You might not give it much thought, but there’s one light fixture in the home that gets used more than any other. No, it’s not the kitchen light or the lamp beside your favorite reading chair. It’s the bathroom vanity light.
It’s the light you use to get ready every morning. You may use it to shave, craft your perfect makeup look or wash your face before bed. This light shows you all the little details you don’t see under any other light. Sure, it might not always be the most flattering, but that’s the point, isn’t it? You want to see all those details!
With that in mind, there are ways to get even more out of your bathroom vanity light. It doesn’t just have to be that light you thoughtlessly flick on to look in the mirror. Here’s how it can be so much more!
The Dimmer Switch is the Best Option
If your bathroom vanity light doesn’t have a dimmer switch, now’s the perfect time to change that. You don’t have to settle for just two settings: on or off. With a dimming vanity light, you open up a world of lighting possibilities.
Take, for instance, the middle-of-the-night bathroom visit. Flicking on a bright light at 3 a.m. is no fun. Your eyes have to adjust to the light and then readjust when you go back to bed. With a dimmer switch for your vanity light, all you have to do is turn that light on at a low brightness, and your bathroom visit becomes so much more pleasant—and easier on the eyes.
Of course, it’s useful during the daytime, too. Plus, if you only need a little light to wash up in the morning or at night, you have that option as well. When it comes to lighting, the more options you have, the better.
Read more about dimmers here.
Pair a Bathroom Vanity Light with Overhead Lighting
As great as your bathroom vanity light is, don’t overlook your bathroom’s overhead lighting. Some bathrooms, especially smaller ones, only have a vanity light. But you may notice that some areas of the bathroom seem shadowy. If that’s the case, overhead lighting is the perfect way to change that.
It may be a light fixture over the tub or in the center of the room. Pendant lights, ceiling lights and even chandeliers are all great options to complement the vanity light. With overhead lighting in place, you’ll notice an improved vanity experience.
As awesome as vanity lights are, they shine primarily from the front. Having light coming from the sides or directly above you helps create more diffused lighting, reducing shadows. You’ll look even better in the mirror!
Going Beyond the Conventional Bathroom Vanity Light
Search for a bathroom vanity light online and you’ll see all sorts of options. There are two-bulb vanity lights for smaller mirrors and vanities as well as longer lights for wider spaces. You also have the option of sconces, lights that go on either side of the mirror. But have you ever considered choosing a more dynamic design for your bathroom lighting?
Why not use pendant lights? It’s a little unconventional, but it adds serious style points to any bathroom. They hang down around either side of the mirror and work like a conventional vanity light. Pair hanging pendant lights with dimming bulbs and you’ll have a bathroom that will wow your guests and spark joy every day.
