How to light a bathroom? Read our guide and feel like you're in a spa

How to light a bathroom? We suggest!

If one were to consider how much time is spent designing lighting in each room of the house, the bathroom would probably be at the infamous end of the list (well, unless you have a pantry, laundry room or boiler room). It would not be an exaggeration to say that there are more debates about how to properly hang toilet paper than about how to properly light a bathroom mirror. And after all, the bathroom is the room where (right after the bedroom) you start and end each day, which is why it's so important to think carefully about how to light it in a way that will energize you in the morning and calm you at the end of the day.

Below you will find advice on what kind of lighting for the bathroom choose so that it is not only practical, but also friendly to its user at any time of day or night, how to illuminate the mirror and how to achieve a home spa effect.

What types of light you need in your bathroom?

Headlight in the bathroom

¶withe main light in the bathroom serves as a substitute for natural light and its primary task is to illuminate the space. When choosing a setting, you can bet on the traditional plafond, but if you're looking for something more interesting, consider also pendant lamp or giraffendol (especially if you are decorating your bathroom in the style of modern classic, New York glamour or elegant French chic).

If you do not have windows in your bathroom, it is worth choosing open shades or those made of transparent glass, but if you want a pleasant, diffused and soft light, choose lamps with shades in white or with a frosted finish.

Work/task light in your bathroom

This is the kind of light you need to shave, paint, comb or wash. The best way to illuminate the area around the washbasin is to place two light sources following obu sides of the mirror so that the face is evenly lit. The most common choice in this case is of course wall lamps for the bathroom or directional headlights, however, small pendant lamps are also increasingly used to give the bathroom a refined touch. However, this solution will work best if you have a relatively spacious bath room. You can also choose a mirror with backlighting or an elongated wall lamp to hang over the mirror. In this case, however, pay attention to whether the light coming from above will not create unfavorable shadows that will interfere with your daily bathing routine. For more on how to light a bathroom mirror, see below.

The second area where you might need a working light is the shower. If you're planning a clear glass shower enclosure you probably don't need an additional light source in the shower. However, if a wall separates the rest of the bathroom from the shower, consider installing a small lamp, and given the humidity that prevails in this part of the bathroom, be sure to check its IP rating - we write more about it below.

Spa magic and LEDs in your bathroom

The atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility, so characteristic of any spa, you can easily recreate in your own bathroom, too, if only you think about it in advance and plan the installation properly. Remember that the magic of such a space is hidden in the soft, dim light, so consider installing soft LEDs, illuminating tiles, recesses, bathtub or ceiling. When designing mood lighting, think of it in terms of night lighting, and when you turn off the main lighting after a long day, turn on mood music and light scented candles, you will thank yourself for the project!

Additional lighting accents in the bathroom

If your bathroom is relatively large, it's also a good idea to think about additional light points around towel racks, toilet, bathtub, shower or bathroom cabinets and shelves. LED lighting strips will work very well here, which will add depth and character to the space.

Night lighting

Let's be honest. When, in the middle of the night, sleepy, we are forced to enter the bathroom, having to turn on the overhead light is a real nightmare. That's why it's a good idea to think about this in advance and design the installation so that you only have the option of including additional light accents or specially designed night light - for example, in the form of gentle illumination along the floor strips. This is especially important if the bathroom is connected to the bedroom, when, for example, you don't want to wake your partner when you get home at night, or if you get up at the crack of dawn in the middle of winter and don't need a strong task light.

Dimmers are always a good idea

A very good idea that will not only allow us to easily adjust the light intensity to the time of day and our needs, but also to save electricity, are dimmers. The wide availability of models will allow you to match the design of the switch to the arrangement of the bathroom, so that after a while you can enjoy an intimate light at any time of day or night.

How to illuminate the mirror in the bathroom?

The topic that, in addition to the choice of ceiling lamp, most often spends sleep in the minds of those decorating the bath space is the issue of lighting the bathroom mirror. If you live in a house and illuminate the first floor bathroom, where you do not bathe or paint on a daily basis, you can go wild with the design, as you do not need the mirror lighting to also act as a task light. You can treat the light fixtures in this case as purely decorative.

However, if you are talking about a mirror at which you will do your makeup, shave, etc. you need to approach the choice of lamps much more practically. First of all, choose such lamps and shades, so that you can direct the light beam in the desired direction. Interior designers also advise that in the case of a bathroom decorated in dark colors, it is better to opt for lamps that shine downward, while in a bright bathroom, wall sconces and pendant lamps that direct light upward will also work well.

