Best light bulbs for bathroom without windows

It’s not uncommon to have a windowless bathroom in many different sizes and styles of homes. Sometimes these bathrooms are used for guests, are only half bathrooms, or the layout of the house was built with the bathroom in the interior. A windowless bathroom doesn’t have to be dreary with only dim light. We will tell you how to light your windowless bathroom for function and style. Brighten things up, it can really make a difference!

Ambient & Task Lighting

If you bring in ambient light and task lighting into a bathroom with no windows you create a bright, functional space. Start with overhead lighting that’s bright and projects throughout the room. Add focused lighting directly over the vanity or mirror to make bathroom tasks like washing your face, applying make-up or shaving a breeze.

Light Bulbs

Knowing the lighting options you have will help you choose the best bulbs for the right location. Making a good decision is more than just choosing a high watt bulb. Light quality is based on a few factors so take a look at different options that are available.

For bathrooms there are two main types of bulbs available – you do not want to use a compact fluorescent light (CFL) in this space. You can use halogen incandescent or light emitting diodes (LEDs.) Many pros use LEDs for windowless bathrooms. Incandescent bulbs will work fine, but LEDs are much more energy efficient, lasting 25 percent longer than incandescent bulbs.

The measurement for bulb brightness is lumens. For a windowless bathroom, the ideal total lighting is 2,000 lumens at a minimum. Most household bulbs emit about 800 lumens, or the equivalent to a traditional 60 watt incandescent bulbs. A light fixture that is centered overhead and takes two or three bulbs will get you the lighting you need and makeup for not having natural light.

Color Options

Best light bulbs for bathroom without windows

You also want to consider the color of the light you want to shine. Color temperature is measured in Kelvins. It rates the color or tone of light. All you need to know is lower color temperatures are warm tones – yellow to soft white – and higher temperatures indicate cool, bright light with blue undertones. Consider something in the 3000K to 4000K for general lighting in a windowless bathroom.

Also, the color rendering index (CRI) tells you how an object’s color appears under the bulb’s light when compared to how it appears in natural lighting. A higher value indicates a more true representation of color, like incandescent bulbs. For bathroom lighting look for a CRI of 90 or higher. This will work well for task lighting that provides light over the bathroom mirror. Try LED for optimal lighting for makeup application.

Light Fixtures

Many different types of light fixtures work well in bathrooms. If it’s a small space you may want to avoid low-hanging lights. Choose clear or white shades so the light shines through. Moisture accumulation is common in bathrooms, so recessed lighting may not be the best choice. It can allow moisture to escape into spaces above the ceiling.

If you are lighting a vanity sconces on each side of the mirror will minimize shadows from overhead lights and add an elegant touch. For a more contemporary look check out Hollywood style kits where globe sets or rope lights are placed all around the mirror.

Dimmer Switch

There may also be times you want to relax in lower light at the end of the day. Installing a dimmer switch to control the brightness for overhead lighting will allow you to adjust lighting. You can get a dimmer switch for all types of bulbs. Always check the dimmer’s label for information about what light bulb it’s compatible with.

If you need the assistance of a licensed electrician, call Central Carolina Air Conditioning, Plumbing, & Electrical at 800.461.3010.

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If you have a windowless bathroom, you really need good lighting. That’s why we provided a list of the best lighting for bathroom with no windows.

Best light bulbs for bathroom without windows
Most small bathrooms are windowless and rely only on how to strategize great lighting to make the most of available space

When you select the best lighting for windowless bathroom, you need to make sure that it complements the space of your bathroom. In order to choose thebest lighting for bathroom with no windows, you need to first understand exactly what you’re looking for. And that is exactly where our little buying guide comes into place.

It’ll have a guide to help you choose the best lighting for a small bathroom with no windows and give you some choices.

Quick Buying Guide For The Best Lighting For Bathroom With No Windows

The importance of a buying guide is to make sure that you can make a completely informed decision for the best light bulbs for bathroom with no windows. This buying guide will help you first determine what you must look for in these kinds of lights. That way, you will know what features to look out for when deciding which product suits your needs the most.

Here they are:

Size

The first thing to take into consideration is the size of the light. This is pretty important because it determines the coverage. If you have a small bathroom, you don’t really need such a big light.

For standard-sized bathrooms, we recommend that you get a 24-inch light. This can give you enough coverage for full lighting.

Lumen Count

When selecting any kind of light, you need to consider the lumen count. This is very important because it will determine the power of the light. Obviously, the higher the lumen count, the stronger the light it will emit.

A good standard that you can look at is at least 1500 lumens. If you can find something that’s even higher, then you can go for it. Maybe something like 1600 lumens will be a good bet.

