My husband and I are renovating our lower level bathroom in stages, an approach that is kind to our budget and kind to us. We are keeping the existing vanity because it is well built (it looks like furniture) and still stylish. What have we done so far?
A professional glass company removed and disposed of the dated mirror. We painted the walls a pale taupe and put new brushed nickel pulls on the vanity. Thanks to my handyman husband, the old vanity fixture (which looked like something from an actor's dressing room) is gone. Now we are looking for a replacement.
You may be looking for new vanity lighting too. Check these features before you part with your hard-earned money.
Lighting distribution. According to "Vanity Lighting is Important," an article on the Bathroom Vanity Ideas Website, the three things to avoid are shadows, dim light, and glare. Do you have a shower light, task light by the tub, or can lights in the ceiling? The placement of these lights affects your choice of vanity lighting.
Type. Your basic choices are sconces, light bars, can lights, and chandeliers, which are very popular right now. We are looking for a matching mirror and bar light. Sconces are our second choice, but they would involve some re-wiring. The American Lighting Association, in an article, "Bathroom Vanity Lighting," recommends sconces because they "provide even lighting for both sides of your face."
Style. The vanity light you choose should blend with your decorating scheme. That doesn't mean you can't buy something a bit different. To avoid the "matchy" look many decorators recommend different styles of lighting. These styles may be unified with shape, color and texture.
Placement. Susan Arnold discusses vanity lighting in "A Lesson in Bathroom Lighting," published on the This Old House Website. She says sconces should be about 36-40 inches apart. "The center of each fixture should be roughly at eye level, or about 66 inches above the floor." We plan to raise our vanity top to comfort height. When the electrician installs our lights we will ask him to take this measurement into account.
Finish/Color. "Create a Fantastic Atmosphere with Bathroom Vanity Light Fixtures," an article on the Home Improvement Advisor Website, recommends colors that are "vey similar to the ones you already have in the room." Remember, metal finishes -- chrome, brushed chrome, shiny nickel, brushed nickel, steel, and bronze -- count as color. If we are lucky (and I'm keeping my fingers crossed) we will find lighting that is both wood and brushed nickel.
Bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs change the color of your skin, so you may not want to use them. David Buster writes about bulb choices in "Bathroom Vanity Lights: Tips Before Buying Vanity Bathroom Lights," on the Contractor Guide Website. He thinks you should always choose bulbs that "provide natural light in the daylight spectrum." This Old House Website writer Susan Arnold considers halogen bulbs as the "gold standard" of lighting.
What's next in our bathroom makeover? In addition to raising the vanity height, we would like to install a tile floor, a comfort height toilet, and new faucet. Our goal is to turn a blah bathroom into a beautiful bathroom as cheaply as possible. Your goal may be the same. I hope we make it!
Copyright 2009 by Harriet Hodgson
