Introduction
Over the course of mapping out the aesthetics of a bathroom, there are many things that people usually overlook, but which add a huge amount to the bathroom’s décor. One of these important aspects is vanity lighting.
Vanity lighting enhances the ambience of the bathroom, makes the vanity safer, and provides lighting for bathroom mirror activities like applying make-up and grooming. Functionally, vanity lights light up the sink area properly to make grooming and make-up activities easier. Aesthetically, the lights brighten up and highlight the bathroom cabinets, fixtures and decor.
Considerations Before You Buy
You should consider certain things before you go shopping for vanity light fixtures. This section will take you through these considerations below.
1. Height
If you are in the market for pendant or sconce lights, you should consider your bathroom vanity light height. In the case of pendant lights, the bottom of the fixture should be slightly above or level with the top edge of bath mirrors. With sconce lights, the fixture should at least be level with your mirror’s top edge. Your light’s bath vanity light height is a safety precaution that should not be ignored.
2. Shadows
Depending on your selection, your vanity lighting can create shadows in certain spots of your vanity, making it harder to see. This applies mainly to recessed and bar lights. In this case, pair these lights with additional light sources that will provide extra light where the vanity light can’t reach.
3. Technical Help
If you are not skilled in electrical work, then hire a professional electrician who will install your light fixtures properly and safely. The electrical components become dangerous if handled incorrectly and without proper protection, and can cause injury or worse.
Categories of Vanity Lights
Knowing how to choose vanity lighting involves knowing the types of vanity lights that are out there on the market. There are 4 main categories of bathroom vanity lights, each representing different shapes and traits. Kohler bathroom vanity lights are available in each category. Let’s explore these categories in detail.
1. Pendant Lights
Pendant lights are any light fixtures that hang from the roof using a chain, cord or metal rod. It could either be a single light hanging from the ceiling, or a cluster of lights forming one cohesive whole.
Depending on your bathroom size, you can use a single pendant light, or you can line up a number of these lights over your vanity to make it a centerpiece of your bathroom. You can hang a single pendant light with an unorthodox design that will accent the room or a section of the room beautifully, or you can get a large pendant with multiple lights to act as a focal point for the whole bathroom.
2. Recessed Panel Lights
These lights are installed in and meant to sit flush with the ceiling. Recessed lights are a perfect economical option that takes up almost no space in your bathroom. They can be placed anywhere on the bathroom ceiling that needs to be illuminated, and work very well as vanity lights.
As far as designs go, you can get many options with different aesthetic flavors. A plain flat light with a metal ring, for example, is perfect for just about any type of décor, and works very well for vanities due to their size. You can get one light for a smaller vanity, or two or even three if your Kohler vanity is larger. The metal ring on this light can be finished in stainless steel, brushed or polished gold and brass, among others.
3. Sconce Lights
Sconces are wall-mounted light fixtures. They are usually smaller than pendant lights, and utilize space economically. Sconce lights can be bought with one light, two lights or even three lights. Depending on your bathroom vanity size, you can select the number of light fixtures you need from each sconce light.
As far as designs go, you can get many options with different aesthetic flavors. A plain flat light with a metal ring, for example, is perfect for just about any type of décor, and works very well for vanities due to their size. You can get one light for a smaller vanity, or two or even three if your Kohler vanity is larger. The metal ring on this light can be finished in stainless steel, brushed or polished gold and brass, among others.
4. Bar Lights
These are long, narrow light fixtures that are mounted to the ceiling and sit flush with it. They are highly effective in that just one bar light provides uniform light to any vanity. They come in almost any length, making them very well-suited for vanities of almost any size.
Bar lights are typically associated with sleek modernity, and therefore, have become somewhat of a staple in modern bathroom design. The fixture that houses the light itself comes in many types of metallic and plastic finishes, depending on your taste and your bathroom’s décor.
Since these lights don’t have any hang, the bathroom mirror light height concerns with sconce and pendant lights don’t matter as much. You can attach a bar light directly above your vanity and illuminate the whole space evenly.
Conclusion
Bathroom vanity lights are a fantastic addition to your bathroom because of their usefulness as a light source as well as their potential as style pieces that elevate your bathroom’s look and décor. The type of fixture you gravitate towards will depend on available space in your bathroom, your budget range, and your inclination towards a particular category of lights. Our recommendation is to shop for lights armed with proper information. So, get your vanity space measured by a technician, and then go light shopping.
Find Kohler Showrooms Near you in Nepal
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What type of lighting is best for a bathroom mirror?
As a rule of thumb, a light that uniformly lights up the mirror area without creating too many shadows is best. Recessed and bar lights can have this problem. An easy fix is to pair them with other lights that remove the shadows.
Q2. What are the rules for vanity lighting?
The only real rule for vanity lights is that the lights should fall well above your head to avoid injury. Pendant and sconce lights are applicable here.
Q3. What kind of lighting is best for a bathroom vanity?
The best vanity light will illuminate the area evenly and brightly enough for you to see everything on and around the vanity. The light’s main purpose is to make your daily grooming or make-up activities easy.
Q4. How do I choose a vanity light?
A number of aspects like your budget, bathroom space and preferred style, are all equally important. They will guide you towards the vanity light that suits your bathroom the best.
Q5. What features do Kohler bathroom vanities offer?
Many vanities in Kohler’s collection come with built-in storage space, a wash basin and a vanity top. Many vanities offer different storage spaces, tops, wash basins and faucets.
Q6. Are Kohler bathroom vanities customizable?
Kohler does offer customizable vanities. They offer all-in-one units with built-in storage space, a wash basin and faucet and hardware already assembled, and customizable options where all vanity features can be modified based on your needs. Kohler lets you choose your vanity’s size, storage space, wash basin and faucet types and their finishes, and the vanity top.
