FEATURE: Creating A Dramatic Bathroom Design

The bathroom is more than a place to simply perform functional tasks, explains Moises Malave, American Lighting Association Certified Lighting Specialist at Lightology - 215 West Chicago Ave. "It's also a place to relax. We need to keep this in mind when designing the lighting. Incorporating more accent lighting allows you to create that warm, soothing atmosphere."

When we talk about lighting the bathroom, the first thing we think of is that the room must be bright, as we perform many functional tasks within the space that require a lot of lighting in the right places - bathing, grooming, applying make-up, etc. However, a common mistake many people make is that they try to use one light source to light up the entire bathroom, explains Malave. "You can find a single fixture that gives you a lot of light, however you are also going to get a lot of glare and shadows from that fixture. By adding different layers of light, you get more light without the glare. These multiple layers also create more balanced light within the space."

He goes on to note that adding layers also creates a more dramatic design. "People are getting much more creative with bathrooms nowadays. They are investing in high-end decorative sinks, tubs, toilet bowls, showerheads and hardware. You want to be able to highlight, and compliment those purchases with the proper lighting."

"When lighting a bathroom, first we need to focus on the tasks within the room. The bathroom is where grooming and bathing take place, so you need to ensure that the light provides the correct color of white light along with the proper level of foot candles hitting the surfaces at the correct angles and brightness to eliminate glare and shadows. This is important whether you are lighting your face, the wall or sink.

Therefore, you need to purchase a light source with visible colors similar to those perceived in natural sunlight, as this compliments skin tones. A true halogen light source is a great solution. You can get away with incandescent lamps, but they are slightly warmer so the space may ultimately appear dull if you are using cool colors in the design of the space. In comparison, a halogen lamp provides a nice white light source, which is important for grooming. If looking for an energy-efficient alternative, fluorescent lamps also work well for bathrooms as long as you get the right color temperature and a high CRI of 80 or above, which is similar to how the sun renders that color of light. I typically go with a 3000K color temperature for the bathroom as it provides that perfect warm-white illumination. You never want to go higher than 3500K in the bathroom, as you get into more blue hues, which are not flattering for grooming purposes," says Malave.

Once the task lighting is determined, we can then incorporate other accent and decorative layers of light to balance out the functional lighting and add more effect. "You can add some recessed cans to highlight any artwork or décor in the space, add some wall sconces to compliment the vanity - the possibilities are endless."

Another important factor in the bathroom's lighting design is that it is a damp location. Malave explains that "When locating a light fixture over a bathtub or shower, you need to be sure that those fixtures are rated for damp location. This does somewhat limit your options for the shower and tub areas, however you do not have to worry about damp location on the vanity or within the bathroom. By incorporating multiple light layers into the design, you increase your options."

Furthermore, to achieve the desired dramatic effect that is so popular these days we must be able to control the light. Adding dimmers allows you to change the look and feel within the room. "For instance, being able to dim the light enables you to turn the lights down to a soft glow in the middle of the night so if you need to use the restroom, you do not have to walk into a bright room. You can select a soothing level of light if you're looking to relax and soak in the tub. The important thing to remember is that adding more layers of light creates more options, however you need to be able to control the layers."

"Life is tough. We work a lot of hours and it's nice to come home to a welcoming atmosphere - which allows us to let the day go away! You are not only in the bathroom for functional reasons. It is also a place to relax and having a more creative design lures you in. That's the great thing about Lightology - not only are we the largest contemporary lighting showroom in North America, we have the most ALA (American Lighting Association) certified lighting consultants in Illinois. We know how to work beyond the basic standards."