bathroom lighting trends

Bathrooms range from elegant to simple, and so do the lighting choices available to homeowners today.

According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association, the current trend in bathroom lighting is toward larger, sunnier baths, and today’s top bathroom designers are placing more emphasis on artificial lighting as well. Alternative sources of general lighting include recessed ceiling fixtures or indirect lighting that bounces off the ceiling or walls. In addition to good general lighting, adequate task lights are a must.

Bohnne Jones of Decorating Den Interiors says chandeliers are popular in many bathroom lighting plans, and are often combined with recessed lighting. “We recommend lighting from the side for various grooming functions at the mirror,” she says.

She says safety is always an issue in the bathroom, and lighting is no exception. Jones adds the LED lighting will be an important element in bathroom lighting in the future.

“The best lighting in any room is natural lighting, but we always have to add to that,” says Amanda Sweeney of Just Design This.

“Where once we used one Hollywood strip light over the mirror today we are using less harsh lights and more of them spaced around the bathroom,” she says.

Aaron Walker of David Patton Construction says, “While aesthetics are important, in the master bath function is primary. And while the number of light fixtures in the bathroom hasn’t grown in recent years, the importance of quality fixtures has. Homeowners should pay attention to scale and size when selecting fixtures for the bath.”

Most experts recommend using incandescent bulbs in the bathroom, because the light that’s produced has natural, complexion-flattering properties. But incandescent bulbs also produce a good deal of heat that’s often unwanted. Compact fluorescent fixtures are a good alternative. They demand far less electricity per lumen (a measurement of light intensity), and the tubes render a warm, pleasing spectrum of colors.

Consider having a dimmer switch installed for a bathroom’s overall lighting so you can adjust the light to suit your needs and moods.

Many fluorescent lights don’t function on a dimmer switch.  Dimmers also make night-time visits to the bathroom more pleasant, since the light can be turned low. A switch by each doorway assures that no one has to cross the bathroom in the dark.

There are a number of sources for bathroom lighting in the Nashville area including:

David Patton Construction
Goodlettsville
615/ 859-0240

Decorating Den Interiors
Nashville
615/ 469-7334

Essence Lighting
Hendersonville
615/ 264-9402

Hermitage Lighting
Nashville
615/ 843-3300

Just Design This
Auburntown, TN
615/ 578-4738

Team Electric
Murfreesboro
615/ 867-4895