Choosing The Right Type Of Lighting For Your Bathroom

Choosing The Right Type Of Lighting For Your Bathroom

Wall lights, spotlights, pendants, light-up mirrors, there are so many different options when it comes to bathroom lighting. While this is good news, it can also make things a little tricky when you’re designing your bathroom and deciding which lighting is right for your space. 

In order to choose the perfect lighting for a beautiful bathroom, you need to know what’s available to you. This will ensure you find the ideal lighting elements for both design and functionality. 

So, if you’re designing or refurbishing your bathroom this year, this guide is for you. Below, we’ll take a look at the different bathroom zones, lighting options and how you can use these to create an attractive and ambient bathroom.

Here’s how to choose the right types of bathroom lighting. 

1. Maximise natural light

First and foremost, you need to think about how much natural light you have in your bathroom and maximise this as much as you can. This will help you to determine how many light fittings you need, how bright you want them and whether you’ll want several different light sources around the room. 

There are some simple but effective ways you can do this. For one thing, make sure that you don’t have any furniture or big items blocking the window, such as vanity units or large plants. Secondly, opt for lighter colours on your walls as these will reflect the light and make the whole room feel brighter. 

The final suggestion is to add mirrors as these also reflect the light and can make the room feel instantly bigger and brighter. 

Once you have a better idea of how much natural light you have and if any areas in the room are darker than others, this will help you to choose the right lighting for your bathroom. 

2. Understand the different bathroom zones 

Before you begin choosing your lighting, it’s a good idea to understand the different zones in your bathroom and the regulations on the type of lights that can be used in these zones. 

Each light fixture you choose must have the relevant IP rating for the corresponding zone. 

The IP rating, which stands for Ingress Protection (IP), determines where a light fitting can be put in a particular area. The higher the rating, the more protection is needed against dust and moisture. If you’re unsure about these zones, you can check out a map or ask an expert. 

There are four different zones and these include:

Zone 0 – This is the area inside the bath or shower tray. If you choose to have lights in these spaces they must be low voltage, immersion proof and have a minimum rating of IP67

Zone 1 – This is directly above the bath or shower, specifically to a height of 2.25m from the floor. Any light fittings in this area must have a minimum rating of IP44 to protect it from water spray and moisture 

Zone 2 – This area is anything 0.6m outside the bath’s perimeter up to a height of 2.25m. Light in this area must also have a minimum rating of IP44

The outside zone – Any space that is outside of zones 0, 1 and 2 that will have no contact with water does not require an IP rating

3. Know the different lighting options 

As well as understanding the different zones, it’s also important that you know about the different lighting options available to you. 

There are several popular types of lighting and these include recessed downlights, spotlights and conventional ceiling lights. You might also choose wall sconces, chandeliers and pendant lights. All of these can be ideal for lighting up the room and acting as the main source of lighting. 

But you also need to think about other sources of light and whether you’re going to incorporate these too. This might include vanity lighting around your sink or vanity station, LED or light-up mirrors, task lighting or even ambient lighting in your bath. 

As you can see from this, there are plenty of options available, it’s just about deciding which will look best while making your bathroom a useable and enjoyable space. More on this next. 

4. Think about how you use your bathroom 

Thinking about where you want the lighting in your bathroom and the different roles it will play in functionality is key. This can help you to narrow down which types of lighting are best for your purpose, but also which will suit your design and personal taste.

For example, will you have a station where you get ready for work in the morning or for a night out? If so, you might want extra lighting in these vanity stations such as LED mirrors. 

Alternatively, if your bathroom is purely a space for relaxing and unwinding at the end of the day, you might want lower, more ambient lights to create a warm glow. 

However you will use your bathroom, knowing where in the room your lighting will be most useful and functional can help you to narrow down your choice. 

5. Create an ambience 

Last but not least, you need to think about how you can transform your room into a spa-like experience or create a calming environment when the mood calls for it. This could be done with spotlights on dimmers or warm wall sconces. 

Again, knowing how you want to create this ambience will help you to narrow down your choices and decide which fittings are best for your design and purpose.

Are you ready to choose your lighting? 

Taking these five points into account can help you to choose the right lighting for your bathroom and determine where is best to position each light within the room. You will also be able to determine if you want extra lighting such as vanity stations or if you want extra features to help create an ambience. 

