Bathrooms can often feel like a dark dungeon. Many of them don’t have any sort of windows to provide natural light, and are stuck with bathroom light fixtures that were en vogue in the 1950’s. This sort of combination provides for crappy lighting and a very dreary feeling. If you’re looking to increase the amount of light in your bathroom, read on for some tips to do so without spending a ton of money.
The first step is to understand how lighting works in your bathroom. Light comes from the bathroom lighting fixture and bounces off of all of the walls, accessories, and the counter top. The color of everything in there will determine how much light reflects off. Light colors reflect light, whereas dark colors absorb. Sometimes it can be as simple as redirecting the light from the fixture onto the counter top and your lighting problem is solved because it reflects a lot.
With the basic principles of reflection understood, take a look at all of the stuff that you have in there. Is it sucking all of the light out? If that’s the case, spend a few bucks and swap everything for a lighter shade. One of the biggest culprits is the shower curtain. Dark colored curtains swallow light, and if you don’t want to spend the money on a new one, try going with just the clear inner lining for a while and see what kind of improvement it makes.
Another thing that can make bathrooms feel dark is grime. I’m not saying that your bathroom is dirty, but when was the last time you scrubbed the glass of the light fixture or wiped down the walls. A thick layer of dust is common in bathrooms that also have a shower. The moisture from the shower traps all of that junk to everything. A thorough cleaning may also solve your problem.
If you want to skip all of that and buy new lights, that’s your decision, but it might not be necessary. Try to work with what you already have and you can save a lot of money.