed with a warm shower. The ability to add just enough light where you need it makes sense. A lit shower niche lets you reach for the product you need with ease, and bathes the rest of the space in a soothing glow. No jarring brightness when it’s the last thing you need.

Nifty ways with bathroom niches

MR.MITCHELL

Building out the wall to hide the toilet cistern creates a handy shelf, which becomes all the handier when it’s lit from above. Have your electrician wire the shelf separately from the overhead light so it has its own switch, or even install a sensor light so the niche lights up automatically at night when someone enters the room – guests and children, especially, will appreciate being able to see without fumbling for the light switch during a middle-of-the-night trip to the bathroom.

Brilliant SA

Backlit
Why not be a little daring with the lighting in your next reno? Here, a panel of Caesarstone Concetto in ‘Grey Agate’ sits behind the shapely vanity, and is the standout in this Adelaide bathroom. Backlighting the Caesarstone makes more of the translucent, semi-precious stones. The colour of the light behind the stone can be switched to green, pink, blue or white – creating a completely different look each time.

Mark MacInnis Architect

Statement piece
There’s no need to limit eye-popping pendants or elegant light fittings to the other areas of your home when they can bring so much to the bathroom. Coupled with shimmery mosaics that reflect the light, this chandelier adds the extra touch of luxe this bathroom needed.

User

Bathrooms allow you to be just as out there as you like, so really go for it if you see a light you love but it doesn’t quite work in another room of the house. The Roll & Hill antler chandelier turns this bathroom into something special and fits with the other one-of-a-kind features of this dramatic Brisbane apartment.