I don't want to do under-floor heating, but I always did like how fast the built-in red heat lamps warmed you up on a cold day.

What modern options are out there?

In the middle of a cold night, when I take my normal potty break, the soothing warm air is nicer than a glaring heat lamp. I haven't seen one of those in a modern bath since the late 80's.

It's easy to understand why they're still in demand - they provide instant warmth, without blowing air (which in itself can feel chilly when you're still wet). Unlike hot-air blowers, they're silent (some of them, anyway). Plus, they look cool. This probably isn't the place to delve into how great infrared lamps serve as moodsetters whilst showering or bathing when all the other lights are off, but I'll do it anyway....

The two heat lamps with hidden exhaust fans can turn on the fans by themselves briefly to cool themselves down, which helps make them suitable for IC use. The 163 has a small, quiet non-ducted fan that operates with the lights which keeps things cool enough for IC use. I've used these; the blower is quiet and doesn't blow air on the person below, just around the fixture housing to keep it cool.

Of course, there are lots of heat lamp fixtures for use in non-insulated ceilings, with is often all that's needed either because there's another level of the house above the bathroom, or by keeping attic insulation typically 3" away from the fixture.

As I mentioned earlier, the two-bulb 163 can be wired so the two bulbs are switched independently (often with one red heatlamp, one white heatlamp or general-use R40 or PAR38 floodlamp bulb) or together with two infrared bulbs. The versions with the exhaust fans can be wired so the fan operates with the light, separate from the light, or turns off by itself a set time after the lights are turned off.

They are to heat YOU when you stand under them, not the room.

I'm thinking the underfloor heating has better timers - so the bathroom is warm when you wake up, as long as it is morning and not a midnight trip. 2 and 3 are probably best for midnight trips. 2 would gather dust and dog hair in our house (must have an intake?). 3 would be hard to place if the bathroom isn't small, and may just warm the surface of your pajamas on a midnight trip. And somehow, 4 just seems gimmicky - How well can a radiator work with a towel hanging on it? I'm thinking underfloor heating will never need cleaning, no moving parts, and can be left on during cold snaps, but set on the timer for the rest of the winter. But all of this is from reading not experience - what do you guys think?

For ambiance, I would go for sterno gel. They are like candles on steroids, but without sparks, so much safer than burning wood. realflame.com has a bunch.

Check Habitat for Humanity ReStores. Once I saw an old lady donate such fixture you are talking about.

You could just use a standard flood light fixture like in the setup in the image I found on Google Images.

And I think a heat lamp should heat up your floor with enough time.

Should I put a timer switch on the heat lamp? And if so, a new-style electronic one with buttons for different time lengths, or the traditional mechanical timer knob? Many of those are irritatingly loud as they slowly turn towards off. Or I could just put it on a regular light switch.