Many people assume that all bathroom fixtures need to be wet or damp rated<, but this isn’t the case. A well-ventilated bathroom is considered a dry environment, with two exceptions—in the shower and above the bathtub.

In a shower enclosure, choose a wet-rated lighting fixture. This means the light can withstand any water that may drip, splash or flow on or against the electrical components. Over the tub, bath lighting only needs to be damp-rated to handle the indirect condensation and moisture. With those two exceptions, that means there is a great number of decorative fixtures that you might not have even thought of that could definitely work in the bath.

Is a vanity fixture bright enough light the whole bathroom? 

The short answer: No. While you want a vanity light to provide light at the face level, that alone won’t deliver effective—or even pleasant—lighting for the rest of your bathroom. Relying on the soft, diffused effect of the vanity will just make the rest of the room appear dim. The most common solution is to add recessed lighting to provide even, ambient light for the rest of the bath, even in a small space.

Want to layer lighting in the bath? 

The first step to creating effective lighting layers is to think about how the bath is going to be used. Is this your morning command center or a pop-in powder room? Do you prefer showers, or are you a diehard bath aficionado? Answering questions like these helps you break down the room and address each individual space and what it’s used for.

For example, the vanity space may be key for your morning routine, but you probably won’t want that bright light when you settle in for a relaxing bath. In a multi-functional space, set each light up on its own controls so you can dim or turn off the light you don’t need.