16 bathroom wall lighting ideas that renovators love

Bathroom wall lighting plays an important stylistic and functional role in bathrooms in Australia. While you could be forgiven for thinking ceiling lights alone will suffice, the reality is that wall lights are incredibly helpful, especially as a light source for cleaning and grooming. These bathroom wall lighting ideas are ones that renovators all over Australia absolutely love and can make a real difference to the look and day-to-day use of your bathroom space.

1. In most rooms, more than a single source of light is needed. This is especially true for the bathroom. Natural light layering is a technique that brings multiple sources of light into a space, which is an easy way to meet your needs. Fortunately, it's easy to accomplish with vanity lights. These are lights you can put up behind a large bathroom mirror to illuminate the space. This not only brightens the mirror and your face but makes it more flattering and shadow-free, which is ideal for applying makeup or shaving.Related article: Versatile bathroom vanity ideas for Australian homes

The charm of the industrial world is a theme that will always be a beloved one for many. If you want to add a touch of industrial appeal to your bathroom, consider installing industrial-style wall lights. You'll want to look at heavier metals like steel and iron for this, but you can also have a lot of fun with bulb shapes and glass. Try hanging wall sconce lights that cast light upwards for an extra bit of drama.

Multiple light sources will always enhance the appearance of your bathroom, regardless of its size. Accent spotlights, recessed lighting, task lights, and downlights can all meet the demands of practical, day-to-day use, whether you need low-level ambience, bright task lighting, or general nighttime illumination. For a well-balanced area, use task lighting around your mirror, the primary ceiling light for the entire room, and wall uplights to accent a highlight or feature of the room.

Using bathroom wall lights strategically to accent a certain area in the bathroom is a clever design trick that will make your space feel more finished. For example, you could highlight a vanity mirror with overhanging sconce lights; alternatively, you can place strip lights around a bathtub or shower. They're a practical solution for extra light, and when done right, make for some stunning and intriguing designs. You could try for a monochromatic style across the whole bathroom using box wall lights, all paired with crisp black and white finishes.

A fun colour scheme in a bathroom can truly bring an area to life, and it's especially useful for small spaces where you don't have as much room to play with. Bright colours like coral and turquoise or richer tones like emerald and aubergine can be pretty invigorating when splashed across a wall. You can use these colour combinations to incorporate wall art or highlight a specific architectural feature.

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If you're looking for something simple and uncomplicated, then minimalism is ideal. Not only is it pleasing to live in a clean, minimalist space, but it's also an ageless and elegant design style that suits many homes. You'll need light fittings that are sleek, graceful, and not overbearing. For a delicate, modest aesthetic, try frosted glass, a brass pendant light, or ceramic designs.

Think antique sinks, a wicker chair, and pictures of vintage cruise liners. Now, picture these with reclaimed vintage ship lights. Combining these features with reclaimed wood and Venetian-style plaster would make you a bathroom fit for an admiral. While nautical styles can swiftly turn kitsch, there are ways to do them tastefully. If you are considering a nautical-themed room, opt for industrial finishes and sleek glass wall lights and pair them with tasteful fabrics for a winning theme.

Consider how the different materials in your bathroom will interact when you install them. For example, marble looks amazing with a brass or gold finish, whereas tile looks fantastic with cool-toned chrome and other silvery metals. If you want truly refined, sophisticated bathroom designs, match your lighting fixtures to the finish of your bathroom fittings. You can look at things like the feet of a bath, the taps and handles in your bathroom, and even features like towel rails and mirrors as potential options to match.

Related article: Non-traditional ways to use marble in kitchens and bathrooms

Wall-mounted lamps or lanterns can create a sense of balance and symmetry in a room. These work particularly well in a larger bathroom since they occupy more visual space, but you can still achieve the same effect in a small bathroom with fewer surrounding accessories. Place these beside your mirror or your toilet for a bold and memorable design. Try materials like rusted steel, iron, wood, copper, and glass.

If you're installing antique fittings, make sure they suit the style of bathroom you're planning and take the time to clean and polish them. If it’s possible, fit them with a new LED light. Often, the bulb's colour can play a big role in how guests receive the fitting. Remember, white light is functional but can make a bathroom feel too icy. Lighter, warmer tones are definitely more inviting and work well with antique fittings. Don't be afraid to try interesting metals and combinations like brass and stained glass.

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Tubular sconces are great because they can fit into tight spaces. They also emit a bright, open glow that draws you in like a moth to a flame. When topped with interesting fittings and shaped with unusual glass, they can be an interesting talking point for your visitors. A very trendy type of piece, you can tuck these beside your cabinets, or near the shower to give typical dark spots a little bit brighter.

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Pendant lights are well-suited to almost every room in a home, and the bathroom is no different. You can hang pendant lights on a bathroom wall to produce a relaxing atmosphere and complement the presence of natural light. For lighting placement, consider placing pendant lights above a vanity unit or a bathtub. Due to the humid conditions in a bathroom, it's worth choosing weather-resistant materials for your lights, such as glass or forms of metal such as stainless steel or aluminium.

Related article: Different types of pendant lights for your home

Kill two birds with one stone by selecting LED mirrors, which have lighting built into them. These mirrors provide a soft illumination to the surrounding area, making everyday bathroom tasks such as shaving or applying makeup all the more convenient. Providing the bulbs in your mirror shine bright enough, you most likely won't need to worry about purchasing other types of wall lights for your bathroom, keeping your bathroom well-lit in a minimalist fashion.

The right bathroom wall lighting can create a special atmosphere. Bulbs that radiate a warm white light avoid creating harsh bright spots and provide a consistent, relaxing light to the surrounding area. To create a consistent level of light throughout your bathroom, consider placing multiple lights on different walls; doing so will ensure the light is distributed evenly, reduce glare and maintain a tranquil, serene environment.

Placing recessed lights or downlights on your bathroom walls or ceiling is a great way to create an even, subtle lighting scheme that avoids overpowering the space. It can accentuate the design features, provide functional task lighting, and create a calm and relaxing atmosphere. Tactically placing a downlight above your bathroom mirror, for example, can help with practical tasks. Or if you want to help a particular bathroom feature such as a piece of wall art, an exotic plant, or a sculptural sink, strategic downlight placement can cast the perfect glow, drawing the eye and adding depth to the room. Strategically placing downlights near a special bathroom feature will help it stand out.

Related article: What are downlights? A guide to choosing the perfect LED solution

Smart lighting is becoming increasingly popular in home renovations, and your bathroom is no exception. Install wall lights that can be controlled via a smart app, voice assistant, or motion sensors. With smart wall lights, you can easily adjust the brightness and colour temperature to suit different times of the day, create mood lighting, or even sync lights to music for a more immersive bathroom experience. This flexibility not only enhances the atmosphere but also boosts energy efficiency, as you can set timers or dim the lights when they’re not in use. Plus, smart lighting can integrate with other smart home systems, adding convenience and improving the overall functionality of your bathroom.

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Though the bathroom may be one of the smaller rooms in the house, it deserves its own love and attention. And what better way to shine a spotlight on that than by adopting one of these inspiring bathroom lighting ideas. With solutions to suit almost every style, space, and budget, you’ll have no problems finding something that works for you.

This article was updated on 9th December 2024

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