Monday, July 2, 2007

Bathroom Lighting

Bathroom lighting is extremely important. How you light your bathroom determines the mood of the room, and certain types of lighting work better for certain bathroom designs. You don't want overly bright lights in a rustic designed bathroom. Just as certain types of vanity lights are better for certain types of bathrooms, your bathroom's ideal lighting will depend on room design, set up, and personal taste.
There are several different "types" of lighting that you can use in a bathroom. The light makes a difference in mood, and what type of light you want will also partially depend on function. Here is a brief run down of some of the options:
1) Accent bathroom lighting. This style of light is exactly what it sounds like: used to accentuate a bathroom's lighting. It can be added for a dramatic and decorative touch but is not necessary.
2) Ambient bathroom lighting. This type of lighting should act as the general lighting of the room. Recessed light fixtures are popular, because then you can have light in the little nooks and crannies of the room without a big glass cover sticking out.
3) Task bathroom lighting. Task lighting is designed to be around a mirror and provides an abundance of light so you can check the smallest details while grooming.
4) Natural bathroom lighting. This isn't always an option, but for small bathrooms located in the right part of the house, you can create a row of small windows above, which lets the light come into the bathroom.
These are only four of the types of possible bathroom lighting that individuals can use, but they are among the most popular choices. Based on how you want your bathroom to look, and what your needs are, most likely one of these types of bathroom lighting will work perfectly for your needs.
For more information about improving your bathroom, head to DesignMyOwnBathroom.com Find all you need on bathroom fixtures, repair, lighting, and much more. DesignMyOwnBathroom.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelvin_Malone

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Unique And Eclectic Bathroom Decor Ideas

Bathroom is not only just a utility or a function room. It is a place where you can spend sometime alone with yourself and ponder things out. It is a place for pampering yourself, too. It is a place where we run to when we need to be free from the worries and cares of the world.

Thus, it is quite important that the decors inside your bathroom would serve to lighten up and make your day. Here are some unique and eclectic décor ideas for your bathroom.

1. Lighting – you might think to leave this idea to your electrician, but the fact is aside from being a necessary fixture in your bathroom, the lighting is a very standard décor in your bathroom. It is the key to setting the mood you like to have in your bathroom.

Having a new set of lights or making do with your old one and doing some adjustments to it can make a once boring bathroom into an area where you could revive your spirits.

2. Accessories – set the theme of your bathroom by accessorizing it. You can have some decorative holders for toothbrush and napkin with matching soap dishes filled with miniature soaps.

You can also put some aromatic candles on strategic corners of your bathroom. Real furniture necessities in the bathroom may also be converted to become as decorative as the other accessories.

3. Shower Curtains – these may be standard piece in a bathroom but it can also become a major piece to complete your decorating scheme.

4. Plants – these brings out some life in your bathroom and smooth out the aesthetics of the room's designs

5. Artwork – Beautiful and breathtaking art can add life in any room, why not the bathroom?

6. Paint – you can match your bathroom's wall according to the accessories and standard fixtures you have designed or vice versa.

7. Rugs – these can help pull your bathroom together according to the decorating scheme you have conceptualized

8. Towels – since towels belong inside the bathroom, then you can also fit them as a part of the overall decoration. You can match your towels' colors with the shower curtains and other accessories.

Have a great time with applying these bathroom decor ideas in your bathrooms!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

What Are Light Fixtures Used For?

Light fixtures are something not many of us think about. But, the way we light a room can cause us to feel a certain way or enhance what we want to accomplish in that room. There are many types of light fixtures for all areas of the home and even outdoor lighting fixtures for landscaping designs.

Planning to remodel a room? Consider light fixtures as one element to change. For instance, bathroom lighting fixtures can be changed from a bulb in a ceiling light fixture to lights sockets over the vanity and recess lighting throughout the room. The effect can be stunning. And all from just changing the bathroom light fixtures. You may wish to change the lighting in your home from dull, standard light to contemporary lighting fixtures thus changing the theme and style of the room instantly.

To find styles and ideas about your lighting fixtures, try checking into them at your local home improvement store. They often have many, many options and can special order things that they do not regularly carry. Or, you may wish to check out the online retailers that offer even more options for all lighting needs. You will find them by doing a simple web search for lighting fixtures using your favorite search engine on the internet. You’ll find many, many different websites to look into.

So, whether you are looking for indoor or outdoor lighting, contemporary or old style traditional, you will find many options to choose from. From different colors to different sizes and styles, there are many. You can find them online or in home improvement stores. And, when you do make the changes, you will notice that your home looks a little different. It may be subtle changes that make you see your home in a different light.


