For as long as I can remember, the bathroom has been a place of calm. A sanctuary for relaxing in a steaming hot shower after a long day at work, or for washing up before a romantic date. However, the bathroom has become a lot more than just a place for cleaning up at home.
It’s become a place where we can relax in comfort, and relieve ourselves if we’ve had a particularly big meal. Because of this, the bathroom has become a place where we want to feel safe, secure, and comfortable. And, for some, the only way they can achieve this is by lighting their bathroom red.
Did you know that there is a reason why bathrooms have red lights? It is because red is a soothing color, and it is supposed to help you relax and unwind in a romantic way.
As the sun goes down and the lights go on, you notice that the room looks much different than it did that morning.
What a difference the lighting makes, and yet, most of us don’t realize that the lighting in our bathrooms is so important. In fact, some people overlook it entirely.
Let’s dive into reasons to keep your bathroom red lit.
Reasons why bathrooms have red lights
1. For energy saving
The bathroom is one of the most underrated places to find energy savings.
After all, every time you turn on a light, you’re adding to your energy bill.
Bathroom red lights are an easy way to make your home greener, by reducing your electric consumption.
Red lights are less energy-intensive on the eyes than white ones, which means that you will be able to see better in the dark and won’t have to leave the light on for as long.
Red light has a longer wavelength than yellow light, and therefore, is made up of less energy photons and a smaller frequency too.
In fact, switching to red LED light is estimated to reduce electric consumption by up to 80%.
It’s a simple change, but one that can add up to big savings.
2. For aesthetic reasons
For those unfamiliar with the idea of bathroom red lights, think of them as a special kind of light that you can install in your bathroom to make it seem smaller.
As a result, these red lights are also used in bathrooms to make them feel more intimate and romantic, since red is also the color associated with romance and passion.
In fact, the bathroom red light trend is popular enough that it has even spawned a whole new kind of bathroom fixture: the bathroom red light bar.
3. For relaxation
The thing about a red light is that it isn’t as harsh as a normal light.
Red is a warm and inviting color, so it is the perfect color to use in your bathroom to create a more relaxing atmosphere.
Have you ever been in a bathroom that had a red light and then felt more relaxed than you did before?
That’s because red light has been proven to increase blood flow to the brain.
This can make you feel more calm and relaxed.
4. For heating purposes
Our bathrooms, particularly in the winter, can be cold, especially when you’re in the shower or on the toilet.
This is because energy is lost through the “bathroom window” – the open window people forget to close when they’re done with their shower.
There are a lot of ways to solve this problem, but one of the easiest and most efficient is using a red light bulb in your bathroom.
Red light bulbs, unlike traditional white light bulbs, don’t create a lot of heat, so your bathroom won’t get too hot.
But because they do produce some heat, it’ll be enough to keep the bathroom warm.
5. For romantic reasons
As homeowners, we spend a lot of our time in the bathroom.
Whether you’re getting ready for work, getting ready for a date, or getting ready to go out to a party, you spend a lot of time in there.
While it’s a great place to relax and unwind, we all know that it’s also a great place for things to escalate.
If you’re on the hunt for a fun way to spice things up, consider installing a red light in your bathroom.
With a red light in your bathroom, you can be sure that you and your partner will be able to relax in a romantic setting.
Disadvantages of using red light color in the bathroom
The bathroom is one of the most common places to find red lighting in the home, and it’s not just because of the red color’s association with romance.
Red light has the lowest wavelength of any visible color, and as a result, it is able to penetrate deeper into the skin than other colors.
Low-energy red bulbs are therefore used in tanning beds and sunbeds to speed up the tanning process.
However, red light also has a tendency to make the skin look dry, no matter how it is used.
Unless you like your bathroom to look like a bar, it’s best to avoid red lighting altogether.
A red light color is the least suitable choice for a bathroom because it is very aggressive and can make some of the bathroom tiles look muddy, dirty or dull.
Common bathroom lighting mistakes
One of the most common elements in bathrooms is lighting, yet it’s the easiest element to overlook or ignore.
But lighting is essential to any successful bathroom remodel since it can impact both the aesthetic and the functionality of the room.
A home buyer will look at the bathroom and instantly make a decision about whether or not it’s welcoming.
When it comes to bathroom lighting, it’s not enough to simply have a light switch.
It’s also important to think about the light’s appearance, brightness, and fixture placement to ensure that the lighting is presentable and functional.
Here are a few of the most common bathroom lighting mistakes to avoid
- light too close to the bathtub
- light too close to the mirror
- too much light in a bathroom
- too many lights in bathroom
Other bathroom light color options
Choosing a color for the lights over your bathtub or shower may not be as important as choosing the right home insurance, but it’s something that every homeowner should consider before making a purchase.
A lot of people have the problem of bathroom lighting.
The traditional incandescent light bulb is not very bright.
It produces a small amount of light, which is useful for a bedroom at night, but not for a bathroom.
The solution to this problem is to change the light bulb in your bathroom.
But how do you choose the best light color for your bathroom?
How to choose a bathroom light color
Something that is often overlooked when planning and designing a bathroom is lighting.
The right bathroom lighting fixtures should be able to effectively provide ample illumination for all your needs without becoming too distracting.
Furthermore, bathroom lighting fixtures also need to be able to carry out secondary functions such as adding ambience to the room through the color of the lighting they produce or even warming up your skin tone and even helping you relax.
When you’re choosing a light color for your bathroom, it can help to keep the following questions in mind so you can create a soothing and relaxing retreat.
First, you’ll want to consider the amount of natural light your bathroom gets.
If it’s dark, you may want to use light colors such as yellows and blues.
Light colors also work well in rooms that have windows and natural light.
If your bathroom is small or gets little natural light, you may want to stick with darker colors.
If your bathroom gets a lot of sunlight, you may want to choose a color that’s similar to the color of your bathroom walls.
This will make your bathroom seem larger and brighter.
Types of bathroom lights color
Bathroom lighting comes in many shapes, sizes and light colors.
The choice you make sometimes depends on whether your bathroom is small or large, and the paint color or design of your bathroom.
Bathroom lighting can also be task lighting, which means it is used for reading or applying make-up, or mood lighting, which is used to create a relaxing, romantic atmosphere.
1. Blue
The blue lights found in most bathrooms are usually labeled as cold lights, and are meant to imitate the color temperature of daylight (aka blue light).
The idea is that by making your bathroom look more like the outdoors, you’ll feel more comfortable undressing, taking a shower, and using the bathroom.
2. Yellow
Why are bathrooms lit with that warm, yellowish light?
There is one predominant theory: it’s to help the room’s occupants see the grime and dirt that tends to accumulate in many bathrooms.
After all, if you can’t see it, you probably won’t clean it.
Light colors can also make a room appear larger, and brightening the space can make people feel more comfortable.
3. Green
There is a simple reason why bathrooms are commonly lit green: many people believe that the color green promotes relaxation.
In fact, some studies have shown that this is true, and the color is known to reduce anxiety and improve mood.
What’s more, green is sometimes described as a “neutral” color—it doesn’t provoke any strong emotions, and thus makes it easier for people to relax and focus on their tasks.
