Proper lighting in the bathroom: design techniques + safety standards

The average bathroom lacks natural light.Why not provide it with high-quality artificial light in this case? Moreover, modern lighting devices delight customers with their diversity.

In this article we will figure out how to properly organize lighting, what you should pay attention to first, and what popular techniques designers use when planning lighting in bathrooms. After all, in order to properly organize lighting in the bathroom, it is necessary to take into account not only high humidity, but also the functional orientation of this room.

The influence of lighting on the functionality of the bathroom

Tiny combined bathrooms are gradually becoming history, as is a single light bulb screwed above the door or in the central part of the ceiling. To carefully consider what your bathroom lighting will be like, you just need to remember how much time we spend here and what we do.

As soon as we wake up, we rush to the bathroom. If you are the happy owner of a separate bathroom, then this room will still be among the first ones that we need to visit in the morning.After all, we are used to washing and brushing our teeth here.

Even if there is natural light in the bathroom, additional lighting fixtures should be present here in such quantities that the room is pleasant and convenient to use even in the dark

In addition, here we are:

• We take a hygienic shower. This mandatory and pleasant morning procedure can be postponed until the evening - it’s not that important.
• We bathe our children. Often such an event is accompanied by abundant foaming and swimming of favorite toys.
• Shaving - this activity requires high-quality light and is relevant for representatives of both sexes.
• We pamper ourselves with SPA treatments. In particular, we take a bath with salt, plant extract, foam and other relaxing or inspiring additions.
• We wash it. Yes, the washing machine is most often located here. Besides, sometimes you just need to quickly wash something or rinse it – it’s a matter of minutes.
• We take care of our skin and apply makeup. That is, all creams and cosmetics, as a rule, are located on the shelves of furniture that can be placed in this room.
• We treat our nails, wash our hands after visiting the toilet, returning home from the street or just because.

In general, if it is pleasant to be in a room and it pleases us with its appearance, then there will definitely be something we would like to do here.

In addition to the light that will penetrate the room from sources hidden behind the frosted glass of the wall, its space will be illuminated by a warm glow from the fireplace and candles

As you can see, the list of functions that we ourselves have assigned to this room is quite impressive.Sometimes we need a bright, directional stream of light that leaves no shadows on our image in the mirror. Another situation is associated with pleasant twilight. And for the third you will need scented candles.

Therefore, the only dim lampshade is definitely not relevant. Required choose suitable lamps, focusing on the location area and the purpose of its installation.

Levels of placement of lighting devices

Proper organization of light in the bathroom should meet the different needs of users. The basic principle that should be followed when placing lamps is this: the light should be bright enough, but not blinding or intrusive. Modern designers suggest paying attention to combined lighting.

The bathroom ceiling lighting is pleasantly complemented by lamps located in the work area around the mirror, on the walls and behind the window imitation

To implement such an idea, devices need to be placed at different levels.

Depending on the level, lighting can be:

• Top (ceiling). The lamps are fixed to the ceiling itself or directly below it. If the bathroom does not please the owner with its size, then perhaps it makes sense to limit it to one lampshade, which is traditionally mounted either in the center of the ceiling or directly above the doorway. A spacious room is decorated with a whole constellation of spotlights or even a chandelier. More information about bathroom ceiling lights contained here.
• Workers. A soft and diffused flow of light can be provided by an LED strip under the washbasin and around the mirror. Shelves with cosmetics and detergents, washbasin, etc. can be illuminated from below and with other types of lamps.Light sources on flexible brackets, placed on both sides of the mirror, allow you to change the degree of illumination and eliminate unnecessary shadows.
• Nizhny. This type of lighting is rarely functional. It is usually purely decorative and is widely used as interior decoration and aids in relaxation. In this case, light sources are located under individual elements of the interior, for example, under the sides of a bathtub, at floor level or a decimeter from its surface.

Simultaneous or sequential switching on of lighting fixtures mounted at different levels allows you to create an atmosphere in the room that optimally matches the user’s mood and the tasks that he has to solve.

An active lower level of lighting, built into the bathroom flooring, creates a special romantic mood and colors the room with mother-of-pearl.

Design techniques in organizing lighting

Human imagination knows no boundaries, so the ideas produced by the minds of professional designers are diverse, enchanting and non-standard.

Our task is to choose your option from all the variety offered. The one that will best suit both our premises and our own needs.

It is not at all necessary for the bathroom to shine with sterile whiteness: the only important thing is that all the objects placed in this space harmoniously complement each other

We will proceed from the fact that a room of any size can be transformed if you are guided not only by a sense of beauty, but also by common sense.A harmonious combination of lamps of different types, located at different lighting levels, should provide this intimate corner of your apartment with its special appeal.

Technique #1 - proper organization of ceiling light

Any bathroom should have overhead light. The most daring design solutions still involve the use of lamps, if not on the ceiling itself, then at a level of 180 cm from the floor and above.

The composition “starry sky” receives increased attention from buyers. But magnificent crystal chandeliers also have their fans.

