Featured in Livingetc: Clever light wells for brighter bathrooms
Artificial light wells can help bathrooms feel brighter, calmer and more connected to natural light, especially when windows or views are limited. Zane Carter Architects has been featured in Livingetc in an article exploring this approach.
Bathrooms are often among the most enclosed spaces in a home. This is especially true in compact urban layouts, where direct daylight may be limited.
As a result, a considered lighting strategy can make a significant difference. It improves visibility, but it also changes the overall feeling of the space.
In the featured project, lead architect Sam Alawie explains how natural and artificial light work together. A skylight brings daylight into the room. Then, integrated LEDs provide warmth and consistency when natural light changes throughout the day.
You can read the full Livingetc article here: These Clever ‘Light Wells’ Are the Trick to Make Your Bathroom Feel Bright and Filled With Natural Light.
An artificial light well is a lighting detail that creates the impression of daylight entering from above or behind a surface. It may sit within a ceiling, wall, recess or architectural void.
Rather than relying only on downlights, this approach uses concealed LED lighting to create a soft, diffused glow. Therefore, the bathroom can feel brighter, softer and more open.
In some spaces, artificial light wells can mimic the feeling of a skylight or sun tunnel. However, the effect comes from carefully placed artificial lighting rather than direct natural light.
Good bathroom lighting needs to do more than illuminate a mirror. It should support the rituals of the room, from morning routines to quiet evening moments.
Layered lighting helps achieve this. Natural light, concealed LEDs, wall lighting and task lighting each serve a different purpose.
When these layers work together, the bathroom can feel balanced rather than clinical. For compact bathrooms, this is especially important.
A well-placed light source can draw the eye upward, soften shadows and create the sense of a more generous volume.
In our work, lighting forms part of the architecture rather than an afterthought. The strongest outcomes often combine natural daylight with discreet artificial lighting that supports the space at different times of day.
In the Livingetc feature, Sam explains that the bathroom uses both a skylight and integrated LEDs. The skylight brings in natural daylight. Meanwhile, the LEDs take over as the light drops.
This balance allows the bathroom to feel bright and open during the day. Then, in the evening, the space can feel warmer and more intimate.
Artificial light wells can be especially useful in compact bathrooms, ensuites and internal rooms. These spaces often need more than a simple ceiling light.
For example, a concealed LED detail can wash light across a ceiling or wall. This can make the room feel taller, wider or more connected to the rest of the home.
In addition, diffused light can reduce harsh shadows. This helps the bathroom feel calmer and more refined.
The goal is not to make artificial light look decorative for its own sake. Instead, the lighting should support the architecture and improve how the room feels every day.
Light wells are a useful reminder that small architectural gestures can have a significant impact. In a bathroom, the right lighting detail can create depth, calm and a stronger sense of openness.
For us, the value of this approach is not only visual. It is about designing spaces that feel better to use, even when the site, layout or room size presents constraints.
You can explore more of our interior design work or view our broader residential architecture portfolio.
