Lighting

Bathroom Lighting Ideas: A Well Designed Space

One ceiling light in the bathroom won’t cut it. Not if you want a really comfortable and convenient space. There are a few areas that need specific lighting, like around the mirror or in the shower. Lighting can also help make your bathroom space feel larger. Here are the bathroom lighting ideas that will help create a well designed space.

The Power of Natural Lighting

Try and bring as much natural light as you can during the day. This means making the best use of windows just like the bathroom in picture (1). But be careful not to over do it as you don’t want to feel exposed. Frosted glass is a good idea, or using a skylight (2).

Another natural lighting idea is to use solar tubes. These are tubes that are fitted from the outside of your roof to inside the room. Sunlight is then reflected down the tube and into the bathroom in the day. You can find solar tubes that have LED rings in them so they can be turned on at night.

A Brighter Room

Make the most of your mirrors to create a bright and spacious feeling bathroom. Try and use a large one (3) or a group of small ones. Mirrors add depth to a bathroom and reflect light around – making the space feel larger. Another idea is to use glossy textures – like glossy tiles. These also help reflect light.

Ambient Bathroom Lighting

You want to have as much lighting as possible – making the bathroom a comfortable, bright and spacious place. Recessed bathroom ceiling lights are the way to go as they create a modern look. Other options include wall lights and pendant lamps.

A mini channeller is another ceiling light option. The traditional styled chandeliers will look great if you want to create a more classical or shabby chic style in your bathroom. There are also simple and modern styled chandeliers available.

If you want to go for modern light fixtures, use chrome or stainless steel. Fixtures with simple designs, with no decorative shapes or designs. Find light fixtures that are similar in style to the faucets to create a well designed bathroom.

For other design styles have a look at these mood boards for inspiration:

Bathroom Vanity Lighting

The mirror area is an important part of the bathroom. This is where all the grooming takes place. Lighting plays and important role here. When it comes to mirror lighting, also known as vanity lighting, you don’t want to have shadows casted across the face. You want even lighting. And there are a few ways to do that.

You want to have lights that are specifically for the mirror area. Fit lights close to the mirror and around as many sides as possible. One option is go the hollywood route. In makeup rooms, and backstage you’ll see mirrors that have light bulbs going all around the mirror. This creates even lighting on the face making it easier to see what’s going one.

A second option for bathroom vanity lights, and a more popular option, is to go the 2+1 route. This is when you have one light on each side of the mirror and then one light fitted right above. The side lamps are usually vertical sconces, while the one above is a horizontal sconce. The bathrooms in photos (4) and (5) have well lit vanities, even though they are only using two side lamps.

Picture (6) shows a bathroom that has soft mood lighting. Lights fitted behind frosted glass by the mirror creates a soft glow around the the space.

Shower Lighting

Another area that could do with specific lighting would be the shower. Here you can have bathroom lights fitted in the ceiling (7). Use a glass shield to prevent glare, versus a plastic one because they will yellow over time.

Other shower lighting ideas include having a modern LED shower head. Or a recessed shelf can be fitted into the shower wall to add storage. This shelf can have a light fitted in the top. For more shower lighting ideas have a look at my mood board post here: Bathroom Shower Lighting Ideas.

Mood Lighting

There are times when you want to create a more relaxing spa like setting in the bathroom. For a relaxing soak in the tub maybe. To do this you want to dim the lights as much as possible. Avoid using ceiling lights, or have them on a dimmer switch if you can.

Nothing beats the flickering flame of a candle. Scented candles add another dimension of relaxation. If you are worried about the fire hazard, fill up a bowl or glass vase with water and use floating candles.

If you want to avoid the mess that comes with using candles, then use spa lights seen in picture (8). These are waterproof LED battery powered lights. You can stick them to the walls of the tub, or they can just float around in the water.

