Bathroom lighting is a very important part of any home. Without the right lights, the room will not fulfill its purpose or give off the right mood to people. There are usually multiple types of lights used in a bathroom, and some types of fixtures that should be avoided at all costs. For starters, whenever you are buying lamp fixtures for a bathroom, you need to make sure that you get fixtures that are rated for use in a bathroom. That might sound obvious to some, but too many people buy fixtures because of their style or color and don't check to see how they will handle the moisture that is known to live in the bathroom.
Every time you take a shower or a bath, run hot water for shaving, or do anything else with water in the bathroom, you let moisture into the air. If you have light fixtures that are not specifically created for the bathroom, they could easily be affected by that moisture and cause a lot of problems. However, if you choose lights that are specifically for bathroom use, you will be able to light your bathroom properly and not have to worry about fire hazards or other electrical issues that could come up. Bathroom lighting is all about safety first, so remember that.
When you are shopping for bathroom lamps, you have four types of fixtures to consider: ambient lighting, task lighting, decorative lighting, and accent lighting. Ambient lights are the ones that light up the entire room and provide general illumination. Task lighting is going to be the type of lights (such as the ones around your vanity) that are specifically used for a task, such as shaving or putting on makeup. Decorative lighting is just for decoration, or to create a specific effect. These include things like candles, fireplaces, and chandeliers. However, pendant lighting is not usually recommended in a bathroom, unless you find an approved fixture.
Accent lighting consists of small fixtures that add drama, depth, and visual appeal to the room. They accent whatever they are near, adding a touch of elegance to the bathroom regardless of where they are used. By taking the time to learn about bathroom lighting, it will be much easier to get the right fixtures for your needs. You should remember that the fixtures need to be bathroom-approved and that lights should fall within the natural daylight spectrum of light output in order to be the most effective.