Bath & Vanity Lighting

Vanity lighting is a tricky balancing act. On the one hand the light needs to be bright for tasks such as shaving and applying makeup, on the other, it, by definition needs to shine on the face and eyes, which creates a high probability for glare.

The solution is to use a large radiant surface like a white glass or plastic lens, (found on many vanity fixtures) that can introduce high light levels with out concentrating them at any one point. Ideally the mirror would be surrounded with lights, but this is not practical or necessary. Lighting on either side is a great blend of practicality, style and function.

• Never use recessed cans as the primary task light in a vanity area. They produce harsh shadows under the eyes, cheeks, nose and chin that make shaving or applying makeup very difficult. In a vanity area the task is on a vertical plane (your face) whereas a kitchen is dominated by horizontal tasks (the counters) that can be lit well with recessed cans.
  
  
• If you must use overhead lighting, a luminous soffit using high quality fluorescent, with a translucent lens can be a good choice.
  
  
• Unless the room is very small it's a good idea to have some general room lighting in addition to the vanity lighting.
  
  
• If you use a small sized fixture with a very bright lamp (or bulb) the fixture may give enough light but it will be glaring. It's better to use more than one fixture with a less intense lamp. This will make for less glare and will help to distribute the light more evenly.