Hi everyone, our two bathrooms are being remodeled and are totally gutted. Would recessed lighting alone work the best way to light the bathrooms? A lighting store designer told me that a vanity light fixture should be part of the design for better lighting. Our electrician says recessed will work fine alone. The style of our home is contemporary. Advice will be appreciated on which way to go for the best lighting design. Thank you all in advance.

 

The can lights will be right for general lighting, but while standing at the sink, that lighting will cast a shadow. I would opt for an additional vanity lighting to give good make up light. You can switch them separately if you wish. If you only go in for a shower, no need for the make up lighting, for instance.

 

There's a good reason why 99.9% of all bathrooms have a light on the wall above the mirror. Most people like excellent light on their faces when they look in the mirror.

If you want to deviate from this paradigm, be sure to find an existing bathroom with lights the way you are considering, and go look at yourself in the mirror. If your electrician is sure that recessed lights alone will work, then surely he can tell you where he's done it before. It might actually work if some of the lights are very close to the mirror (essentially creating similar light to the normal lights mounted on the wall above the mirror).

 

Thank you for the responses Chandler and John Nelson. Today I actually purchased a makeup mirror with built in lights. It will have to go on the wall directly accross from the vanity because a medicine cabinet is going in above the vanity. Do you think it would be too much to also add a vanity light?

 

I have recessed lighting in my bathroom. It works very well. You can buy bulbs with different angles. The larger the angle the less shadow it produces.

 

Just came from a lighting professional's seminar.

Can lights are directional lights - use them to highlight surfaces, and objects. Not to be used for ambient lighting.

Cross lighting (both sides -evenly spaced) is used at the make-up mirror. The down light over the mirror causes shadows at the eyes, mouth, neck and nose. You will not look as good as you really do!

Up lighting - sconces,valance and behind surfaces lighting are used for general illumination (ambient).

If there is access to exterior - sonotubes work well for landlocked rooms. Include a light fixture in them for night. These are somewhere between directional and ambient because of their large lens.

The general contractor / carpenter is not a lighting specialist. They will put in the cheapest fixture in the simplest place and charge you as much as they think they can. If you are going to put lights in anyway - do it right for a little more money and really enjoy the space.