A common problem now is a very long counter. If there are double sinks, you can center a fixture over each sink. If you have only one sink, you can also just center the fixture over the sink.

If you like the look of one long strip, or if your box is already centered, measure the distance from the outside edge of each sink. That is your measurement. There are bath strips available in any Length, or you can butt 2 or more sectioned bath strips together. If there is only one sink on the side of a long counter, just measure as if there is a matching sink on the other side and center the fixture or center the fixture over the sink..

Contemporary Bath Lighting >

What look do you like?

Warm and traditional, high-tech, or colorful fun? The styles may be different, but successful baths have a lot in common. When a bathroom looks great and functions well, you can be sure that hours of planning went into it.

Don't leave lighting as an afterthought. It should be part of your original design. Today, there is a Wide range of incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen light sources on the market, and a huge selection of fixtures to house them.

Tech Lighting Bath Collection >

The best light for applying makeup is shed from the sides of a mirror. The best for shaving is from above. In both cases, there are many ways to do this effectively. First evaluate what you've got. How much light have you got? Is it enough? If not, how much do you need?

Because a bathroom is filled with shiny surfaces, it needs gentle general lighting. This can soften what might otherwise appear to be hard edges. There is however one exception to this rule. The light source around the bathroom mirror should be, not so much atmospheric as functional in order to minimize shaving and makeup accidents.

For ample light without glare, choose a shielded fixture. To obtain a sparkling effect, use clear cut-crystal glass but with lower wattage or dimmed lamps.

Naked bulbs on the top or sides of a mirror may look rather glarey, but in low wattage, they can be a good accurate makeup light (although certainly not my choice.)

For all-around bath lighting, place a long fixture at least 24" across the top of your mirror at 78" above the floor. Or, set one on either side, at least 28" apart. For longer vanities you can use bath strips that come up to 72" or place mirrored strips end to end.

In larger baths, supplement lighting at the mirror with downlights or wall brackets to light the entire room. There are 2 basic choices: Either directly placed on the ceiling or recessed. The Height of your ceiling can help dictate this. If your ceiling is 7 feet or less, a recessed light is definitely a good choice. It depends on the depth of the joists whether they can be installed or not.

Adding dimmer controls provides a comfortable night-light. Down lights can be effective general lighting. Nobody likes to turn on bright lights when you have to get up in the middle of the night.

Down lights, as the name suggests concentrates light downward, shedding a pool of diffused light on the first surface encountered. They can be useful not only as general light sources, but also for highlighting a work surface, in this case, the sink area.

Spotlights are best aimed at the ceiling or the walls to bounce back an indirect light into the room. Directly beamed at the floor, their beam blinds anyone who walks into their path.

Efficient mirror lighting for shaving or applying makeup should illuminate the front and sides of the face. The light should shine onto your face, not into the mirror, and the general light should be carefully positioned so that the mirror reflects no glare.

For nocturnal bathroom visits, a nightlight should make it perfectly possible to fill a glass of water or use the facilities. It is also a useful safety precaution in households with young children and elderly people, who may go stumbling in sleepily at night. There are a variety of these lights available that are safe and cheap to leave on all night in the bathroom.

Waterproof lights, designed for use outdoors, can also be a good choice for the shower area.

Color

Light plays a major role in choosing any color scheme. It can greatly effect our mood. Some people seem to be particularly sensitive to lack of light, and cannot bear dark rooms or dark colors. Others enjoy the coziness of dark rooms and feel more comfortable in them. You know yourself and your family. It is important to remember that you are the one who will have to live with it. Don't be influenced by fashion, follow your own feelings.

You can also soften the effect without losing the needed light by using deeper, less reflective paint or wallpaper.

If your like light colors, but dislike the feeling of coldness that pure white gives, tint your paint slightly to remove the blueness, using a worm toned color like peach or cream. It will reflect off all the reflective surfaces, softening their impact. You can also change the feeling by using rougher matte surfaces, which reflect light less, also giving a softer feeling.

Create a bright open feeling through good use of lighting, Installing several light sources will minimize shadows that can create hazards and make it difficult to shave or apply makeup. A shower light will make any shower stall more inviting.

In a large bathroom, it is important to add enough light to brighten the entire space evenly.

It is a good idea to find out what the building code requires in your area before making any wiring changes. For example, in many areas a vent fan is required, even if your bathroom has adequate natural ventilation. A ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is required on all receptacles. A light switch cannot be installed closer than 60" from a tub or shower. Light fixtures above showers and tubs must be vapor-proof.

Soft mood lighting can provide a really luxurious feeling to any bathroom.When the bathroom is being remodeled for someone with limited mobility, make sure to provide adequate ventilation to prevent condensation that can make surfaces slippery. Install bright lights to improve safety, and mount light switches and receptacles at lower Heights, where they are more easily reached.

The basic requirement is for a modest level of background light, provided by a close-mounted central light or some recessed fittings. If the sink area is used for shaving or applying make-up, add a wall strip light over the sink to provide good, glare-free illumination there. There may also be a need for a splash-proof, recessed light fitting in a shower area.