Bathroom Night Light

Vanessa Weber Interior Design Expert

Vanessa is a New York-based designer specializing in architectural lighting. Whether you are planning an event, want to illuminate your backyard retreat or simply need advice on what lamp to purchase for your bedroom, Vanessa will be more than happy to share her knowledge and expertise.

Updated 10/04/2021

If you need to hit the bathroom in the middle of the night, the last thing you want to do is turn on that blinding light. But going to the bathroom in the dark has its own list of challenges. How bout a night light instead? Bathroom night lights give the room a soft glow, so you won't hurt your eyes, but can still see the toilet, preventing some nasty possibilities.

Buying Guide

Do motion sensor bathroom night lights work during the day?

Motion sensor bathroom night lights are designed to work between dusk and dawn. For daytime illumination, you need to purchase sensor night lights that allow an adjustment to specify working all day.

Night lights most often use photocells to power the light on and off. Photocells are responsible for detecting natural light and switching light capability on just after the sun sets. When combined with motion detectors, the light does not automatically come on at dusk. Instead, a motion will trigger the light to come on, and it will stay lit, usually between 60-90 seconds.

Motion sensor night lights with adjustable features allow you to set the amount of time they stay on when motion is detected. This can range anywhere from five seconds to ten minutes. You can also adjust the timing to allow the motion sensors to work throughout the day in many models. As a result, lights will come on in your bathroom any time during the day or night, perfect for dimly lit bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements.

Are bathroom night lights safe?

Bathroom night lights are generally safe as long as the manufacturer’s guidelines and instructions are followed. You can also take precautions to ensure a higher level of safety both before installing and during their use.

Review all instructions for use provided by the manufacturer. Follow these instructions carefully and consider any warnings provided. Also, avoid using a bathroom night light that appears damaged even if it’s new.

Place your bathroom night light in a dry location. Most night lights are not designed to be watertight, so they won’t do well in overly damp bathrooms. Always select standard electrical outlets to plug a bathroom night light into.

Check your night lights regularly and look for any burn marks on the plug or socket. Notice if it is overly hot or makes a crackling or buzzing sound. If so, consider replacing it.

How long can a bathroom night light last?

LED bathroom night lights can last for up to 10 years. Conversely, a night light that uses an incandescent bulb won’t perform as well as its LED counterpart.

Needless to say, the price will also determine its durability. Cheaper models have a shorter endurance than upscale night lights, are very hot to the touch, and will need a frequent replacement which will cost you more money over time. To avoid replacing your night light every 3 months, consider investing in a high-quality design that’s safe and efficient.