Home Decoration

Bathroom vanity lighting is usually done in three stages - General lighting that illuminates everything; Task lighting that lights up a particular place brightly for specific tasks such as shaving, reading or grooming; and Accent lighting that highlights the bathroom decorative accessories such as an artistic piece, potted plants or a painting. The two main bathroom vanity light fixtures that are mainly used in bathroom light decor are incandescent lights and fluorescent bathroom light fixture. Incandescent lights are small, bright and generate height and can be used for surface mount lighting, recessed lighting and can be suspended from the wall or ceiling. Fluorescent lighting is cooler and generates very little heat but it is too sharp and needs to be balanced well for a better look.

One should make sure that bathroom vanity lighting, irrespective of its style, should cast no shadows and be almost uniformly distributed throughout the bathroom. In daytime, you can make good use of natural sunlight and save electricity and money. Bathroom vanity with at least one outside wall and a small window may have access to good amount of natural light. You may get more light by adding a skylight, enlarge the side windows or install a high cluster window to your bathroom. Direct sunlight is usually bluish white and reflective surfaces such as mirrors can be placed strategically to help it reach the entire bathroom while the bathroom design that gets indirect sunlight generally picks up the main color that dominates the bathroom such as the color of the bathroom tiles or vanity.

To avoid the glare caused by sunlight reflecting from the glossy and smooth-textured surfaces, it is advisable to use fixed or moveable diffuse panels such as window blinds or coverings on special window shutters to cut down on some of the direct sunlight or you may cut it out altogether, using sunshades or awnings. While drafting a plan for bathroom vanity lighting and bathroom light decor, there are a few things that you should always keep in mind. Soft lighting with light color schemes makes the bathroom look larger and more spacious. It is advisable to use bathroom lighting color that is similar to the colors used in the bathroom rather than complimentary colors that clash with them. Use flat light color or recessed lighting fixtures while decorating bathrooms with low ceilings.

Avoid glare by exposed light bulbs, especially at eye level, by covering the bulbs with shades and coverings. Bathroom vanity lighting for bathrooms with high ceilings can be done using larger suspended bathroom light fixture that seems to add depth to the room volume. Avoid shadows. You can use two or more light fixtures in conjunction to give the effect you want. Small light fixtures may cast sharp shadows, so accompany them with large light sources for diffused lighting and shadows. Soft bathroom lights have calming effect while bright lights in your bathroom vanity will invigorate and stimulate you. Dim lights and lights in somber colors tend to be depressing while cool light colors in the bathroom make one feel restless while warm light colors are more cheerful. Bathroom vanity lighting should ideally use both task lights and ambient lights and avoid shadow areas.

The popular trend of lighting decor drifts towards recessed lighting fixtures while you can install a dimmer switch so that you can control the brightness of the lights in the bathroom according to your preference and mood. To illuminate the mirror, it is better to use bathroom strip lights on either side of the mirror that mounting a light fixture on top of the mirror for better visibility. Frosted globe bulbs vanity strips minimize shadows and fluorescent lights make skin tones look better. Fluorescent lights are durable, come in beautiful colors and save energy. In the powder room, decorative wall sconces on either side of the mirror look charming. Good bathroom vanity lighting décor means that you can operate lights independently according to your mood and nature of the bath space. Vanity countertops and sinks should use high wattage task lights while background lighting can use under-cabinet strip lights and dimmer switch lights for ambient lighting to add a touch of elegance and functionality to your bathroom.

Bathroom vanity cabinets add instant dramatic effect and designer touch to your bathroom decor. They provide much-needed bathroom storage and help you to reduce the clutter in your bathroom and make it look more organized. Bathroom sink cabinets give you storage space to keep things that need to be easily accessible to people using the bathroom, a place for the sink and faucets and good countertop space to keep your soaps and toiletries. Bathroom vanity cabinets are usually available in myriads shapes, styles and sizes and widths ranging from 18 inches to 48 inches. The width generally increases by 6 inches.

You can opt for traditional bathroom vanity cabinets or contemporary cabinets. Wooden cabinets are made from walnut wood, pinewood, oak wood, maple wood and cherry wood and are offered in finishes such as natural wood finish and high-gloss lacquer finish. Bathroom storage cabinets can be of many types. The general cabinetry includes bathroom vanity cabinets, recessed cabinets, wall cabinets and medicine cabinets. Many people prefer to use the vertical wall space for efficient bathroom storage and choose over the toilet cabinets for small bathrooms that are so common in urban apartments and homes. Open shelves such as corner shelves, surface mounted shelves and recessed shelves are also good bathroom storage ideas that are preferred by many people to traditional bathroom cabinets especially the minimalists.