Bathroom Fixtures & Bathroom Lighting Basics

Bathroom is also considered to be the most important room or living space in any home. Nowadays, bathroom is not just a place where people just have a quick wash and perform morning ablutions, but also a place where they groom themselves as well as wash away a day’s tiredness and strain. So, it is imperative that proper planning must be done in selecting bathroom accessories and bathroom fixtures. Of all the types and varieties of bathroom accessories, bathroom lighting fixtures are considered to be most important fixture in a modern bathroom.

Generally, whenever one talks about lighting a bathroom, a wall mounted fixture above the mirror props up immediately in one’s mind. Even though, this is the most common type of lighting fixture known to people since last century, there are wide varieties and styles of lighting fixtures that are now available in the markets all over the world. The different varieties of lighting fixtures include ceiling fixtures, side wall mounting fixtures, etc can be chosen as per one’s taste and requirement for his or her bathroom. Also depending on the size of the bathroom, one can choose from a single light fixture to a couple or more lighting fixtures.

Proper lighting in the bathrooms is most essential as in the case of other rooms in the home. The right type of bathroom lighting fixtures ensures that one can easily locate all the toiletries placed in the bathroom as well as have proper lighting for relaxing and reading books and magazines and also will aid a long way in shaving properly without any cuts or scars on the face. There is no rule such that the bathroom lighting should be provided only in the ceiling or is better if it is provided at the sides or on top of the mirror. One has to fix the bathroom lightings according to one’s taste and the mood that he or she wants to bring into the room. Even for a small bathroom, people, these days, go for two or more lighting fixtures. Thus, lighting is the most important factor to be considered in any modern bathrooms.

There are lots of varieties and styles of beautiful flush and semi- flush ceiling mounts of bathroom lighting fixtures available in the markets, which will go well with the mood of any bathroom. There are smaller sizes of bathroom lighting fixtures that are easily available these days, which not only requires less space but also opens up a wide array of possibilities of bathroom lighting. It is always better to use a mix of ceiling mount as well as wall sconces type of fixtures to light up a larger bathroom. Most bathrooms there days are more spacious as well as luxurious. To light up these types of bathrooms is a task that one has to carefully undertake to produce the desired results.

All the bathrooms, be it small, medium or larger ones, requires general lighting, which provides illumination to the entire room without any shadows and provides proper lighting to the floor of the bathroom. This type of lighting is often derived from the recessed ceiling bathroom fixtures that not only provide the light but also creates lesser glares when compared to the wall hanging fixtures. Natural light that is let through the windows which are made of frosted glass or glass blocks will also provide ambient lighting to the bathroom as well as privacy.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Techniques for Proper Bathroom Vanity Lighting

Correct lighting is essential for the bathroom. Ambient lighting sets the stage to add task or accent lighting to call out the room’s features. There exists an incredible array of task and accent lighting available in many styles and finishes including; traditional, transitional, modern, Country, Western, Tropical, Rustic, Contemporary, Victorian, Tiffany and more.

Glare can be annoying, especially when performing delicate grooming tasks. Recessed lighting for baths should be adjustable with an attachment that goes over the fixture; an eyeball or a wall-wash trim are both covers that partially obscure the fixture and direct the light source to bounce light off the walls and ceiling to help reduce glare and shadow.

Task Lighting:

The most important aspect of task lighting is to enhance visual clarity and provide shadow-free light for ease of personal grooming.

Vertical fixtures or sconces mounted on either side of the mirror are best for makeup and shaving. Be sure to position sconces to shed equal light on both sides of the face, and 3 to 4 feet apart on the wall. Bathroom fixtures should have translucent shades to diffuse light, and exposed bulbs should be frosted to cut glare.

Ambient Lighting:

Depending on the size of the bathroom, you may also need accent or ambient lighting to create a soft glow around the room’s perimeter for a perfect sanctuary.

Styles of accent or ambient lighting include:

Ceiling Lights
Pendant Lamps
Chandeliers

“Did you know?”

1. Light the shower's interior with waterproof fixtures (bathroom fans with built-in lighting) for uniform brightness and to remove moisture
2. Install dimmers in the bathroom -- a relaxing soak in the tub demands it.
3. If your bathing area is large enough, a chandelier with dimmer switch is another elegant solution for over the tub.

Visit www.lightingshowplace.com for all your bathroom lighting needs. Call and speak with one of our product specialists to answer your lighting questions.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Lighting the Bathroom Mirror the Right Way

One of the most important parts of any bathroom is the mirror. When properly lighted, a bathroom mirror can be every woman’s best friend. Have you ever wondered why some bathrooms can be so friendly and welcoming while others are harsh and uninviting?

The answer probably lies on proper lighting. Let’s admit it; everyone spends a considerable amount of time in front of a mirror. We primp and preen in front of a mirror trying to fix ourselves in as many ways as we can. A mirror is an important tool in providing ourselves proper grooming. The mirror needs to be properly lighted so that spending time in front of it will be an everyday pleasing routine.