It is interesting that a massive chandelier made of colored crystal does not look like an alien body at all in this Provence style interior

Spotlights win their fans with their variety of designs, reliability and, of course, efficiency. They are easy to use; you just need to think carefully about their placement scheme in advance. You can place them around the perimeter, concentrate them in the central part or above functional areas (bathtub, washbasin, mirror, etc.). It is important not to leave shaded areas in the room.

You can achieve uniform distribution of light even in a very spacious room if you use a large number of low-power sources of modest size.

Often, to implement such tasks, halogen lamps of built-in or open type are used. Built-in structures will look great if they are built into suspended ceiling.

The combination of direct and reflected light creates a fabulous picture that you want to admire while lying in a cozy bath filled with warm water

When the ceiling in your bathroom is high enough, it makes sense to use not only direct, but also reflected light.To do this, for example, at a short distance from the ceiling, you can install an aluminum suspension with point devices that provide direct beams directed downwards. The reflected ones will be emitted by sources mounted on the opposite side of the suspension.

Busbar and string conductive systems can help organize unusual lighting for a room designed in a futuristic style. They are perfect for a room with a low ceiling. It is to it or to the top of the walls that such unique light “beads” are attached.

Technique #2 - emphasis on the main element of the interior

Since the main elements of most bathrooms are the sanitary ware of the same name, it should not be deprived of light accents.

The idea of ​​installing a bathing bowl on a pedestal is not new: it has long found its fans. In a spacious room, this design not only looks attractive, but also allows you to decorate the pedestal itself with individual decorative elements and, of course, backlit around the entire perimeter. Candles mounted on a pedestal in one place or around the font will also find their use here.

The sides of the pedestal can serve as a source of lighting and a stand for candles, towels, pumice, cream, scrub and aromatic oils

The bowl itself can be illuminated with an elegant ceiling chandelier or even a simple lampshade if the bathing area is separated from the main space of the room by a curtain.

Bright lighting allows you to use all the functionality of the bathtub, and its LED lighting will create the illusion of flowing water or a container floating above the floor surface.

This self-illuminated bowl captivates with its inner glow, but can also be brightly illuminated with the help of a chandelier made in the form of air bubbles

An autonomous lighting can be hidden in the tank itself, allowing the recipient of water procedures to feel ascended to heaven or immersed in the depths of the ocean.

This option is ideal for those who are not used to saving money and do not want to burden themselves with thoughts about how to install additional lighting.

Probably, even colored streams of water would not look as impressive as this light pouring from a shower head, captured in a monochrome photograph

Interesting ideas can be realized even if the traditional font gives way to a modern shower. The illumination of the shower head looks especially impressive when the light source is mounted directly into it. The stream of water may take on an unusual color.

Technique #3 - successful lighting of the mirror area

Regardless of the size of the room, there must be a mirror in it - the basis of the working area. It is usually located above the washbasin and next to the shelves for cosmetics and personal hygiene products. Designers offer different ways to highlight and decorate this corner of the room.

When choosing the appropriate lighting option for the mirror area, rely on three basic rules:

• the light should not blind the eyes and be reflected in the mirror in the form of glare;
• No shadows should fall on your face;
• The color scheme of lighting should match the natural one as much as possible.

The last two requirements help to correctly apply both daytime and evening makeup, accurately select the color scheme and not overdo it with the saturation of tones.

It is best to illuminate the mirror surface from at least three sides: on top for shaving and on the sides for applying makeup. For this purpose, sconces on flexible brackets that can be deployed in a way that is convenient for the user are well suited.

A properly organized and successfully illuminated mirror area is both beautiful and functional, which is what you should strive for

The most common recommendation from designers for arranging this part of the work area is to use built-in mirror lighting. Yes, it's an expensive pleasure. You can reduce the cost of the result by using fluorescent lamps located vertically or along the perimeter of the object. Framing with LED strips or halogen bulbs.

Technique #4 - highlighting pieces of furniture

It is impossible to polish sanitary ware and washbasins to a shine or to polish metal interior elements without the use of modern detergents. And all these household chemicals should be kept at hand - in the bathroom.

Here, without being conspicuous to strangers, cosmetics and personal hygiene items find their place. It turns out that there should be some kind of furniture in this room.

The lighting of the shelves allows you to easily see everything that is placed on them in order to select the item you need at the moment.

We don’t have to highlight it with light, but if in the morning rush we have to quickly find some item, then a small lamp above the desired shelf will come in handy. By spending money on functional lighting, we will save not only our time, but also our nerves.

Technique #5 - lower-level decorative effects

We said above that the lighting of the lower level is, as a rule, decorative in nature. But you shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that it can also be used as an emergency device.

If you organize it directly in the floor covering, then the best solution would be to use sealed low-power lamps, which are used to mark garden paths in suburban areas. Their power does not exceed 5 W, and their diameter is 5 cm.

The use of moisture-resistant LED strip will provide a special decorative effect. If you fix it around the perimeter of the bathtub in its lower part, then even a massive bowl will seem to soar above the floor.

