You've installed a brand new modern bathroom suite, laid down a shiny new floor, tiled your shower and basin areas with funky designs and even added a beautiful chrome towel radiator.

Now you want to show it all off, and a single drab ceiling light just isn't going to cut it.

In the bathroom, you need two types of lighting - task lighting to illuminate areas like the shower and the sink, and mood lighting to create the right atmosphere.

Renowned interior designer George Bond reckons downlights are a good option for the bathroom.

"If you are going to have a strip light in the middle of the ceiling, well then it is going to look awful," he stressed. "You can have the best scheme in the world and it is going to look horrible."

However, by installing six or more downlights, depending on the size of the room, you can create a "wash of light" that will be much more aesthetically pleasing.

Once you've got the main lighting fixtures in place, you can think more about accents.

Try a light above the mirror over your sink to help with tasks like tooth brushing, hair styling and make-up application, or add water resistance spotlights to the inside of your shower area.

If you enjoy a long soak in the tub, lighting a few candles and adding some aromatherapy oils to the water can really help you relax.

But for a quicker and safer option, just fit a dimmer switch and let your cares drift away.

Just make sure you use the right lighting in the right areas. Bathroom lighting is always rated for water resistance, and while some are suitable for use in wet areas like showers, others definitely are not.

It's therefore sensible to do some research and work out which types of lights you need before carrying out your bathroom retrofit.