lighting scheme assistance for 13x6.5' bathroom

14 years ago

Now that I have my contractor squared away, I need to decide on a lighting layout. The room is 13 x 6.5, with the entrance on the short wall. Layout will be:

48" (or so...maybe all the way up to 55"?) single sink furniture-style RH knockoff washstand vanity, then toilet, then tub/shower at the back of the room. So the tub/shower is perpendicular to the toilet and vanity. I envision the vanity being 12-18" into the room off the entrance wall, if that makes sense. Here is a quick eyeball diagram (thanks, MSPaint!)

The rectangle in the upper right next to the tub represents a very small double-decker closet I plan to put in. Or it might be open shelving. We'll see.

I'm thinking sconces on either side of a mirror above the vanity, and a light in the shower, but I feel this isn't enough light for the space -- a recessed can or two in the middle of the room in the toilet space, maybe? Will cans look horrible? Flushmount in the center of the room, or pendant, or two pendants? Is one light in the tub/shower enough (60x32)?

Comments (7)

stlouie
14 years ago
We are in the middle of our bathroom remodel (5'6" wide by 13'4" long). Our layout is a bit different than yours. We enter on the long wall in the center. The 72" vanity is in the middle with knee walls on each side, the shower on one end and the toilet on the other. We put two 6" recessed cans in front of the sink area, two sconces over the vanity, one 6" recessed can over the toilet and a 6" waterproof can in the shower. The bath is not done yet, so I can't tell you if this is too little, enough or overkill. Our bedroom/bath does not get alot of natural sunlight so I'm kinda wishing I had put in a solartube as well. Hopefully this will give you some idea since our bathrooms are almost identical in size.
sue_b
14 years ago
I got a 6 inch can in the tub/shower and it looks fine. It is trimmed in white. My room is 5 x 7 so no room from sconces which a recommended for make up lighting. I have a 3 bulb fixture going over the vanity mirror and the Panasonic whisperwarm fan has a light in it too. No window. Mine recessed can is from Lightolier from a local lighting store & I had to buy 3 parts for the "can" that's not visible and is above the ceiling.

Here is a link that might be useful: white trim recessed can for wet location
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oppsie
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks stlouie and sue! My contractor suggested getting a fan with a light to play it safe. I'm iffy on the can over the toilet as I read on some other threads here that it's not the best location. I do not want to put a fixture above the mirror, so maybe a can there is the way to go -- should the can be centered for the room, or centered for the vanity?

We'll get some natural light but not a ton -- there is currently a working window where the tub will go (this is a gut and we're rearranging everything), which we will replace with glass block. The window faces south but has an exterior wall immediately to the east that eats up some of the light.
festusbodine
14 years ago
Cans are a good idea, but use them as ambient light...meaning do not mount them such that they are shining down onto your head while standing at the vanity. (Everyone looks 15 years older underneath cans in front of a mirror.) For a single vanity in a bathroom with cans, single sconces on the side are plenty. I'd mount a can above the double-decker too - preferably the type you can direct at the cabinet. As for a can in the shower...I've never had one there. About to build a new master bath and there's one in the plans, but I can't imagine turning it on. I like my shower to be a dark cocoon :)
suero
14 years ago
I'd get a light/heat/vent installed in the area over the toilet. Unless you're in a warm climate, the heat is very welcome when you step out of the shower. And the light there is also helpful.
jakkom
14 years ago
Our master bath is exactly the same size as yours. My DH likes a well-lighted bathroom as he reads on the 'throne'. We have a double vanity with paired uplight fixtures, each with two lights. I use 40w bulbs in them; 60w was a bit too bright. Our walls/ceiling are ivory semi-gloss, so if I was using a darker paint I'd probably go with the 60w bulbs, or maybe mix each light fixture with one 40w and one 60w, for a total of 200w max. Again, these are uplights, which I like for the overall effect and more flattering light.

We have the Panasonic WhisperWarm and use the nightlight fluorescent only (it's designed to take two bulbs, one for general lighting and one small fluorescent as a nightlight). Works very nicely, doesn't blind you at night when you need to fumble around in the medicine cab for an aspirin.
oppsie
Original Author
14 years ago
Good ideas, all. I think I've got it figured out -- 1-2 cans in addition to the shower can, fan light (no heat...this sounds weird but I hate warm air, waking up to a 60F house with freezing floors is like heaven to me -- I'm in Michigan) and sconces.

I'm sure I'll change my mind tomorrow. :)

lighting scheme assistance for 13x6.5' bathroom

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stlouie

sue_b

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lighting scheme assistance for 13x6.5' bathroom

Comments (7)

stlouie

sue_b

Related Discussions

oppsieOriginal Author

festusbodine

suero

jakkom

oppsieOriginal Author

COMPANY

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GET HELP

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oppsie
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oppsie
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