It is a challenge to provide good lighting for a mirror. Lighting a mirror properly will eliminate unnecessary shadows and provide good illumination for every user. Frequently, we see only a single ceiling fixture in a bathroom. Instead of providing a friendly illumination, this type of lighting only casts shadows below your eyes and hit your eyebrows, which are definitely unfriendly effects. Cross lighting is the key to good mirror lighting. Cross lighting includes direct light from above, both sides and below. Achieving this can be made possible through a wide range of available lighting fixtures. Glare from frosted bulbs or those fixtures with opaque plastic or glass shields should be avoided.

Decorators suggest that the sink’s front edge and countertop should be illuminated with a light on the ceiling above the mirror. This could be a recessed task light that can be a round incandescent ceiling fixture that should be at least 12 inches in diameter with a bulb rating of 100 to 120 watts. You can also choose a fluorescent ceiling fixture above the sink. It is recommended that a fluorescent ceiling fixture above the sink should hold two 24-inch bulbs with 20 watt rating.

In order to complete the cross lighting, you should place light fixtures on both sides of the mirror. It is important to choose a light fixture that casts light in four directions - up, down and both sides. Rows of exposed incandescent bulbs with low wattage are especially designed to light mirrors. Pendants or wall-mounted fixtures are also common choices. These types of fixtures should be placed at eye level and should have at least 60 to 70 watt bulb. Fluorescent tubes are also favored choices because these utilize low electric consumption and last longer. Today, there are a lot of fluorescent tubes that are designed for vanity use and which provide a full spectrum light. A 24 inch 20 watt tube placed on each side of the mirror will create the required illumination. If your bathroom mirror is more than 24 inches wide, you can use a wall mounted light above the mirror and at the same time use the same type of fixture on the sides to complete the cross lighting effect.

Finally, for mirrors larger than 36 inches wide, sidelights may not be enough to provide the desired illumination. However this can be corrected by using powerful overhead light sources, which will be enough to cover even the mid section of the mirror that the side fixtures may fail to illuminate.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Lighting

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Michael Russell - EzineArticles Expert Author

Flatter Yourself With Bathroom Lighting

Private spaces need flexible lighting that has the ability to be both functional and friendly, suiting all of your personal needs of the moment. For this very reason, it is important to choose bathroom lighting that works technically, and aesthetically. Today’s fascination with the home improvement industry has made it easy to create bathroom lighting that is perfect for all of your grooming needs, and with a trendy, designer style.

The first tip to successful bathroom lighting is to start with your paint color. Since light bounces off of colors, color surfaces greatly affect your bathroom lighting. Stick with neutral color schemes that will give off a natural, non-colored light.

Secondly, the key to bathroom lighting is to create task lighting that is gently flattering, yet strong enough for grooming. Activities such as shaving and applying make-up require fixtures that light the face, not the mirror. Light that is good for grooming must eliminate the natural shadows under the eyebrows, nose, and chin, while revealing and flattering different skin tones. A few options to achieve optimal bathroom lighting for grooming are vertical lights, wall sconces, glass shaded fixtures, and overhead lights. These fixtures will accommodate large mirrors, small vanities, and decorative pedestal sinks.

Vertical Lights
Vertical lights are typically installed on either side of the mirror to direct light all around your face. You can place a 24-36 inch vertical bracket on the mirror sides, centered 66 inches from the floor. Longer lights spread light out better, eliminating shadows by reaching even under the chin.

Overhead Lighting
If your bathroom does not permit side lighting, locate a single fixture above the mirror, usually approximately 78 inches above the floor. A single three-light fixture is easy to install above a mirror, and comes in many styles and lengths. The longer the length, the better the light. Overhead lights are often composed of glass-shaded fixtures, and can be mounted shade up or shade down. When installed shade up, light comes through the translucent shade and bounces off the ceiling. When installed shade down, light comes through the translucent shade and is visible below.

Wall Sconces or Vanity Lights
Bathroom wall sconces make a great decorative addition to your bathroom lighting, and look great with vintage looking pedestal and porcelain sinks. Petite wall sconces can be placed at about eye level next to a vanity mirror. Sconces with shades will soften the glare and get rid of harsh, unwanted shadows.

Wall sconces also have the ability to provide a truly designer style with an abundance of unique traditional and contemporary designs. The quickest and cheapest way to change your bathroom lighting and its character is to replace decorative lampshades. Try using outdoor styled lanterns as wall sconces. These types of fixtures can bring a gardenlike feeling to your powder room, but be sure to use frosted bulbs to reduce the glare if you are using clear glass.

For more information about bathroom vanity lights, wall sconces and lighting tips, be sure to visit LampDecor.com.

Amber Schott writes for LampDecor.com.