10 clever lighting ideas for small bathrooms that shine

The best lighting ideas for small bathrooms should deliver not only a practical source of light, but also help to make a cramped room feel more open, as well as emphasising particular features or areas.

If you want your bathroom lighting ideas to really enhance the space and ensure it is a pleasure to spend time in, they need to be planned early on in the overall design of your room, rather than left as an afterthought. You also need to ensure that the fittings you choose are suitable, particularly in bathrooms where you are mixing water and electrics.

Here, we bring you a fantastic round-up of beautiful and functional ways to light a small bathroom so you can be sure that you are making the most of the space you have to work with.

Why do lighting ideas for small bathrooms matter?

You might be wondering why the type of lighting you use for your small bathroom ideas should be any different to those in a bathroom of bigger proportions - and there are several reasons why they need a different kind of approach.

"As a general rule, smaller bathrooms need to be lit a bit brighter to prevent them from looking cramped and dull," advises Matthew O'Grady, director at Thomas Matthew Kitchens & Furniture.

You will also need to be careful to choose a fitting that is suitable - lights that are to be fitted in showering areas, for example, will need the right IP Rating.

Matthew O'Grady

Matthew O’Grady is director of Thomas Matthew Kitchens & Furniture, bringing over 6 years of experience in home improvement and remodeling projects. With a background in carpentry and joinery, he specialises in crafting bespoke projects tailored to clients' needs.

Lighting ideas for small bathrooms

1. Combine function with form

While bathrooms should be stylish spaces that look great, this is primarily a functional room that needs to be capable of catering to everything we require from it. Your lighting design needs to take into account all the various tasks that will be carried out here.

“Creating a gorgeous bathroom that is well lit and highly functional will serve your home for many years to come,' says Lee Lovett, co-founder and creative director of The Soho Lighting Co. "Function and safety should always come first when lighting a bathroom, but aesthetics really do matter! A bathroom is one of the most versatile and used rooms in a home, having to constantly adapt its purpose from tasks such as applying make-up, to relaxing evenings in the bath. This requires control, flexibility and exquisite lighting."

In this monochrome bathroom, careful thought has been given to the placement of the background ceiling lighting. It is spaced out to provide general lighting over the central space as well as within the showering area. The matching pair of mirrors is illuminated by wall lights to either side.

If you love these lights, check out the Adorno Ceramic LED Up & Downlight from Wayfair for a similar look.

Lee Lovett

In 2017, after struggling to find the right lighting for her own renovation projects refurbishing historical buildings in Soho, co-founder Lee Lovett established The Soho Lighting Company, creating superior lighting solutions enabled by innovative technology. Designed in London and hand-finished in Cornwall by skilled artisans, the lighting brings together the best of British talent and a considered approach to creativity.

2. Create symmetry with your lights for a smart finish

In small spaces you want to avoid anything that will make the area feel cluttered, meaning everything from your bathroom storage ideas to your fittings and finishes need to be chosen with this in mind.

Your bathroom lighting can also help create a neat, ordered and fuss-free finish, particularly if it is fitted in a symmetrical layout. In this bathroom, the stylish brass and fluted glass wall lights sit either side of a picture, while the orange trees that frame the roll top bath further enhance the look.

3. Enhance your lighting with reflective surfaces

Mirrors and reflective surfaces can totally transform any kind of small space, creating the illusion of a room that is much more spacious than it really is - and when paired with the right kind of lighting, this stretching effect can be enhanced even more.

"While small en-suite bathrooms or downstairs loos can be difficult spaces to illuminate, with clever placement of light and a lifting paint or wallpaper choice, you can make the space work for you for everyday use," explains Lee Lovett.

After modern bathroom ideas? Take note. In this contemporary space, an expanse of glass, mirrors and lustrous marble finishes reflect the striking lighting fittings, which include a low hanging pendant, a neat strip of downlights and hidden LED lighting beneath the vanity unit.

"LED strips positioned under floating vanities or shelving can introduce depth and dimension, contributing to an illusion of a larger space," points out Claire Garner, director at Claire Garner Interiors.

Claire Garner

Claire has over 15 years’ experience in the interior design industry, and over a decade running her own interior design studio. Her ability to design is well known as is her skill in creating beautiful designs through layered simplicity; evoking a true sense of depth and calm in her spaces.

4. Include fittings that wash the walls with light

There are lots of different types of lighting you can use to make the most of a small bathroom, but using a variety of different sources to create various effects and highlight the elements within the space will help to add depth to the room.

Wall-washers are lights that are designed to spread their glow out over the vertical surfaces within a space and they are a brilliant idea in small rooms, particularly when paired with interesting textures, patterns and colours. They are also a good choice for anyone looking at the best ways of lighting low ceilings.

In this contemporary bathroom, the wall lights really highlight the slate wall tiles, as do the hidden lights tucked behind the mirror.

