Whether showering, brushing our teeth or applying makeup before a night out, the bathroom is one of the most used rooms in the house for all member of the family.

Which means that when it comes to lighting this interior we really can't afford to cut corners, since practicality and functionality should always be paramount.

Therefore, if your bathroom is looking a little dim or if you find yourself blinded by garishly bright light, it might be time to take steps to upgrade your lighting in this room.

Although the best lighting scheme for your bathroom will depend on the size and shape of your interior, in general you can't really go wrong with installing ceiling lights fitted to a dimmer.

This will mean that you can instantly change your lighting from relaxing and soothing for when you're having a soak in the tub to bright and clear for when you're putting on your makeup or attending to the kids' cuts and scrapes.

Another key idea when upgrading your bathroom illumination is to install feature lighting, such as around the mirror, behind the basin taps or above the shower, as this can help create an ambient tone in the bathroom.

Bath Empire offers a range of LED mirrors, that not only look great in the bathroom but will help save you money though energy efficiency.

Nigel Berman, founder and managing director of Nigel's Eco Store, points out that LED lighting is a great alternative to more traditional bulbs

"LED bulbs last for around 25,000 hours - over 20 years," he says. "They use around 80 per cent less energy than conventional incandescent bulbs, and around 30 per cent less energy than CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) energy saving bulbs. They also do not contain any mercury, which makes them safer to dispose of and recycle."

Therefore, when upgrading your bathroom lighting this summer, be sure to consider LED lighting especially with regard to your mirrors - both the environment and your bank balance will thank you for it.