Your bathroom is a refuge and sanctuary. There’s nowhere you want optimal lighting more than the room where you retreat to pamper and freshen up. Using stylish, yet functional lighting in these spaces enriches the atmosphere and makes them feel more dynamic, allowing you to bask in a warm, soothing glow that helps you to feel beautiful. Mixing lighting styles can further help you curate the perfect mood.
If you’ve been searching for inspiration for how to mix and match light fixtures in your bathroom, this is the blog for you. With fixture combinations, including ceiling lights, recessed lighting, and wall sconces, you can personalize your bathroom with unique designs and even mix and match metals in bathroom settings to create a sense of luxury or evoke a dramatic ambiance.
How Mixing Lighting Styles Can Transform Your Bathroom
Bathrooms serve all sorts of purposes, from a place to get ready to a serene, spa-like environment where you practice self-care. Using various types of lighting styles that provide sufficient illumination to different amenities or zones, while also offering a decorative element brings a relaxing vibe to the space. Layering these pieces also allows you to establish different moods, adding depth and character to make these rooms more cozy.
Kokoro Large Pendant by Troy Lighting & Hudson Valley Lighting Bowery Wall Sconce
The artistic composition of the Kokoro 23-Inch Large Pendant by Troy Lighting and the shiny finish of the Hudson Valley Lighting Bowery 12-Inch Wall Sconce in this bathroom are a perfect example of contrasting designs that complement each other nicely. The woven texture of the Kokoro’s black shade matches the black finish of the two-tone Bowery sconce, while its opal glass shade and aged old bronze finish tie in with the surrounding accents and hardware.
The Key Principles of Mixing and Matching Bathroom Light Fixtures
The following principles are the most important to consider when decorating your bathroom with new, dynamic lighting configurations.
- Strategic Placement and Spacing – Measure your bathroom and select the correct proportions in accordance with the section and purpose of the fixture.
- Plan Around Common Design Element – Whether it’s the shape, style, design, or finish, be sure to pair lighting with at least one shared element for a complementary feel.
- Layer for Balance – Hanging your fixtures in designated zones and at different heights gives you choices between ambient, task, and accent lighting.
- Factor Color Temp and Strength – Decide whether you prefer warmer or cooler tones, and consider fixtures with adjustable brightness levels for full control.
- Showcase Your Personality – Don’t be afraid to let your creative side shine by selecting uncommon fixtures. Interesting lighting makes the space feel more unique.
How to Blend Modern and Traditional Light Fixtures in Bathrooms
If you’re wondering how to mix and match traditional and modern fixtures, begin by choosing the fixture that provides ambient lighting –this will be the dominant style. Chandeliers or pendant lights a great for this purpose. Then choose sconces, vanity, or recessed lighting as the secondary sources for task or accent lighting. Matching a common element, such as material, shape, or finish, ties the fixtures and the bathroom together.
Fairfax Chandelier by Avenue Lighting & Gideon Wall Sconce by Hudson Valley Lighting
There’s no mistaking the modern appeal of the eloquent Fairfax 30 Inch 7 Light Chandelier by Avenue Lighting, which features hand-blown glass bulbs in a gorgeous cluster. The accompanying Gideon 4.5-Inch Wall Sconces by Hudson Valley Lighting frame mirror with a more classic, candle-shaped design in aged brass. This combination gives you a timeless look with modern flair.
Creative Ideas for Mixing Bathroom Light Fixtures in Small Spaces
If your home’s bathroom is on the smaller side, there are some strategic ways to incorporate ample lighting while also having flexibility. For example, vertically shaped fixtures can slim and elongate the room’s appearance, while flush mounts and wall-mounted lighting allow you to maximize space. Other creative ways to get the most from your bathroom lighting is by including multi-functional pieces like backlit mirrors or recessed lighting underneath cabinets or above the shower or tub.
Clover Chandelier by Crystorama & Drake Bath Vanity Light by Savoy House
The elegant stature of the Clover 28 Inch 12 Light Chandelier by Crystorama provides a stunning focal point above this bathtub. It is complemented by the simple lines of the Drake 38-Inch 4 Light Bath Vanity Light by Savoy House. The warm brass finish in its bath-bar design complements the bathroom’s details while simultaneously illuminating the vanity.
How to Transition Lighting Styles Between Bathrooms & Adjoining Spaces
Bathrooms are usually a separate extension from the main corridors of the home; planning your lighting so that it goes with your primary design style establishes a cohesive aesthetic. To achieve this, coordinate the metal finishes in the bathroom with finishes in the rooms outside and use complementary shapes or design styles to connect the two areas. Make sure your bathroom lighting is spaced appropriately so the illumination is not too dim or harsh.
Grand Lotus Large Pendant by Currey and Company & Ian K. Fowler Bistro Wall Sconce by Visual Comfort Signature Collection
The opulence of the Grand Lotus 30-inch Large Pendant by Currey and Company adds artisanal flair to the ambient illumination in this bathroom. The Ian K. Fowler Bistro 32-Inch Wall Sconce by Visual Comfort Signature Collection provides the ideal task lighting at the dressing table. These fixtures work in tandem, even though they serve entirely different lighting purposes in the room.
Capitol Lighting features all of these incredible bathroom fixtures you’ve seen here and more in our bed and bath guide. To get an idea of our additional selection, shop online or visit one of our local showrooms and have a look at the inventory in person. Mixing lighting styles in your bathrooms is a fantastic way to make them a comfortable and memorable part of your home, and at Capitol Lighting, we have diverse brands and styles for any home.