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Much like the illumination in any other room in the house, lighting is an important element in your bathroom. Getting bathroom lighting right is crucial if you want a well-lit and functioning space. Below, from bathroom spotlights to wall sconce placement, we will take a look at some of the common mistakes people make when installing bathroom light fittings.
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Ignoring IP Ratings
IP ratings are a way for you to understand how durable your modern bathroom lighting is. Even if you are searching for bathroom lighting on a budget, you cannot cut costs on waterproof bathroom lighting.
IP ratings, or Ingress Protection ratings, are an indicator of the resistance of a light to moisture and dust entry. The first digit indicates the light’s protection against dust, while the second digit refers to the fixture’s resistance to moisture damage.
First Digit – Solids
0Â – Â No Protection against solids
1Â – Â Protection from solid objects greater in size than 50 millimeters
2Â –Â Protection from solid objects greater in size than 12 millimeters
3Â –Â Protection from solid objects greater in size than 2.5 millimeters
4Â –Â Protection from solid objects greater in size than 1 millimeters
5Â –Â Dust Protected
6Â – Â Dust Tight
Second Digit – Moisture
0Â – Â No Protection
1Â – Â Protected from water drops that fall vertically
2Â –Â Protected from water drops that fall at a maximum angle of 15 degrees
3Â –Â Protected from water drops at a maximum angle of 60 degrees
4Â – Â Protected from projection and splashing water
5Â –Â Protected from jets of low pressure water
6Â –Â Protected from jets of high pressure water
7Â –Â Protected from brief immersion
8Â – Â Protected from extended periods of immersion
Having proper IP ratings is important in bathrooms since the environment is so wet and humid. In bathrooms, this tends to be IP65 or higher.
That said, the IP ratings you will need for LED shower light fixtures and bathroom wall lights will differ. This is due to the different zones in a bathroom requiring different ratings. The zones are:
ZONE 0 – This zone is inside of the shower or bath itself. It should be rated IP67 to make it immersion proof.
ZONE 1 – This area covers the space above the shower or bath. A shower light will be installed in this zone, for example. A minimum rating of IP45 is needed here.
ZONE 2 – This area is around the bath’s perimeter. Here, you will require a minimum rating of IP44.
ZONE 3 – Zone 3 falls anywhere outside of the other zones. Bathroom sconces and bathroom vanity lights tend to be in this zone. There is no specific rating for this area, though it is recommended you choose a light with a minimum rating of IP20.
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Hanging Lights Too Low
Bathroom ceiling lights such as pendant lights and chandeliers look good in the space, but how you hang them is important. If you hang the light too low, you could end up hitting your head when getting out of the shower. The same goes for pendant lights near the vanity area.
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Not Having the Right Colour Temperatures
Colour temperatures are a way to tell the light’s warm or cool tones. They exist on a spectrum between 1,000 and 10,000 degrees Kelvin. At the upper end, there are the cooler tones, while the lower end hosts the warmer ones. Each colour temperature has its own place in various locations.
When it comes to bathroom lighting, it is better to choose a light that is still on the warmer side while being bright enough to see. Bathroom light fixtures should have a colour temperature anywhere between 3,000k and 4,500k for best results.
Some people prefer the lights to be warmer to create a more relaxing atmosphere, but this can make it difficult to see in the morning. You can get dimmer switches to change the brightness of the lighting during different times of the day instead.
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Improper Shower Light Placement
It is important that you don’t install shower spotlights that are too bright directly over the showerhead. Otherwise, it can cause a blinding glare when you look up.
Instead of installing bathroom ceiling spotlights in the shower, some people choose to place wall lights along the shower wall in the proximity of the shower to provide indirect lighting instead in order to avoid this. Be sure to select shower lights that are rated for wet locations.
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Using the Wrong Bulb Type
Over the years, favour has shifted toward LED bulbs over incandescent bulbs. Not only does this make for energy efficient bathroom lighting, but it also gives you greater control over the colour temperature and brightness of the light.
LED bulbs are better for the environment and outlast traditional bulbs often by 20x, making them well worth it. These bulbs can save you money both on your energy bill and on upfront costs of having to replace them.