Lifespan

Lifespan is very important because you wouldn’t want a light that burns out easily. You want it to last many years before it even shows signs of wearing. If you can find a light that has a lifespan of at least 30,000 hours, then that’s good enough. But if you can somehow strive for 50,000 hours, that’s even better.

Lighting Style

There are many different lighting styles available. First, there are sleek and simple lighting styles that most bathroom lights have. Aside from that, there are also light styles that have different designs. There are also ones with full lighting. It is really up to you which one you want to choose.

Color Temperature

Last on the list is the color temperature. You can decide whether you want something with a cold temperature or a warm temperature. This ultimately depends on what your preferences are. In our opinion, the best color temperature for bathroom lighting is probably around 3000K which is warm white. But if you want something that’s close to a vanity light, you can try for around 6000K. This lighting temperature is especially appealing to women who need this kind of light to see all parts of their faces.

1. Mirrea Modern LED Vanity Light

Best light bulbs for bathroom without windows
Mirrea Modern LED Vanity Light.
Via: Amazon.com

See price on Amazon

When it comes to power, we’d definitely say this product is the key. It has a lumen count of 1680 lumens which is higher than most of the lights that we’ve researched before making this list. It is also compatible with most dimmer switches and has a size of 24 inches. Finally, it has a frosted acrylic cover making it glare-proof.

Pros

  • 1680 lumens of power
  • Compatible with a lot of dimmers that can be found in the market
  • A 24-inch size which is up to standard to most light sizes
  • Does not glare or dazzle because of its frosted acrylic cover
  • Durable chromed stainless steel body able to withstand impact

Cons

  • Has the tendency to flicker a lot

2. JINZO LED Bathroom Vanity Light

Best light bulbs for bathroom without windows
JINZO LED Bathroom Vanity Light.
Via: Amazon.com

See price on Amazon

The reason why this Jinzo LED bathroom Vanity Light is so popular is simply because of its design. It has a very modern and contemporary design with 6 brick-like textures for glass. If you install it in your bathroom, it will give your bathroom a really nice and luxurious look.

Aside from that, it also has a long lifespan of more than 50,000 hours making it one of the most durable you can find.

Pros

  • Beautiful and modern design
  • Has a warm white color temperature of 3000k
  • A lifespan of 50,000 hours
  • Has a wattage of 21w and a lumen count of 1500 lumens
  • Made with a very thick solid aluminum body for durability

Cons

  • Rather hard to install

3. TRLIFE Adjustable LED Bathroom Light

Best light bulbs for bathroom without windows
TRLIFE Adjustable LED Bathroom Light.
Via: Amazon.com

See price on Amazon

This is probably the best vanity light that you can find. A lot of women love this light for their bathrooms because it gives them enough brightness to show every corner of their faces. To be a little bit more specific, this bathroom light has a color temperature of 6000K which is a really cool white color.

So, if you happen to be looking for a really good vanity light, then this is the one that you should consider.

Pros

  • Has a stainless steel body with frosted acrylic
  • 6000K cool white light for vanity purposes
  • Extendable dual arms that reach 9.6 inches
  • Very easy to install
  • Has a 180-degree rotation feature

Cons

  • Has a low power rating

Conclusion

If you happen to be looking for the best lighting for bathroom with no windows, then you don’t need to look any further. You already have three of the best choices ready for you. What’s all that’s left to do?

Well, the only thing you need to do is choose which one out of the three choices we’ve listed down is the best.

That’s pretty much why we added the buying guide in the first place. This will help you narrow down your choices from 3 to just 1.

So, don’t worry about not knowing how to pick the best bathroom light. Everything is all provided for you.

Now, choose away and make your purchase!

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How do you light a bathroom with no window?

Mirrors are the ideal choice for bathrooms without windows. They reflect your artificial light, which mimics the effect of a natural light source. They're also ideal for smaller spaces, as they can also create the illusion of a more spacious room.

What lights to use in bathroom with no windows?

Most experts suggest using LEDs for windowless bathrooms. Although incandescent bulbs will work fine, LEDs are significantly more energy efficient and last over 25 percent longer than incandescent bulbs.

How many lumens do I need in a bathroom with no windows?

The measurement for bulb brightness is lumens. For a windowless bathroom, the ideal total lighting is 2,000 lumens at a minimum. Most household bulbs emit about 800 lumens, or the equivalent to a traditional 60 watt incandescent bulbs.

Is warm white or cool white better for bathrooms?

Bathroom lighting experts often recommend sticking to the warm white light, as shown in the color/temperature breakdown below. (Hint: Try warm white 2700-3000 kelvins (K) for the most flattering bathroom lighting).