While wall sconces hung on either side of the mirror are the best option, we do not always have the option of this type of lighting. In the case of a very large mirror, for example, we must opt for a light fixture suspended above the sheet of glass. Such a lamp should hang at a height of approx. 190 - 205 cm and be at least 60 cm long to ensure even illumination of hair and face. As a rule, wall lamps placed over the sink should be at least the length of ¾ of the length of the mirror, but never exceed it.

To avoid unfavorable shadows under the eyes, chin and cheeks, symmetrically suspended on both sides of the mirrorra bathroom wall lamps, should be divided by a distance between 90 and 100 cm. As for the color of the shade, on the other hand, most users choose frosted or milky shades for the work light, which give a soft light and are not glaring to the eyes. Of course, transparent glass is beautiful and can be paired with a decorative, stylized light bulb, so if you don't mind a lot of light, have a small bathroom without a window, and aren't afraid to clean the clear shades of the ubiquitous fingerprints, you can confidently choose this type of fixture.

Bathroom wall lamps from Kaspa

Among the bathroom sconces most often chosen by Kaspa customers with the bathroom in mind are:

- longis wall lamps, which, thanks to their transparent shades, give a lot of light and perfectly fit into industrial, soft loft and Scandinavian style bathrooms (in black version)

- wall lamps Astra, occurring both in a small version in the form of a spherical lampshade mounted so that it looks on the wall like a point of light, and in the form of a spherical wall lamp on a vertical cylindrical frame resembling a torch. Available in a variety of colors, they will work well in bathrooms of any style.

- nautilius wall lamps, kt which, thanks to their movable shades, will work perfectly as sources of task light, helping in cosmetic procedures

What light bulbs and lamps for the bathroom will be the best?

The choice of light bulbs and lamps for the bathroom depends on both practical and visual considerations. As for the type of light sources available on the market, when choosing bathroom lighting, avoid electro-saving fluorescent lamps, which take a long time to heat up (which is quite impractical in the bathroom), plus they can emit mercury compounds that are dangerous to health when they come into contact with moisture. The best way to illuminate the bathroom is with warm-color LEDs, but we must also keep in mind that some, the most humid zones and places in the bathroom, may require both special bulbs (adapted to the changing humidity) and special fixtures.

For this reason, another aspect you should also pay attention to when choosing a lamp for the bathroom is the IP rating - from International Protection Rating, a two-digit symbol in which the first digit indicates the degree of protection of the luminaire against solid objects: dust, dust and body parts, and the second digit indicates the degree of protection of the luminaire against the ingress of water. While for lamps in the living room, kitchen and bedroom IP20 is sufficient, for lamps mounted in the bathroom or outdoors, an increased IP rating is often required - the higher its value, the better the product's resistance to moisture and water. We are talking, of course, about lamps mounted in the shower, very close to a water source, or in rooms with high humidity, where higher IP classes are recommended:

• IP21: resistant to water drops falling vertically (from condensation)
• IP23: resistant to falling water jets
• IP44: splash-proof (suitable for showers or baths)IP54: resistant to drops falling at any angle from all sides (rain) and dustproof
• IP65: resistant to water spray from any direction
• IP67: dustproof and resistant to immersion under water for 30 minutes (suitable for bathroom or shower)
• IP68: Dustproof and resistant to continuous submersion under water

In other cases, if your bathroom is higher than 2.3 m and if there is no risk of splashing water on the light fixture, you do not need, as a rule, lamps with a higher IP rating and can stay with the standard ones with IP20.

Light sources in the bathroom, and light temperature

According to one of the basic principles of lighting, the color of the light and its temperature should also be selected according to the activities we do in the room. The cold color of light promotes concentration and work, while the warm color calms and helps you relax.

However, the light for applying makeup should be as close to daylight as possible, it should be neutral. The color temperature of daylight is 4000-5500K, so when choosing light bulbs for your daily makeup sources, choose those with a color of 5500K. This way you will be sure that the colors of your makeup will look the same in your bathroom as on the street and perfectly adapt to the light conditions of the interiors.

However, when it comes to mood light sources, this is where warm-colored bulbs, i.e. those with a value of 2700 - 3000K, will work best. They will bring a pleasant, warm atmosphere to the interior and will certainly help you calm down during your evening bath.

Which bathroom lamps are most popular at KASPA?

We hope that you already know how to oilluminate your bathroom, what kind of lamps you need and how to plan the installation so that you will enjoy using this space both in the morning and in the evening after a tiring, eventful day.