Really good small bathroom lighting ideas will make all the difference in a compact space, adding to the sense of volume and helping it feel bigger. It will also help make the most of the available room by allowing you to adjust the mood based on the time of day: from a bright light when you want an invigorating shower or to cleanse the room, to a soft glow for a relaxing mood like the day comes to an end.
There are many ways to introduce lighting in a small bathroom, from ceiling downlights to pendants, sconces, and downlights. A lighting combination will always give you more options for your bathroom ideas – even a commercial mirror with built-in lighting can help reflect light and create a larger feel in the room.
Here are the best lighting ideas for small bathrooms so you can upgrade your space.
lighting ideas for small bathrooms
For small bathroom ideas that really tackle ways to make the space feel bigger, layered bathroom lighting is key:
“Try combining ceiling lights with indirect lighting in recesses and at ground level to open up the space and make the room feel as bright as possible,” suggests Jo Sangster, senior designer at Ripples. (opens in a new tab). Use dimmer switches and different circuitry, if you can, to allow you to control the brightness, softening the level to a soft glow at night.
As with all small bathroom lighting ideas, for safety reasons it’s important to use waterproof fixtures that are specified as suitable for bathroom use and hire a licensed (qualified) electrician to carry out the work. of installation.
1. Add decorative details with lighting
(Image credit: Jean Liu Design. Photography: Stephen Karlisch)
Accent lighting for small bathrooms can add a touch of glamor and is particularly valuable in smaller spaces where it can add impact and personality to even the simplest of designs.
And, just because a space is small, you should not think that there is no place for bathroom ceiling lighting ideas; just the opposite can be true, like in the bedroom above, where beautiful teardrop pendant lights draw attention in a bathroom by Jean Liu Design (opens in a new tab).
2. Borrow natural light in a small bathroom.
(Image credit: Gunter & Co)
A windowless ensuite bathroom can be made to appear larger and brighter by ‘stealing’ natural light from an adjacent room. In this private bathroom designed by Gunter & Co. (opens in a new tab)a glass screen separates the spaces, allowing light to flow from the bedroom into the bathroom.
Fluted glazing provides privacy as well as textural details and design interest – note the contrasting vertical and horizontal fluted panels.
3. Layer lighting in a small bathroom
(Image credit: SGS Design. Photography: Ryan Wicks Photography)
If you want to make a small bathroom appear larger, layered lighting, just as you would in a living room or bedroom, is a must.
In this room at SGS Design (opens in a new tab), LED bathroom lighting has been used in the form of ceiling spots to draw attention to the perimeter of the room, enhancing the sense of space, as well as providing convenient task lighting. Lights attached to either side of a wall mirror cast even light on the face, ideal for applying make-up or shaving, while the mirror itself provides a reflective surface that also adds to the feeling of spaciousness.
4. Reflects light from wall treatments
(Image credit: Ashley Whittaker Design/Thomas Loof)
The textural materials can increase the level of interest in smaller bathrooms, especially if their surface is carefully lit.
“A well-designed lighting scheme is key in a small bathroom,” says Sally Storey, creative director at John Cullen Lighting. (opens in a new tab). “Use directional recessed lights to bounce light off the mirror and onto your face and make plain tiles look expensive by shining light through them in beams,” she adds.
The same can be achieved with bathroom wallpaper, tile, and other textured wall treatments.
5. Highlight features
(Image credit: West One Bathrooms. Photography: Paul Craig www.pcraig.co.uk)
In a compact space, it’s especially important to plan your bathroom lighting to make the most of its key features, and this is something you can highlight with clever lighting ideas for small bathrooms.
Waterproof LED in-floor spotlights can be used to highlight a focal point, such as a pretty bathroom, as shown in this design by West One Bathrooms (opens in a new tab). Subtle lighting provides a soft glow, ideal for a relaxing evening bath.
6. Combine low-level lighting with wall-hung furniture to enhance the space
(Image credit: Detailed Lighting)
“Mounting dressers and other furniture to the wall opens up the floor space and creates a less cluttered look,” explains Jo Sangster, senior designer at Ripples. ‘Combine wall fixtures with low level lighting to maximize effect.’
Low level lighting can also be used as a discreet night light. Consider, too, the subtle lighting behind the mirror in this bathroom – it’s a practical yet subtle addition that will create a welcoming glow, rather than the harsh light a ceiling light bulb casts.
7. Light storage in a small bathroom
(Image credit: Keuco)
One of the latest trends in bathroom lighting is lighting storage, and it’s not just for practicality. Storage ideas for small bathrooms can include built-in lighting in the drawers, which is convenient and practical, helping you see the contents easily and quickly, which is especially important in smaller spaces with less natural light. This dressing table is from the Edition Lignatur collection by Keuco (opens in a new tab)that has integrated lighting in all the drawers as standard.
8. Light up a niche to create depth.
(Image credit: Lusso Stone)
A simple niche, cut into the shower wall, is an ideal place to store soap and shampoo within easy reach. In this design by Lusso Stone (opens in a new tab)An LED strip, fixed at the top rear of the niche, has been used to create a warm glow, which is both atmospheric and practical for lighting up the shower at night.
9. Add personality with the lighting of a small bathroom
(Image credit: Vanrenen GW Designs)
Smaller bathrooms need character to take the focus away from the size of the room (or lack thereof). “All of the hard surfaces in a bathroom can create quite a clinical feel, so I like to bring fabrics and colors where I can to add softness and warmth,” says interior designer Sarah Vanrenen of Vanrenen GW Designs. (opens in a new tab)who used pretty sconces with fabric shades to complete this lovely room.
10. Create a uniform light to enhance the feeling of space
(Image credit: Pappas Miron Design. Photographer Stephen Kent Johnson)
In this bathroom by Pappas Miron Design (opens in a new tab), ceiling pendant lights echo the vintage style of the mid-century trunk, redesigned as a powder room. While the pendants add ambient light, they only illuminate the top of anyone’s head looking in the mirror, so slim tube lights were added to provide even facial lighting.
How to light a small bathroom?
To illuminate a small bathroom, recessed ceiling lights and wall lights can be used to draw the eye up and around the perimeter of the room, enhancing the sense of space, while reflective surfaces such as mirrors will help bounce the light to achieve the same effect.
A combination of lights on different controls will not only allow you to set the mood of the room based on the time of day, it will also allow you to show off specific features, such as a beautiful bathroom or powder room, that can make the space feel more great.
Do you love the idea of bathroom chandeliers? Only the most subtle of these designs will work in a small space.
How many lights does a small bathroom need?
When calculating how many lights a small bathroom needs, consider both general lighting for tasks and bathroom cleaning, and ambient lighting on dimmer switches that can be dimmed when you want to relax in the tub. Recessed ceiling lights are a good option for general lighting or a ceiling pendant light can work well. Wall lights by the mirror, recessed lighting in a shower alcove, and low-level lighting for the night are practical additions that can also draw attention to beautiful features in the room and add to the sense of space.