Good advice for bathroom lighting
- Af Søren Rasmussen
- Last updated 24. April 2024
Optimal bathroom lighting is both functional and atmospheric, but there are also specific regulations it must comply with. Light plays a significant role, as does the choice of bathroom fixtures.
The bathroom is more than just a functional space. It is an important living area that also should be cozy, and stylish. Therefore, it is important to carefully choose the lighting to meet all practical needs while creating a pleasant ambiance. Read on, where we provide helpful advice on what to consider when choosing bathroom lighting.
Need inspiration or advice on lighting elsewhere in your home? Then take a look at the page below. Here we have gathered a lot of blog posts that guide you through lighting in different rooms in your home.
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Søren Rasmussen
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Different types of bathroom
When it comes to bathroom lighting, it’s important to consider that not all bathrooms are the same. To ensure good bathroom lighting, you need to keep in mind that there’s a difference between a small bathroom and a large, spacious bathroom. However, regardless of the size, you should consider three different types of lighting to achieve optimal bathroom illumination. We will delve into this here:
The different types of bathroom lighting
Given the various functions that a bathroom needs to fulfill, relying on a single type of bathroom lamp is often insufficient. The amount of natural daylight in the bathroom is often limited, making the right bathroom lighting important.
By employing three different types of lighting, you can ensure the appropriate illumination that is both inviting and functional. All bathroom lighting is important, and to help you achieve the right lighting, we will guide you below on bathroom lighting, including ceiling lamps, recessed lighting, proper lighting in front of mirrors, and more.
1. The primary lighting
To ensure optimal bathroom lighting, it is necessary to have good ceiling lighting in the form of recessed and surface-mounted spots, which provide the primary light in the room, as well as lighting by the mirror.
The advantage of using recessed spots as the primary lighting is that they do not take up space in the room and offer a stylish look. If you are unable to install recessed spots, a track lighting system like Designline is also an elegant solution that provides good overall lighting.
The ceiling lighting, which serves as the primary light in the bathroom, can benefit from being dimmable, allowing for cozy lighting when creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere for a spa-like experience.
2. Task lighting
Good task lighting is a must-have in the bathroom, and in this regard, a good lamp above the mirror is indispensable. When standing in front of the mirror, the ceiling lighting is often blocked, resulting in shadows on the face. Therefore, it is important to have good lighting for the bathroom mirror, as it is practical and functional for tasks such as shaving and applying makeup.
It provides better “task lighting” when highlighting important details in your daily routine. The lamps by the bathroom mirror should be positioned right up front and there should be a walllamp on each side of the mirror. This ensures functional lighting for applying makeup, shaving, or performing other personal grooming tasks where seeing details is important.
Wall-mounted spotlights are ideal for this purpose. You can also get honeycomb filters for your spots, which help prevent glare.
3. Decorative lighting
In larger bathrooms, there may also be space for ambient lighting in the form of pendant lights, which can also be beautiful and decorative above the bathroom table. Decorative lamps will provide a pleasant and personal touch to the bathroom, contributing to the right atmosphere for the entire space.
Rules for lamps and lighting in the bathroom
Water and electricity are not a good combination, and therefore there are specific rules for bathroom lighting that are important to follow, as it is a wet area.
The bathroom can be divided into four zones, each with different requirements for the level of waterproofing of the lamps. We will explain the four zones here.
Zone 0
The wettest part of the bathroom, near the bathtub and showerhead, where the lamp may come into contact with water. In order for a ceiling light to be installed in this zone, it must have an IP67 rating, which means it is waterproof up to a depth of 1 meter and completely dustproof.
Zone 1
Zone 1 covers the area with a radius of 60 cm from the showerhead, if there are no walls surrounding it, and a ceiling height of up to 225 cm. If there is a wall, it applies to the area within that. In Zone 1, bathroom lamps and IP44-rated spotlights can be used.
Zone 2
This area extends from Zone 1 and reaches 60 cm into the room. In other words, it has a radius of 120 cm from the showerhead and a ceiling height of up to 225 cm. Bathroom lamps in this zone must have a minimum rating of IP24, which means they are splash-proof.
Zone 3
This area covers the remainder of the room, and all types of lamps can be placed here. This includes both ceiling-mounted bathroom lamps and wall lamps.
Frequently Asked Questions about bathroom lighting
When choosing bathroom lighting, it is a good idea to aim for multiple types of lighting that fulfill different functions. Ideally, one should make use of good primary lighting in the form of ceiling lighting, good task lighting by the mirror, and decorative lighting that creates a cozy ambiance.
When choosing bathroom lighting, there are specific rules that apply. Therefore, not all lamps can be placed anywhere in the bathroom. The closer a lamp is to the showerhead and bathtub, the higher the requirement for waterproofing.
The number of lumens required for a bathroom depends on several factors. What may be suitable for one bathroom may be too bright or too dim for another. Therefore, it is a good idea to consult with a lighting expert who can assess the precise number of lumens needed for the space.
When choosing spotlights for your bathroom, it is important to consider the IP rating depending on where the spotlight will be placed. It is also a good idea to look at the lumen and Kelvin rating before selecting spotlights. Since spotlights are often used as the primary bathroom lighting, the Kelvin rating should ideally be between 2700-3000, which is suitable for general room lighting.