LED bathroom lighting tips

• Posted on 31 March 2023
• By INTOLED
• 0

An important part of any bathroom is the right lighting. Your new bathroom may be all about the latest design trends, but without the right lighting, all that beauty will be overshadowed. Literally. Getting the lighting right in a bathroom can be tricky though. This is because the bathroom has a dual nature. On the one hand, it is where we go every morning and evening for our regular rituals: brushing our teeth, washing our face, shaving, etc. But the bathroom is also a place of relaxation. A nice bath or an extra-long shower on Saturday morning.

What should you pay attention to when buying bathroom lighting?

You need different lighting for different tasks. You've come to the right place for bathroom lighting and tips. In this blog we give you some practical tips for choosing the right bathroom lighting. For every purpose in the bathroom you use different lighting. You can also find out about waterproofing and what IP rating you need for each zone in your bathroom. Read along on this page.

What IP value in bathroom?

This is an important question when it comes to bathroom lighting. Gijs explains all about the value of IP in the bathroom in the video below. Would you rather read? That's also possible, read on below the video for a textual version of the video.

In the bathroom you have to deal with a certain amount of moisture. For your safety and to ensure that your lighting does not break down, it is wise to take this into account. A spotlight or luminaire has an IP rating. This is a measure of how resistant an electrical device is to moisture and dust. The higher the number, the better the resistance.

The IP rating uses two different numbers. One number tells you something about the protection of the lamp against dust. Dust can get into the lamp and cause it to break. The other number tells you how well the luminaire is protected against water.

The degree of protection against dust is indicated by a number from zero to six. A lamp with a number of 0 is not protected against dust. On the other hand, a lamp with a number of 6 is completely dustproof.

The degree of protection against water is indicated by a number from zero to eight. If the number is 0, the lamp is not protected against water or moist. At the highest number, eight, the lamp is completely waterproof and can even be used under water. In this case, you can place the lamp in a pond or swimming pool. Waterproof lights for bathroom you can use for example in the floor of the shower.

So which bathroom IP rating is right for your bathroom lighting? Is IP44 suitable for bathroom? We can divide a bathroom into different zones. Each zone requires a different IP rating.

• Zone 0 - Minimum IP rating: IP67
• Zone 1 - Minimum IP rating: IP44; IP65 recommended
• Zone 2 - Minimum IP rating: IP44
• Zone 3 - Anything outside these three zones is formally referred to as zone 3. There is no specific IP bathroom rating However, we recommend that you always use at least an IP44 luminaire in the bathroom. This will give you suitable spotlights and better protection against water vapour and moist for your bathroom ceiling light, for example.

A few examples:

• For a bathroom ceiling light, it is best to choose IP44
• For a bathroom wall lamp, choose IP44
• For walk-in shower lighting, choose IP44 or IP65
• For a bathroom pendant luminaire, IP44 is a good choice

If you want to know more about IP ratings, click here to read our blog on IP ratings.

With different types of lighting, it is good to think about the type of lighting you want. Do you want a bathroom light with a socket or a bathroom light with a switch? A light with a socket plugs straight into the wall, while a light with a switch requires some wiring. Both are good choices and perfectly doable for anyone, as long as you follow the right steps. We have lots of different videos to show you how to connect lights safely and easily.

Basic bathroom lighting

First, we look at what is known as general or basic lighting. The English term for this type of bathroom lighting is ambient lighting. This is your bathroom lighting with a switch. Often people choose a couple of recessed spotlights or a bathroom ceiling light. The important thing about bathroom lighting with a switch is that there are no dark spots and that most of the bathroom is lit. You also want to make sure that you are not looking directly into the light from the ceiling light bathroom when you are, for example, in the bath. You can avoid this by considering the position of the light, but you can also install a dimmer in the bathroom. All our bathroom recessed spotlight kits come with a dimmer. So you can dim the light in the bathroom when you take a bath.

Task lighting

Task lighting, as the name suggests, is designed to illuminate a specific task. Think of your kitchen worktop. In the bathroom, you need task lighting over the sink. Whether you are applying your make-up in the mirror in the morning or shaving every morning, good lighting is essential. Choose at least 2 recessed luminaires or, for example, a bathroom wall lamp. It is important that the lighting is symmetrical so that it is even. When shaving, you want to be able to see both sides of your face clearly. Bathroom wall lighting is also a good choice here.

The best mood lighting for the bathroom

As mentioned earlier, we spend more and more time in the bathroom. A modern bathroom is almost becoming a small wellness center. Part of this is, of course, good mood lighting, also known as accent lighting. It is important that the light level is lower than your general lighting. Above the bath, a recessed spot is often chosen for the front and back of the bath. Above the shower, a recessed luminaire is often used. This may be slightly brighter than the lighting above the bath. Bathroom wall lighting is a flexible option.

We hope this blog has given you some inspiration and tips for bathroom lighting. Of course, you may still want to learn more about bathroom lighting and get some tips. No problem. Our LED specialists are here to help and can be contacted during the day using the details at the bottom of the website.