Even a combined bathroom of a very modest size can be completely transformed by the efforts of the designer, who successfully combined the lighting of all three levels at once.

It should be remembered that proper lighting in the bathroom can only be achieved when it is combined with the style in which the room itself is designed.

Technique #6—showing individuality in lighting

Each person has his own idea of ​​coziness and comfort. For some, it’s easier to blend in with the crowd and feel like a raindrop in a general downpour. This is how he feels like a part of society, and ensures that his own position is covered by public opinion: everything is like people’s.

Another is closer to a spectacular rainbow. He is not used to obeying stereotypes and following the canons of fashion, no matter how attractive it may be.

Perhaps such a design may seem too bold to some, but its author certainly cannot be denied the expression of individuality, and that’s great.

Refusal from impersonal models can also be practiced when choosing lamps for your bathroom.It is so tempting to choose compositions, layouts and intensity of light fluxes at your own discretion, guided by common sense, a sense of proportion and your own perception of beauty.

By the way, candles were and, I want to believe that there will be, an excellent embodiment of beauty in our imagination. They are the ones who can create an unforgettable romantic atmosphere. Their flickering light, combined with our favorite aromas, immerses us in blissful peace and distracts us from everyday hustle and bustle and problems. We rest and recharge with new energy for the next day.

Safety Recommendations

Standards that we should not abandon even for the sake of expressing our own individuality are electrical safety standards for rooms with high levels of humidity.

They also extend to bathrooms. After all, water is used here regularly: in the bathtub, in the shower, when doing laundry or during the washing process. In the form of condensation, it can settle on all objects located nearby.

Protective index of a lighting product

All lighting products sold in our country are marked with indexes IP (Ingress Protection - degree of protection against penetration), containing a three-digit digital code. In order to competently approach the choice of appliances for the bathroom, you need to understand what is hidden under these numbers.

The decoding of the second digit of the IP code presented in this table will help us find out exactly what we should expect from the lighting devices we like, and what we should not count on

The code contains numbers, an increase in the value of which means an increase in the level of security:

• First. Displays the level of protection of the product against dust and dirt. Has a value ranging from 0 to 6.
• Second. Moisture resistance on a scale from 0 to 8. When marked with the number 8, the product can remain under water for a long time without losing its functions, without posing a danger to humans.
• Third. Impact resistance on a scale from 0 to 10. The maximum index of 10 indicates that the product can withstand mechanical impact of up to 20 J and, despite the damage received, remain in working condition and be electrically safe.

We talked in more detail about the meaning of the degree of protection In this article. The ability to navigate well in the labeling of lighting fixtures gives the consumer a guarantee that he will buy exactly the product he needs.

Location of humidity zones

The rules for the placement of electrical appliances are enshrined in the domestic GOST and a number of international acts.

When designing the location of lamps and sockets for connecting various electrical appliances, it is important to consider safety standards, relevant for rooms with high humidity levels.

Dividing a room with high humidity into zones is very logical: the further the surface is located from the source of moisture, the safer it is

According to current regulations, the premises are conventionally divided into four zones:

• First zone of highest humidity level. Water can flow here, steam and condensation can form. It is located above and below the bathtub bowl, as well as inside the shower stall. For this space, luminaires with a protection index of IP 674 and a power of 12 W are designed, which remain safe even if they are immersed in water.
• Second zone of high humidity. Water may reach the surface of this area in the form of droplets or steam.This includes the space above and below the washbasin, as well as the surfaces adjacent to the font on the sides. The protection index of models in this zone must be at least IP 452, and their power must be up to 24 W. They are impenetrable to water jets of different directions.
• The third zone of moderate humidity. The third zone begins just 50 cm from the washbasin and bathtub. An electrical appliance marked IP 242, which does not react to splashes falling on its surface, can be considered sufficiently protected.
• Fourth - remaining space. The rest of the room can be safely classified as the relatively safe fourth zone. Moisture can penetrate here too, but only in the form of condensation or steam. A lamp with an index of IP 011 can be used here without restrictions. It is sufficiently protected from drops falling on it vertically.

Now that we know which lamps can be used in a particular area, we can easily make the final choice of light sources for the bathroom and draw up a diagram of their placement.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The video that we bring to your attention will help you see with your own eyes how effective lighting a mirror area from three sides is.

At the same time, you will learn how to make sure that the reflective surface is not fogged by settled condensation.

As we have already said, the imagination of professional designers knows no bounds. So that you can choose the appropriate option or, based on the material you see, develop your own version of lighting, watch this video.

It is unlikely that a modern person can enjoy a bathroom illuminated according to all the rules of design art, if all this splendor sparks and shocks. A reliable but poor option with a single light bulb under a newspaper lampshade will also not gain many fans.

But the golden combination of beauty and safety is what you should strive for.

Do you have interesting ideas for creating the most efficient and stylish lighting in your bathroom? Or do you want to share a photo of your bathroom, which harmoniously combines several lighting techniques used by designers? Leave your recommendations, add unique photos in the comments section - your ideas will become an inspiration for many home craftsmen with the soul of a designer.