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Lighting seems pretty easy to plan, think about it. In living spaces, you are often turning down the lights to watch TV or play a game. If you want to read a book in the bedroom, you can always add a lamp on a nightstand.
For the kitchen and bathrooms, there is more planning required. These rooms have to be properly lit because of the activities that it entails like cooking and shaving, which can be dangerous in a poorly lit environment.
In this article, we will look at how to light a bathroom and then show you some inexpensive yet attractive wall sconces.
How to Light a Bathroom
In most rooms, we always recommend using the four types of lighting to make sure the room is properly illuminated – general, task, accent, and decorative.
The most important type of lighting in the bathroom to consider is task lighting. This is often accomplished by placing wall sconces by the mirror. There are about three acceptable ways to light your mirror with sconces.
First - Place a sconce over the mirror itself.
The bathroom above, has lots of natural light from the windows, so placing a sconce over the mirror provides adequate lighting.
Second - You can place recessed lighting above the mirror with sconces.
The bathroom above utilizes a combination of recessed lighting and sconces. By flanking the mirror with sconces, you create cross-illumination, which helps to light the face better and provide shadow-less illumination for grooming tasks.
Third - The most popular way, placing a wall sconce on either side of the mirror.
Sconces can hang anywhere from 60” to 70” off the floor, depending on your height, and should be 36” to 40” apart to cross illuminate both sides of the face, so it is much easier to shave or apply make up.
Before we look at some wall sconces, here are a few last tips:
- Flanking the mirror with sconces gives you the best illumination for task lighting.
- Matching the sconces to the finishes and style of your space will help to keep the look cohesive.
- Do not place lights behind you in a bathroom. They create shadowing on the face.
Now, let’s look at some sconces.
Best Bathroom Wall Sconces Under $100
George Kovacs ‘Jewel Box’ - $65
Feiss Lighting 'Bentley' - $74 in Chrome
Hinkley ‘Brooke’ - $85 in Antique Nickel
Hinkley ‘Latitude’ in Brushed Nickel - $85
Hudson Valley ‘Buchanan’ in Polished Chrome - $86
Quoizel ‘Nicholas’ in Brushed Nickel - $89
Norwell Lighting ‘Kentfield’ in Polished Nickel - $98
Final Thoughts
You are looking at a ton of chrome and brushed nickel, because they match the most popular faucets and hardware. Lighting should be functional whatever the cost but there is something for everyone, just for under $100.
Additional Resources
Get The Yale Bathroom Lighting Buying Guide with features and plenty of picture to inspire your next lighting project. Well over 110,000 people have read a Yale Guide.
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