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Guide for choosing bathroom lighting | Bathroom lighting ideas

CHOOSE BATHROOM LIGHTING

Bathrooms need to be well-lit so that they feel bright and welcoming and you can see what you’re doing if you’re shaving or applying makeup. However, bathroom lights also need to cope with the amount of moisture generated, particularly if you have a shower in the room, so make sure you choose suitable fixtures.

 

DECIDE ON A STYLE OF LIGHTING

Most bathrooms are fairly compact so you may be limited in your choice of lighting. In this room, your primary focus should be on getting the ambient and task lighting right.

CHOOSE BATHROOM LIGHTING

 

AMBIENT

Your overhead lighting should account for the ambient lighting within the room, and it needs to be bright enough for you to see what you’re doing, morning and night. Consider wall lights or candles if you want to lay back and relax in the bathtub.

 

TASK

Task lighting in a bathroom can include strong overhead downlights installed in the ceiling. Ideally, you should place one task light above the sink, another above the bathtub, and a third above the shower. Also, place a bright light above the mirror over your sink.

 

CHOOSE YOUR LIGHT FIXTURES

There’s nothing worse than a poorly lit bathroom—it makes the room feel cold, unwelcoming, and smaller than it really is.  So, ensure you get a good combination of lighting types within the room, space and budget permitting.

 

CEILING LIGHTS

CHOOSE BATHROOM LIGHTING


CEILING LIGHT

 

 

A central ceiling light provided it is used in combination with other types of lighting, will provide good levels of ambient lighting in a bathroom. For safety reasons, the light itself must be enclosed or flush. A prominent fixture is not the best choice if your bathroom has a low ceiling.

 

SPOTLIGHTS

Spotlights are good for providing both task and accent lighting in a bathroom; their adjustable heads mean you can direct the light exactly where you need it. Choose from individual heads, bars or plates with two to four heads that can be adjusted independently of each other.

 

RECESSED DOWNLIGHTS

Recessed downlights offer high levels of practical lighting in a bathroom, and their unobtrusive design makes them perfect for a small or low-ceilinged bathroom. If you are using these lights over a shower or bathtub, you will need to purchase sealed downlights.

 

RECESSED UPLIGHTS

Highlight your bathroom walls using recessed floor up-lighters. Install them near to the wall around the edges of the room to create subtle shafts of light that will illuminate your chosen wallcovering. A dimmer switch will also allow you to vary the height the light travels and create different moods in the room.

 

WALL-MOUNTED LIGHTS

CHOOSE BATHROOM LIGHTING


WALL SCONCES

 

 

Used in addition to a central ceiling light or downlights, wall sconces can provide a soft atmospheric light and also add interest to your room’s decorating scheme. Install them in alcoves, on each side of a mirror, or even above a bathtub.

 

OVER MIRROR LIGHT

These lights provide bright task lighting. The design is often long and slim with an electrical receptacle in one end. They typically work independently from another lighting in the bathroom. Some bathroom mirrors have lighting built into them that works in the same way.

 

SAFETY OPTIONS

When it comes to bathroom lighting, it’s safety first. You need to make sure that your light fixtures are appropriate, safe to use, and correctly positioned. Electrical equipment used in bathrooms must be protected against the inevitable condensation, humidity, and sprays of water that come with the territory.

While it is always best to have a certified electrician do the electrical installation, it is still important to understand some of the safety options available for lighting fixtures used in bathrooms.

SAFETY OPTIONS FOR BATHROOM


 

 

1. A good rule of thumb to use when selecting lighting for wet areas such as the bathroom is to check the UL (Underwriter’s  Laboratory) listing. The UL establishes testing criteria for lighting fixtures and rates fixtures based on how well-suited they are for areas where there is a risk they will be exposed to moisture. Ratings are: Wet, Damp, and Dry.

2. Wet-rated fixtures should be used in locations with the risk of contact with direct flowing water or moisture, for instance, near showers and bathtubs.

3. Damp-rated fixtures are suitable for areas where there is a risk of exposure to condensation. This can include downlights, surface-mounted ceiling lights, and wall sconces that will be positioned near steamy showers, bathtubs, or saunas.

4. Dry-rated fixtures should only be used in areas where there will be a low chance of exposure to moisture vapour. An example of such an area would be a large, well-ventilated bathroom.

5. In addition to the UL rating, other considerations may apply when you are deciding where to locate electrical items in the bathroom.

6. If you are including a steam shower or sauna in your renovated bathroom you should be aware that special “vapour-proof” fixtures are available. The fixtures are sealed with gaskets to prevent steam from migrating into the ceiling and causing damage.

 

 

 

 

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