Bathroom Lighting Fixtures For The Kids

Here are some fun things you can do for your kids during bath time:

There are glowing ducks which can found here
You can get floating lights that will create a light show under the bath water
How about throwing some glow sticks into the tub (9)

One of the problems I mentioned in my Kids Bathroom Decor and Design Ideas post is that kids have trouble reaching for things in the bathroom. One of these things is the light switch. One solution is to use a stool that can be moved over from the sink to the light switches. Or the light switch can be rewired so that a cord hangs down from the ceiling that the kids can reach. One other option is to have a portable bedroom night light. These lanterns can be taken with the kids when they go from the bedroom to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Light Safety in the Bathroom

Safety precautions need to be taken when it comes to lighting in the bathroom. Different countries have different rules – so you’ll need to check up on the rules for your local area. You’ll need to use light fixtures that are rated for the bathroom – because of the dampness, moisture and possible water contact. In the UK there are specific lighting zones in the bathroom. Bathroom light fixtures have IP ratings so you know where in the bathroom they can go. There are also specific rules on where you are allowed to have the light switches. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9

For a beginner’s guide to home lighting design, have a look at my post here: The Simple Guide: Home Lighting Design Basics.

More bathroom mood board posts:

January 31, 2014 in Bathroom, Lighting

Home Decor Ideas: Beautiful Ways to Use String Lights Indoors

String lights are great to play around and experiment with because they are so cheap, and are so versatile (you can shove them into wine bottles or wrap them around branches). This post shows how to bring string lights into your indoor decor. I’ve also got a post on all the DIY projects you can do with them outdoors: Home Decor Ideas: Creative Ways of Using String Lights Outdoors.

Creating Your Own Lamp

All you need to create the informal floor lamp in picture (1) is a thick rope and some string lights. For the ‘how to’ and more pictures of this nautical rope lamp head on over to A Merry Mishap.

A classy lamp idea would be to use a a brown wine bottle. The project (2) by Wit and Whistle does require some drilling of glass. Or instead, how about using hurricane lanterns to house the lights seen in picture (3) – done by Restoration Hardware.

Let’s think bigger, and create a chandelier. Instead of using a hula hoop as the base, The Project Table grabbed a grapevine wreath to create a more rustic looking string light chandelier (4).

Whimsy In the Bedroom

Adding string lights in the bedroom creates a magical and whimsical feeling. There are so many different ways you could style a bedroom with them. They can be hung above the bed just like in picture (5). If you buy LED string lights, which produce less heat, you can wrap them up in drapes or light fabric to create a soft mystical glow.

If you hang the lights from a point in the ceiling, and fan them out down towards the bed, you will create a canopy effect seen in the picture below. Turn off the bedroom lights and you’ve got yourself a makeshift starry sky effect.

When it comes to the headboard, you could create your own headboard that has string lights fitted in them. Or just hang some on the headboard to use as romantic bedroom lighting.

Another bedroom idea is to use the string lights as a hanger for your photographs, just like in picture (6). Or in a nursery, cotton balls and firefly lights make for great looking floating clouds (7). For more bedroom ideas that make use of string lights have a look at my posts here: indie bedroom ideas and romantic bedroom ideas.

Remix

There are a lot of things you can do to personalise the string lights themselves. I’ve seen a lot of craft paper used and flowers created, to stick onto each light. The origami cubes in picture (8) by Amanda look great, and can be used anywhere around the house (or outdoors if it doesn’t rain). I’ve also seen colourful pingpong balls attached to each light too.

Create your own art piece by cutting out holes in a piece of canvas. Fitting string lights behind the canvas then lights up the art work (10).

Wood and Lights

I’m a fan of bringing the outdoors inside. So one indoor string light DIY project that is on my to do list is to use branches, and wrap string lights around them to create a tall floor lamp – just like in picture (9). These days you can also find firefly lights, which are tiny lights strung on a bendable copper wire – making it easier to wrap them around things. The firefly lights in picture (11) and the picture below can be bought at Restoration Hardware.

Other lighting mood boards:

January 30, 2014 in DIY, Lighting

Home Decor Ideas: Creative Ways of Using String Lights Outdoors

This post is all about ways of using string lights to decorate your outdoor spaces. There is no better light fixture to use, as outdoor string lights are pretty inexpensive and are really versatile to use – as you’ll see from the ideas below. I have another mood board post that goes over the ideas for decorating indoor spaces with string lights here: (Home Decor Ideas: Beautiful Ways to Use String Lights Indoors).

DIY Lanterns and Chandeliers

All you need to do to create some hanging lanterns or a chandelier is to find a sturdy base to wrap the string lights around. In picture (1) Robin from From The Blue Shed used a wire hanging basket to create a hanging fairy light globe. The same thing was done with wicker flower baskets in picture (2) – from Apartment Therapy.

