Bathroom Lighting Design Tips

Name: NBS Modern Furniture
Price range: $$

Bathroom lighting seems like an insignificant trifle: why spend a lot of time hanging several lamps on a patch of 5×7 square feet bathroom? At least, to see in the bathroom mirror the real oneself, and not a rumpled thing in the light of a lonely dim light bulb. Proper lighting helps to cheer up in the morning and relax in the evening, comb your hair successfully, choose the right shade of lipstick, and visually adjust the shape and size of the bathroom.
Before planning the layout and colors of the lamps, you need to evaluate the initial data:
• The area and configuration of the bathroom
• The height of the ceilings
• The presence of natural light sources
• The color of bathroom furniture
Also, the arrangement of the appliances is influenced by how the plumbing and furniture are arranged.

Happy owners of large bathrooms have enough room to apply their designer skills: in a spacious room, you can use both small and large enough devices without fear that they will look bulky. In addition, in an area where water from a bath or shower stall does not get into, it will be possible to place even an option with a low degree of moisture protection, for example, a chandelier.

Chandelier in the bathroom

Small bathroom owners often make the same mistake by installing only one light source. Formally, its power is enough for a small room, and nothing is spent on installation. But the quality of lighting and the room’s appearance suffer: unnecessary shadows and unlit corners appear, the space seems to shrink. To prevent a small bathroom from becoming scary or even claustrophobic, you need to act exactly the opposite: a few small ceiling or wall devices will make the room brighter and visually expand the space.

The ceiling height also determines the shape and size of the luminaries: bulky products and long hanging devices will be more appropriate in tall rooms. Otherwise, they will further emphasize the imperfections of the room.

Bathroom zoning

The bathroom needs to be divided into zones, equipped with appropriate lighting. And it would be nice to provide the ability to control groups of luminaires separately. Then you can change the lighting depending on your mood and needs: bright for a refreshing morning shower, muted and relaxing for an evening bubble bath. For the same purposes, you can install a dimmer and adjust the brightness of the light with it. First of all, general lighting is organized in the bathroom. Ceiling lamps provide the overhead light, usually recessed or overhead.

LED bathroom mirror

The area where the sink is located is additionally highlighted. Here it is better to use paired devices located on the sides of the mirror. It is perfectly acceptable to place the backlight around the perimeter of the reflective surface. It is essential to find lamps with a high color rendering to avoid unpleasant issues like the wrong color of the concealer.

If the room has an L-shaped or other complex shape, it has niches and nooks formed by plumbing boxes, cabinets, and other interior elements, and it makes sense to plan separate lighting in these parts.

The room part dedicated directly to water procedures also needs different lighting, primarily if the shower or bath is behind a partition. Functional lighting can be supplemented with soft lighting or decorative lights. To create a pleasant atmosphere, devices with a warm white or colored glow are suitable.

When choosing lamps for the bathing area, do not forget about safety and prefer models with a high degree of IP protection.

Bathroom Lighting Safety

It doesn’t matter what kind of bathroom fixtures you plan to install in the bathroom – surface-mounted, pendant, or recessed – the first thing you should pay attention to is the degree of protection against dust and moisture. Devices with IP65 and higher are installed in the “wettest” area. Such products are completely dust proof, and the ingress of water jets on them does not affect their performance. Devices with IP44 may be placed at a distance of about 20 inches from sinks, showers, and bathtubs. For luminaires installed in the remaining areas, the IP24 degree of protection is sufficient.

In a small bathroom, the division into zones is too arbitrary. It is better not to take risks and choose models with high protection for all areas.

For improved safety in damp rooms, it is recommended to use low-voltage lighting fixtures. Such devices are designed for a supply voltage of 12 – 24 volts, which means that the risk of severe electrical injury is minimal.

Bathroom lighting spotlights

Even the most beautiful wall-powered lamps are best left on a store shelf or reserved for other rooms. Moreover, the use of extension cords and tees and open wiring is not allowed.