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Unflattering Vanity Lights
Bathroom lighting placement is important for all fixtures, but especially near the vanity area. You want to avoid shadows on your face when looking in the mirror for grooming purposes. Poor lighting can also be simply unflattering.
In order to avoid this, do not install lights above the vanity mirror. Instead, opt for bathroom LED spotlights or wall sconces on either side of the mirror. This will provide more balanced, even lighting.
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Not Layering Lighting
Bathroom task lighting, bathroom ambient lighting and bathroom accent lighting are all a part of a layered lighting scheme. It is important to have all three in your bathroom connected to different switches, so you can use as few or as many as you want at a time.
- Ambient lighting is the main illumination, oftentimes installed overhead. This can be in the form of bathroom recessed spotlights, surface mounted spotlights, pendant lights or chandeliers.
- Task lighting is the illumination used for performing tasks such as grooming and showering. These come into play in the bath and shower area, as well as the vanity area.
- Accent lighting helps you highlight various areas in the bathroom that you want to draw attention to. It can also be used to create atmospheric lighting, which typically comes in the form of wall sconces.
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Outdated Fixtures
Wall sconces, pendant lights and spotlights for bathroom areas should all be fixtures that fit in with the vibe of your bathroom. If you install old fixtures into a contemporary space, it can clash.
Pay attention to the style and aesthetic of your bathroom as a whole and choose lights that complement it. Black bathroom light fixtures, such as black bathroom spotlights, tend to fit into bathrooms of all styles and can be a good place to start.
With these common mistakes in mind, you can begin designing a bathroom with excellent lighting that you’ll love to spend time in.
Bathroom Lighting IdeasÂ
With the LDC469 3 Watt Mini Recessed LED Bathroom Downlight, you can modernize your bathroom in an instant. The bathroom light recesses into the ceiling anywhere in the bathroom. It boasts a subtle black or grey finish that works well with any bathroom aesthetic. The light outputs 120 lumens of 3000k warm white light that shines at a 30-degree beam angle. The product measures 50 millimeters in diameter.
Add stylish ambient light to your bathroom with the Onyx 9 Watt Black Bathroom LED Downlight Fitting. This circular recessed light measures 120 millimeters in diameter and makes a subtle statement. It has a gimbal head that you can tilt to shine the 38-degree beam angle anywhere you choose. This durable light is fashioned out of high quality aluminium and is IP65 rated for bathroom use. It outputs 800 lumens of 3000k warm white light.
Dress up your bathroom and bring in plenty of atmospheric light with the LWA431 6 Watt Round IP65 Bathroom Wall Light. The wall sconces features a smooth, round shape that comes available in either black or white to suit the style of your bathroom. It shines a halo of 600 lumens of 3000k warm white light behind it on the wall. The light shines through the acrylic diffuser, which further softens it. The fixture is manufactured out of durable aluminium and rated IP65.
Add ample light around the vanity area with the LWA337 6 Watt LED Stainless Steel Bathroom Wall Light. This light features two globe-shaped bulbs attached to a stainless steel oblong light bar. It outputs a total of 480 lumens of 3000k warm white light and has an IP44 rating, making it ideal for vanity areas. The bulbs are further impactful in the bathroom due to the mirror finish of the fixture itself.
Bring stylish modern flair into your bathroom with the LBL298 10 Watt Round Bathroom Ceiling Light. This round ceiling light features a bulb behind an acrylic diffuser housed inside of a transparent window, giving it visual interest. It shines a total of 1000 lumens of 3000k warm white light and is IP65 rated, making it great for use as ambient ceiling lighting. It is fabricated out of high quality aluminium and comes in your choice of either a black or white finish.
Update the look of your bathroom when you install the LBL292 10 Watt Square Bathroom Ceiling Light. This ceiling light has a unique square shape, including the acrylic diffuser through which the light shines. It outputs 1000 lumens of 3000k warm white light, so it’s a great ambient light source. It measures 128 millimeters by 128 millimeters and comes in your choice of either a black or white finish. This light is durably designed out of aluminium and protected by an IP65 rating.