A hula hoop can also be used as a base, this time to create a hanging chandelier (3).

Glowing Orbs

Over at The Art of Doing Stuff, you can check out how the glowing orbs in picture (4) were made – just by using old abandoned glass shades and stuffing them with string lights (total cost $3)

All Around The Garden

String lights can be hung up in so many different places around the garden. If you get solar powered string lights, or battery operated, you can put them up in even more places.

They can be wrapped around trees, just like in picture (5), wrapped around railings (6), wrapped around the frame of a patio umbrella (7), or pergola beams (Simple Outdoor Pergola Lighting Ideas).

If you have an overhead beam anywhere in your garden or patio, hang a number of sting lights side by side to create a curtain of lighting. Or by hanging them in rows overhead you can recreate a starry night effect. Another design style is to hang the string lights from a point and fan them out to create a canopy effect as seen in picture (8) – ideal for a garden wedding.

If you have an artistic side, why not create a sculpture out of wire, like the deer head in picture (9), and wrap string lights around it to create a night time light sculpture.

A Light With Many Styles

Don’t forget that string lights come in a whole bunch of different styles. For a more classic look, check out the vintage string lights which have Edison style light bulbs (10) – available from Ballard Designs. Or string lights with globe bulbs.

For a more festive, wedding feel, check out the paper lanterns that you can wire together with string lights.

Restoration Hardware sells modern looking firefly string lights (11). These lights are connected by a metal wire, making them easier to wrap around different objects, plus they give the lights a classier look.

Getting Crafty: DIY Outdoor Lighting Ideas

With a little creativity, there is a lot that can be done in the DIY department when it comes to outdoor lighting. The good thing about the DIY outdoor lighting ideas below is that they don’t require any hard wiring.

The Beauty of the Flame

One quick way of adding lighting outdoors is by using fire! Design Sponge has 2 great DIY lighting projects. The first is a tin can lantern that has holes punched in them to add a decorative flair seen in picture (1). The second project is a how to guide to making the elegant bottle tiki torches in picture (2).

If it is winter time, why not use 2 bowls (one small bowl weighed down in a bigger bowl) to create ice lanterns. Freeze in some plants or flowers at the same time to add in some decor. Pop in a votive candle and you are done – you have your own ice lantern (3) perfect for a winter wedding or just garden decor.

Any outdoor table, like on a patio (Low Effort Decor: Easy to Do Patio Lighting Ideas), can have some tabletop lighting added to it. Candles in lanterns (to protect from the wind) work as seen in picture (4), so do oil lanterns and battery operated/wireless lights.

Hanging votive candles are a beautiful sight. Head on over to In My Own Style to see how to make the hanging glass globe votive holders seen in picture (5).

And how about this simply ingenious idea by a A Subtle Revelry (6). Just by using candles and wooden stakes you can quickly make your own tiki torches.

Oh String Lights

One of my favourite light fixtures (they are so cheap, and so much can be done with them!). Check out my post here for a bunch of photos and ideas on what can be done with them outdoors: Home Decor Ideas: Creative Ways of Using String Lights Outdoors. In picture (7) string lights have been stuffed inside an old oil lantern to create a hanging lamp.

Wrap string lights around a hola hoop and hang that up to create your own DIY outdoor chandelier. Wrap them around trees, railings – anything really! Hang them overhead to create a nice soft glow (8). Paper lanterns can also be added to the mix to create a romantic and whimsical outdoor setting – just like in picture (9).

From the Sun

On the solar front, old mason jars and solar lights can be combined to create elegant SunJars seen below. You can follow along with the instructions at Creative Cain Cabin. Mason Jars can also be used as votive (or battery powered) candle lanterns – just like in the picture below. Check out my post here for more Mason Jar ideas: Home Decor Ideas: Using Mason Jars.

An Outdoor Chandelier

There are a few ways you can go about creating your own outdoor chandelier. One way is to use string lights and a hula hoop, mentioned above. In picture (10) a chandelier has been made using jars, a piece of wood and candles. Or how about using a large plant basket to hang up an arrangement of candles (11). 10/11