Bathroom Lighting Ideas
Compared to the kitchen, lounge, bedroom and dining spaces, the bathroom is often the least styled space within a home - but it shouldn’t be. We spend a substantial amount of time in the bathroom; between bathing, getting ready, and unwinding at the end of a long day. A well-designed bathroom space that you feel truly comfortable and at peace in is the ultimate luxury.
The lighting chosen in your bathroom should balance form and function. The wrong lighting can make the space feel uncomfortable and stark, and not enough lighting can make the space unusable while grooming or getting ready for the day. Beyond illumination, choosing lighting fixtures is an opportunity to express creativity, fun, and sophistication into the room’s styling.
Here are 8 bathroom lighting ideas for those who are looking to go beyond traditional bathroom lighting.
1. Wall Sconce Lights
Wall sconces, light orbs, or rounded wall lights refer to light designs that are fixed to the wall and provide an illuminating glow directly from the globe. Wall sconces can come in a variety of designs and styles and are perfect for creating an ambient bathroom space. A bold lighting sconce can be the feature within a minimalist bathroom - a more subtle piece can soften the edges and create warmth against concrete or stone tiles.
Here are our favourite wall sconces for the bathroom:
The Coral Frosted Wall Light is an artfully designed wall light crafted from hand-blown glass with coral-like pattern textures. Sleek and flat in profile, the wall light is the perfect addition to a contemporary bathroom with a textural twist.
The Horizon light can be placed on the wall or ceiling. As stunning as it is versatile, the Horizon light is inspired by the sun, radiance, and light reflection. Available in gold or silver, this wall sconce is the perfect addition to a more simple mirror or vanity, offering accent lighting with a statement.
Designed specifically for the bathroom, this wall light design complements tiles, marble, stone, and concrete seamlessly. Creating a sense of intimacy, the Light Me Tender wall light has an IP rating of 44 and can be placed by the mirror, above a bath, or on a blank bathroom wall for ambient lighting.
2. Sculptural Lighting
Sculptural lighting is one of the most prominent lighting trends coming into 2026. Think hand-crafted, ornate designs; sculptural bathroom lights are more than the fixture itself, as the right design will ripple and radiate light across tile and stone surfaces.
The Bermuda is a unique take on the wall light; a triangle marble slab with a central circular diffuser. Available in moss, plum, and white carrara, the Bermuda is designed to be a focal point in the bathroom.
The wavy, sculptural dish of the Pearl Light contributes to an organic, natural feel to the bathroom. Casting a soft glow, the Pearl Wall Light makes for the perfect addition to a vanity wall or as a statement piece in an open shower, with an IP44 rating.
3. Vanity Lighting
Vanity lighting - but make it chic. We’re not talking Hollywood-style globes dotting the mirror; we’re talking stylish light designs that align with and enhance your vanity and mirror area. There are a variety of ways you can highlight the vanity with sculptural, glass, and natural lighting - some of our favourite lighting designs for a bathroom vanity include:
The Bode Wall Light offers an effortlessly elegant wall light that blends seamlessly with different bathroom styles. Available in Old Brass and Iron Aluminium framing, the wall lights are ideally placed above the vanity to enhance bathroom mirror lighting.
The Kilter Wall Light is multifaceted; sold individually and can be positioned on either side of the mirror and above the vanity, or above the mirror as a linear bar. Rated IP33, it can be purchased in 640mm and 500mm and is perfect for sleek, sophisticated bathrooms.
4. Accent Pendant Lights
Pendant lights are for the bathroom too - the right pendant can make a statement in the bathroom, drawing your attention and providing a spotlight for the vanity or free-standing tub. Minimal and scandi-inspired or bold and natural, we have a collection of pendant lights ideal for different bathroom settings. Here are some of our favourites:
Coral Trio Off Centered Pendant Light
If you’re looking for unique, striking bathroom lighting ideas - this is the sort of pendant you’re looking for. The Coral Trio Off Centred Pendant Light is a lighting fixture that features handblown glass lampshades suspended from a metal rod. A versatile, sculptural design, the pendant is available in a variety of sizes and styles, and is the perfect statement for large, open, modern bathrooms.
The perfect lighting fixture for minimal or mid-century bathroom styling. Terra 00 comes in six different ceramic finishes that are matched with four different timber finishes. Combining two distinct half-domes, this pendant light would feature seamlessly in a corner basin section of a bathroom.
5. Coloured Lights
It’s no secret that bold, colourful bathrooms are in. From deep, moss greens to earthy browns, terracotta, and blues; even if you’re not brave enough to commit to tiling the entire bathroom in one shade, lighting is a great way to embrace colour.
6. Ceiling Lights
Bathroom ceiling lights are designed to do the heavy lifting in the bathroom - they will be responsible for the functional light, and can set the scene. However, ceiling lights don’t have to be boring. If you’re looking for decor or luxury lighting ideas for the bathroom, here’s what we’d choose.
The Terra downlight is a contemporary, handcrafted fixture that is available in slate, olive, clay, or vanilla bean. Drawing the eye but not commanding all attention, the ceiling light features a frosted glass shade that delicately diffuses light. Perfect for bathroom lighting, the Terra 1.5 Downlight holds IP44 lighting.
The Dawn Ceiling Light is the ceiling version of the popular Dawn Pendant Light, designed to sit flush with the ceiling. Ideal for bathrooms with low ceilings or minimal space for a pendant, the Dawn Ceiling Light is made from pure Australian porcelain and can be customised in two tone colour options.
The Zeppo Ceiling Light is a sleek, contemporary ceiling light that would not feel out of place in a modern, white crisp bathroom, or a moody, textured, and masculine bathroom. Suited for the bathroom with IP44 rating, the shade is made from blown opal glass that emits a soft glow.
7. Layered Lighting
Layered lighting is not just a bathroom lighting idea - it’s a design essential. Bathroom lighting needs to serve a purpose beyond aesthetics. A poorly lit bathroom is a decision you’ll regret for years to come. Layered lighting is all about creating layers of light to create a practical, yet comfortable bathroom space.
The three layers you need to be aware of include ambient, task, and accent lighting.
Ambient lighting is the main light source, typically coming from ceiling fixtures. The next is task lighting, which is more specific to the mirror and grooming areas; providing the right lighting for shaving, makeup application, etc (think wall sconces). Accent lighting is all about highlighting the features of the bathroom - whether it be an open, tiled, shower space, a free-standing tub, or a beautiful, natural stone vanity.
8. Glass Lights
With an IP44 rating, this frosted glass pendant is ideal for bathrooms and wet rooms. Sophisticated and timeless, the Orb Pendant Light is right at home in both contemporary and art-deco residential and commercial bathrooms.
The Flo Round Wall Light is a beautiful glass light design that features hand-blown Swedish clear glass, each piece uniquely shaped and available in IP20 and IP55 rated options.
Shop Bathroom Lighting with Nook Collections
At Nook Collections, we believe that the bathroom should be a place of rest, rejuvenation, and peace. And this can only be achieved with good design and emotive interiors. We have carefully curated a collection of lighting designs that go beyond function to evoke emotion, fun, atmosphere, and everyday ritual.
Find your perfect bathroom lighting fixtures online, or book an appointment with Nook Collections at our Sydney lighting showroom to speak to one of our design consultants.
