When renovating a bathroom keep in mind the proper use of lighting to avoid shadow traps. One type of lighting many people use is recessed lighting fixtures; however, these are one of the biggest culprits for shadow traps
A Shadow Trap is when you look into your mirror and you cannot see yourself very well because of improper lighting fixtures or their placement. This is caused because some lighting fixtures do not direct the light in the proper direction, thus causing shadowing.
Here are a few things to consider:
1. You can still use recessed floodlights in your bathroom, but you will still need to use some other type of lighting over your vanity.
2. Use a soft focus or diffused light fixture.
3. For the best lighting when standing in front of a mirror, the ideal location for lights is on either side of the mirror. This is not always able to be done, so mounting a diffused light fixture over the mirror will counteract the shadowing effect of the floodlights.
4. If you only have room to install recessed lighting make sure they are ceiling mounted diffused fixtures that are either flush, semi-flush, or cove.
5. If you are going to use recessed lighting, the best way to make it work for you is to install them as close to the mirror as possible, preferably above the sink.