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If you have a window-less bathroom, don’t worry – you can still make it feel bright and airy. By strategically placing some lights and sticking to essential tips for remodelling your bathroom, you can create an inviting atmosphere that makes using the space a joy.
Understanding what makes lighting good or bad will help you customize your bathroom’s lighting. Keep reading to become an expert on optimal lighting for windowless bathrooms.
The Best Lightbulbs Can Outshine Windows
The best lighting varies for every room. Choosing the proper lightbulbs is an essential first step for adequately lighting a bathroom with no windows.
The process involves several more steps than simply replacing your old bulbs with the highest wattage on the market. The best results will be achieved by taking the time to understand what constitutes good bathroom lighting.
There are many types of lightbulbs to choose from, but most interior design specialists find that LEDs are the best option for windowless bathrooms. LED lightbulbs are one of the best low-cost energy-efficient home upgrades.
Not all LEDs produce the same quality of light, though. Using the color rendering index (CRI) will help you estimate how the lightbulb will look in your bathroom. The higher the CRI is, the more vibrant the room will look.
Generally, choosing an LED with a CRI of 90 or above is recommended for windowless bathrooms. The CRI will be listed on the lightbulb packaging.
Next, you’ll want to consider the overall brightness of the bulbs you’re buying. Lumens are the standard of measurement for light. A higher lumens count indicates a brighter light output.
You’ll want to achieve a brightness of at least 2,000 lumens in your windowless bathrooms, which usually requires four or more bulbs. There are tools and smartphone apps that measure lumens.
Customize Your Light Colors To Mimic the Sun
Increasing the artificial lighting in your bathroom to 2,000 lumens will help you compensate for the amount of natural light your windowless bathroom is missing out on.
However, bathrooms with ample windows vary in brightness throughout the day, thanks to their exposure to the sun.
People who want to mimic natural light as accurately as possible need to pay attention to the color temperature of the lightbulbs they buy.
The color temperature is represented in Kelvin (K), and it will be listed on the lightbulb packaging.
Lightbulbs with lower Kelvin ratings produce warmer yellow tones while those with higher Kelvin ratings emit cooler blue hues. Somewhat ironically, warm tones emit fewer lumens than cool-colored lights.
The optimal color temperature for most people falls between 2,700K and 3,000K. If you want to adjust your lights with the natural movement of the sun, you can buy dimmable lights that switch from blue light to red light with ease.
Install Light Fixtures That Make Up For No Windows
When it comes to properly lighting a windowless bathroom, choosing the right fixtures and placement is as essential as choosing the right lightbulbs.
There are three main types of light fixtures to choose from:
- Ceiling lights
- Wall lights
- Recessed lights
The most common type of bathroom lighting is ceiling lights. These are easy to install and can provide a good amount of light for small to medium-sized bathrooms.
Wall lights are another popular type of bathroom lighting. These need to be hardwired into your bathroom’s electrical system, but they offer a more polished look than ceiling lights.
Many wall lights can be placed at different heights, which allows you to mimic natural lighting better.
Recessed lights are more difficult to install than ceiling or wall lights, but they offer a sleek, modern look. These are ideal for people who want to create a spa-like atmosphere in their bathroom.
Freestanding light fixtures can also work in bathrooms, but they’re not advisable. Lamps take up valuable floor space in small bathrooms and create tripping hazards.
The best way to light a windowless bathroom is to use a combination of all three types of fixtures. You’ll want at least two fixtures on each side of the room for balanced lighting.
Check Out Other Ways to Brighten a Windowless Bathroom
In addition to increasing the artificial lighting in your bathroom, there are a few other ways you can make a windowless bathroom feel brighter and more open.
Consider adding a full-length mirror to your windowless bathroom. Mirrors reflect light, which helps to brighten up a space. A mirror placed on the inside of the bathroom door will reflect light from other areas of the house when it’s open.
When painting a windowless bathroom, stick to light colors. Light-colored walls will reflect more light than dark-colored walls, making the room feel brighter.
You can also add a skylight to your windowless bathroom. Skylights are ideal for bringing natural light into any room, including bathrooms. However, this task is more inventive and is almost always best suited for a professional.
You Don’t Need Windows to Have a Well-Lit Bathroom
You can turn your windowless bathroom into a bright and cheerful space by following these simple tips.
With the proper lightbulbs, fixtures, and placement, you can make your bathroom feel like a natural extension of the rest of your home. So don’t wait any longer – start lighting up your windowless bathroom today!