Shop stylish wall lights

5. Carefully consider colour temperature when choosing lights

The light colour temperature you use in a space has a huge effect not only on how it looks, but also how it feels to spend time in. In a small bathroom, the light temperature you choose can make the difference between a space that feels cold and unwelcoming and one that is cosy and calming. For this reason it makes sense to research cool light vs warm light.

And, even though people normally only think of warm light and cool light, in bathrooms, a more 'neutral' light often works well too.

"Neutral light is for areas where you need a balance between relaxation and functionality," explains Angelique Kreller, interior designer at Yabby. "It has a not-too-warm, not-too-cool glow, making it ideal for bathrooms as it provides all the light you need to pluck and preen without being overly clinical."

6. Use an illuminated mirror to brighten the space

Bathroom mirrors with lights are a great choice for small bathrooms as they become a focal point, at the same time as providing extra illumination and sometimes additional storage.

Focal points are important in small spaces as they help add personality and warmth to the room while also distracting the eye from the dimensions of the area. They also work well on a practical level as they make it easier to see what you are doing when looking at your reflection.

"In situations where space is at a premium, a backlit mirror can offer a sleek and functional solution while conserving valuable room," says Claire Garner.

Three beautiful bathroom mirrors with lights

7. Choose your wall colours carefully

It isn't just your lighting that can help with making a small bathroom feel bigger and more open - your bathroom colour ideas will have an effect too and, ideally, you want to consider your lighting and colour scheme alongside one another.

"One of the best ways to brighten any enclosed space is to repaint it with bright colours," says Matthew O'Grady. "To really maximise the illusion of space, your bathroom colours should be predominantly on the brighter end of the scale. If in doubt, pastels and neutrals work very well to achieve this effect. The key is to use high-gloss paint because it creates a more reflective surface. Bright tile accents and/or flooring also help."

This tranquil bathroom has been finished with pure white walls which really help create a sense of space, while the smart wall lights to either side of the mirror add symmetry.

8. Don't forget to take natural lighting into account

If you can, pulling in as much natural light as possible into any small space will help it to feel more open and airy. While it is not always possible to fit standard windows into bathrooms, think about alternatives. Light tunnels, rooflights and clerestory windows are all brilliant methods of gaining extra light without compromising on privacy.

Loft conversion bathrooms can particularly benefit from this idea, as shown in this example which features a large skylight over the roll top bath, flooding the whole room with a pure, bright light.

9. Choose multi-tasking lighting in a small space

Anything that can perform more than one function is always a good idea in small spaces. When it comes to lighting ideas there are lots of products out there that combine illumination with some kind of storage, and these make perfect sense where space is at a premium.

While mirrored cabinets with lights are a popular option, other ideas such as this shelf, which features both a handy glass shelf and a light, as well as hanging hooks for towels and dressing gowns could be another bright idea for your small bathroom.

10. Layer up your lighting for depth and detail

While homeowners thinking about their living room lighting ideas and kitchen lighting schemes often take into consideration how lighting can be layered for a range of effects and moods, owners of small bathrooms can also benefit from this approach.

"When designing lighting for a small bathroom, it's essential to maximise both function and style while creating the illusion of space," says Claire Garner. "Begin with a layered lighting approach that incorporates ambient, task and accent lighting to cater to various needs."

Incorporating layers of lighting means you will not only be able to create a range of effects in the space, but you will also add depth and interest to the room which would be lacking with a single overhead fitting.

As an example, in addition to general background lighting, this bathroom has lights to either side of the illuminated mirror.

"Positioning a pair of lights either side of a mirror is the best location for lighting around a mirror as it evenly distributes light across your face," says Lee Lovett. "A directional spotlight above the mirror, angled to wash your face in light, enables the ultimate precision for your everyday ablutions.”

FAQs

What do I need to know about IP Ratings when choosing bathroom lights?

When it comes to the electrical fittings you can use in the bathroom, it is useful to be aware of the various bathroom zones. How close to a water source the 'zone' you are lighting is will determine the type of light you can fit there - and in a small bathroom this is more important than ever.

Bathrooms are split up into Zones 0-3, with 0 being the area inside the bath or shower. In this area, lights must have an IP rating of at least IP67.

What kind of bathroom floor tiles are best for small spaces?

Alongside your bathroom lighting, you also need to think about how your bathroom floor tile ideas will affect how spacious the room appears.

"Materials like clean marble or cool stone are a great way to make a smaller space feel luxurious and appear larger," says Lidia Cetrangolo, creative manager at Multipanel.

In general, larger-format tiles help to make small spaces feel bigger than small. You should avoid tile designs which involve any kind of border too as this make a room feel more enclosed.

Lighting is just one element of bathroom design and if you are renovating a bathroom on the smaller side you will also need to take into account the best layouts, wall and floor coverings and storage.