When constructing a new house or buying a new one or renovating an existing one, which area does one most focus on: The Living Room, or the Bedrooms or the Kitchen, in short the areas where most time will be spent or rather the most showcased areas of the house. But though most people don’t realise it, it is the bathroom, which is the most essential place for relaxing and recharging. Most importantly it is the place where you begin and end your day. And not to mention the fact that the state of the bathroom says a lot more to the visitors than the state of any other room.

And then of course small bathrooms especially in crowded cities like Mumbai where one cannot be expected to use luxurious space for bathrooms, can be either claustrophobic or they can be cozy, they can be either light and bright or dark and depressing. These small bathrooms can either exude quiet sophistication, country charm, or jewel-box sparkle. And the key does not lie in simply decorating the bathroom right, because no matter how a tiny bath is decorated, it is still a small space.

And if the bathroom at all feels dim, dark, teensy, or uninviting, it might be time to work a little magic with proper bathroom lighting in the room. There are some great decorating tricks with proper that can be utilized to visually enlarge a small space, whether it is a bathroom, bedroom, or hallway.

These few reasons are more than sufficient to stress on the importance of proper bathroom layout and lighting.

Focusing more on the lighting of the bathroom, a sound and good lighting plan is done in a series of layers — placing adequate light where it is needed for showers, shaving, or putting on makeup. While other normal light sources might enhance the overall effect of the bathroom, specific adjustments made with certain highlighting effects in mind can change the very way the bathroom appears in totality.

Having decided which areas require special highlights the adequate layers of light can be decoded and put into effect accordingly. The various layers in which this task is carried out are:

Highlighting a Task:

Some of the task areas, which require lighting, would be:

1.      The vanity area, i.e., the mirror

2.      The shower area / Bath Tub

3.      Toilet

The lighting for the mirror, which assists most in the activities of shaving, making up etc would be given top priority. The oft-repeated mistake people make is putting reduced ceiling fixtures directly over the mirror. These are not appropriate as they cast shadows on the face, adding more difficulty to the daily grooming rituals rather than making them simpler by casting more light. Instead of this arrangement vertical fixtures or sconces mounted on either side of the mirror would be perfect for ensuring the casting of an even light across the face.

The second priority would be given to the shower lighting. In the small bathrooms, a dedicated fixture may not be necessary. In other cases a recessed light with a glass lens would be perfect to highlight the shower. Similar recessed fixtures work well over a freestanding tub or the toilet.

Overall Lighting for the Cumulative Effect:

The second layer of lighting consists of providing the additional layer of overall lighting to the bathroom to set the general desired mood. This light can in fact also serve as a substitute for the natural light setting in the bathroom. This effect can be achieved through a surface mounted ceiling light, which would be a central fixture, or in more creative alternatives, a pendant lamp or a chandelier. If one wants to add a soft glow around the perimeter of the room, cove lighting can be used.

Spot Lighting or Object Lighting:

 The specific lighting effect can be used to highlight individual and special features of the bathroom also. A miniature-reduced light directed at a decorative piece of art or a rather beautiful and attractive basin creates another layer of light in the bathroom. In a similar fashion, a recessed shower fixture can also be angled to highlight nice tile work or fixtures and make them sparkle.
 

 bathroom lighting By Sakina K. copyright @indianchild.com