Home Sweet Home

Without good lighting, the best bathroom will look uninviting — and may even be decidedly dangerous. It’s essential — and even illuminating — to choose the right lights! And if your bathroom gets good natural light, try to make the most of it.

Good lighting in the bathroom is essential not just because you look foolish if you apply your make-up like a clown but, more seriously, because you run the risk of misreading the directions on a bottle of medication.

Good lighting does not have to be harsh and bright. In these days when bathrooms are for relaxation as much as for cleansing, there is a greater appreciation of the different types of illumination: ambient, task and accent.

Ambient light can be quite soft; while you don’t want deep shadows in the room, you should avoid the type of glaring light that makes sleepy eyes wince.

Task lighting in the bathroom is for making up, shaving, putting in contact lenses, taking medication — activities that generally take place near the vanity unit. If you’re fond of a leisurely soak in the bath with a novel, you’ll also need to install task lighting for reading.

Accent lighting can be used to show off something special — a classic architectural detail or a handsome print can lift your bathroom out of the ordinary.

What comes naturally

The best light of all is natural light, but even this needs to be planned and controlled. As a rough guide, the window area should equal 10 per cent of the floor area. If you have a choice, bathroom windows should face away from the midday and evening sun. When planning the layout of the bathroom, position vanity units and mirrors beneath or at right angles to the window so that the light falls on your face. If the mirror is opposite the window, your face will be in shadow but your eyes will still have to contend with the reflected glare.

Expanses of clear glass are not always appropriate if your house is overlooked by a close neighbor.

Heavily textured glass guarantees privacy but can be difficult to keep clean — if algae builds up in the crevices too much light is blocked. Alternatives include lace curtains, lightly frosted glass and etched glass. Even if privacy doesn’t require frosted windows, slightly opaque glass will diffuse strong sunlight and give a more even ambient light. In a high-tech home you can have the best of both worlds by installing windows that change from clear to opaque at the touch of a switch — molecules in a liquid crystal `sandwich’ align to let light through when an electric charge is passed through them; without the charge they disperse randomly and diffuse the light.

Any large expanse of glass in the house is a potential danger but in the bathroom, where wet surfaces increase the chance of slipping, the risk is greater. If the bottom of the bathroom window is below shoulder height, consider using safety glass.

Where wall space is too limited to allow for windows, there are other options for introducing natural light. Glass bricks are enjoying renewed architectural popularity. They can be used where windows would not be feasible — on a boundary wall, for example — and offer greater insulation against heat loss and sound than ordinary panes of glass. They also offer greater security than ordinary windows because they cannot be opened — but, for the same reason, the bathroom needs a separate ventilation system.

A skylight is another possible option for many bathrooms. There are several different styles available and many different prices.

Features worth paying for are opening devices to allow steamy air to escape, and solar deflectors or blinds to enable you to shut out the overhead sun in warm weather — a bathroom that is too hot is as unpleasant as one that is too cold.

Fitting lights

Daylight alone, of course, is not enough. It must be supplemented by some sort of artificial lighting and this, too, needs careful planning. Bear in mind at all times the fact that water and electricity do not mix. For safety’s sake choose glass or plastic fittings that are sealed and moisture resistant. Avoid ones that have metal brackets or exposed bulbs — a hard task, perhaps, when you are aiming for a Victorian mood, but some compromises are worthwhile. Keep hunting: there are plastic fittings available that have a very creditable appearance of etched glass.

Pull switches are safest in the bathroom; wall switches could be positioned outside the bathroom but must be out of reach of anyone using the bath or shower. If you have a wall-mounted light switch, think about installing a dimmer switch. This will enable you to leave the bathroom light on, at a low level, all night — a great comfort to youngsters and house guests. (Note, however, that ordinary dimmer switches cannot be used with fluorescent lighting.)

Task lighting should be properly planned from a very early stage. Never compromise by using portable lights: they are dangerous in a bathroom. When positioning lights around a mirror, aim to have the light fall on to your face from above and from the sides. A row of incandescent lights up either side of the mirror is very effective — not for nothing was this system chosen for the stars of stage and screen! A small fluorescent strip above the mirror also ensures you can see what you are doing, but the light is less flattering. Special tubes are available.

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