You may also choose from linen closets and built-in closets for your bath. If you are renting apartments or are planning to move in a new house a few years down the line, you may better invest in towers with baskets of freestanding bathroom sink cabinets that are tall and often extend from the floor to the ceiling, giving you good storage space and can be moved to your new home easily. Stylish bathroom vanity cabinets popular these days are European style cabinets that are frameless vanity cabinets and formal vanity cabinets with face framing and panel doors. The latter ones give a more traditional look to your bath and cabinet box is hidden by designer frames and panel doors and hinges may be made invisible according to the cabinet design your prefer. However, European style cabinets add a contemporary touch to your bath and have hidden hinges.

They are very adjustable and offer heavy-duty cabinet boxes too. If you want to use period cabinets that you got as heirlooms from your family or bought at an antique shop, be sure to match your door hardware, sink or bathroom sink cabinet with it. Do not forget to add period-style or antique knobs and pulls to the cabinets to give them a real vintage look. However, buying these cabinets can be quite expensive. Bathroom vanity cabinet countertops may range from laminates, ceramic tile and wood to composite and solid surface materials such as stone, stainless steel or concrete. Stainless steel countertops, laminated counter tops and countertops of composite materials and solid surface materials are more susceptible to scratches but can be easily repaired and replaced.

Stone countertops are expensive but they look quite beautiful and durable but some of them can get easily stained, so you will have to scrub them often. Ceramic tile is a durable countertop and is very commonly used as it comes in vast choice of colors, textures and sizes. However, tiled countertops may have irregular surfaces and grout between the tiles is easily stainable. Similarly wooden countertops look beautiful in Zen like bathrooms but need to be well maintained, as they are susceptible to stains or mildew. Concrete countertops are durable and heat-resistant but may crack or discolor faster than other options. Choosing right bathroom cabinets can make your bath attractive, desirable and functional and add to the selling price of your home and is therefore, a good investment on the whole.

Bathroom vanities are fit enough to be the centerpiece of your bathroom and installing a new bathroom vanity can change the look, feel and mood of your bath when you are doing your bathroom remodeling. Stylish and elegant vanities are available in wide range of materials such as contemporary and modern vanities that are sleek in design, antique or distressed looking vanities and customized vanities that are made to order, to meet specific bathroom vanity requirements and conform to the shape, style or function you would like your bathroom vanity to perform. While choosing a bathroom vanity, keep the bathroom decor style in mind.

Since, it is the first thing to attract attention in a bathroom, make sure that it always remains neat and clean and there is no clutter on it. Organize your drawers and cabinets and keep all things in their places in them. Your bathroom vanity style and bathroom decor should match the personal touch you have given to your home interiors. The general design of the house that may range from antique furnishings to sleek modern and high-tech look should extend to your bathroom too. Explore your choices and the variety of bathroom vanities available on Internet and check out home decor stores and specialty stores near your home to see all the collections before deciding upon the best bathroom vanity that suits the theme of your bathroom decor.

Bathroom vanity idea for the old world feel, Victorian bathrooms, romantic bathrooms and period style bathrooms is to install an European bathroom vanity with perhaps hand-painted vanity sinks to add more drama to your bathroom. Traditional bathroom cabinet vanity can be replaced by bathroom vanity sink for small bathrooms with limited space and less storage area. They are available as a wide range and choice of freestanding pedestal sinks and corner sink made in glass. Slim freestanding iron shelves to provide storage space and baskets to keep your towels can accompany these vanity sinks. There can be tower racks too for more storage space. Large and spacious bathrooms can accommodate double sink vanity cabinets that provide more storage space and allow two individuals to use the same bathroom at once.

They come in many sizes and styles too. They are ideal for master bathrooms or two kids sharing their bathrooms. They are just perfect for twins and allow them to use the bathroom simultaneously and have separate drawers to keep their own things. If you feel that a traditional bathroom vanity cabinet is not what you would prefer because of its high costs or bulky body, you may mix and match furniture pieces and bathroom utility items to make workable and beautiful bathroom vanity. You can be creative with tables such as iron tables with glass top matched with iron framed mirror works well enough. Elegant mission oak framed mirror can be matched with a table with granite or marble top.

For budget bathroom decoration, you may try finding attractive and vintage bathroom vanities in yard sales and garage sales to buy them cheap and then take measures to give them a new look and salvage them. Many of them may just need minor repairing. You may find chic to country style bathroom vanities at reduced prices here. Search your attic or store to find any unused piece of furniture such as table that you thought is no longer of any use to you but can be restored as a bathroom. Buying vanity sets may help you in bargaining for greater discounts rather than buying piece by piece as a separate item. Bathroom vanity sets include vanity cabinets with matching vanity stools and vanity mirrors to complete the look of the vanity.