This will also help you to choose the right fixtures, those that complement your colour scheme and larger design. 

Wall lights, spotlights, pendants, light-up mirrors, there are so many different options when it comes to bathroom lighting. While this is good news, it can also make things a little tricky when you’re designing your bathroom and deciding which lighting is right for your space. 

In order to choose the perfect lighting for a beautiful bathroom, you need to know what’s available to you. This will ensure you find the ideal lighting elements for both design and functionality. 

So, if you’re designing or refurbishing your bathroom this year, this guide is for you. Below, we’ll take a look at the different bathroom zones, lighting options and how you can use these to create an attractive and ambient bathroom.

Here’s how to choose the right types of bathroom lighting. 

1. Maximise natural light

First and foremost, you need to think about how much natural light you have in your bathroom and maximise this as much as you can. This will help you to determine how many light fittings you need, how bright you want them and whether you’ll want several different light sources around the room. 

There are some simple but effective ways you can do this. For one thing, make sure that you don’t have any furniture or big items blocking the window, such as vanity units or large plants. Secondly, opt for lighter colours on your walls as these will reflect the light and make the whole room feel brighter. 

The final suggestion is to add mirrors as these also reflect the light and can make the room feel instantly bigger and brighter. 

Once you have a better idea of how much natural light you have and if any areas in the room are darker than others, this will help you to choose the right lighting for your bathroom. 

2. Understand the different bathroom zones 

Before you begin choosing your lighting, it’s a good idea to understand the different zones in your bathroom and the regulations on the type of lights that can be used in these zones. 

Each light fixture you choose must have the relevant IP rating for the corresponding zone. 

The IP rating, which stands for Ingress Protection (IP), determines where a light fitting can be put in a particular area. The higher the rating, the more protection is needed against dust and moisture. If you’re unsure about these zones, you can check out a map or ask an expert. 

There are four different zones and these include:

Zone 0 – This is the area inside the bath or shower tray. If you choose to have lights in these spaces they must be low voltage, immersion proof and have a minimum rating of IP67

Zone 1 – This is directly above the bath or shower, specifically to a height of 2.25m from the floor. Any light fittings in this area must have a minimum rating of IP44 to protect it from water spray and moisture 

Zone 2 – This area is anything 0.6m outside the bath’s perimeter up to a height of 2.25m. Light in this area must also have a minimum rating of IP44

The outside zone – Any space that is outside of zones 0, 1 and 2 that will have no contact with water does not require an IP rating

3. Know the different lighting options 

As well as understanding the different zones, it’s also important that you know about the different lighting options available to you. 

There are several popular types of lighting and these include recessed downlights, spotlights and conventional ceiling lights. You might also choose wall sconces, chandeliers and pendant lights. All of these can be ideal for lighting up the room and acting as the main source of lighting. 

But you also need to think about other sources of light and whether you’re going to incorporate these too. This might include vanity lighting around your sink or vanity station, LED or light-up mirrors, task lighting or even ambient lighting in your bath. 

As you can see from this, there are plenty of options available, it’s just about deciding which will look best while making your bathroom a useable and enjoyable space. More on this next. 

4. Think about how you use your bathroom 

Thinking about where you want the lighting in your bathroom and the different roles it will play in functionality is key. This can help you to narrow down which types of lighting are best for your purpose, but also which will suit your design and personal taste.

For example, will you have a station where you get ready for work in the morning or for a night out? If so, you might want extra lighting in these vanity stations such as LED mirrors. 

Alternatively, if your bathroom is purely a space for relaxing and unwinding at the end of the day, you might want lower, more ambient lights to create a warm glow. 

However you will use your bathroom, knowing where in the room your lighting will be most useful and functional can help you to narrow down your choice. 

5. Create an ambience 

Last but not least, you need to think about how you can transform your room into a spa-like experience or create a calming environment when the mood calls for it. This could be done with spotlights on dimmers or warm wall sconces. 

Again, knowing how you want to create this ambience will help you to narrow down your choices and decide which fittings are best for your design and purpose.

Are you ready to choose your lighting? 

Taking these five points into account can help you to choose the right lighting for your bathroom and determine where is best to position each light within the room. You will also be able to determine if you want extra lighting such as vanity stations or if you want extra features to help create an ambience. 

This will also help you to choose the right fixtures, those that complement your colour scheme and larger design.