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A well-lit bathroom is crucial in terms of safety and visibility. One way to achieve this is through a layered lighting scheme.
Layered bathroom lighting ensures a bathroom that is safe and functional. Let’s have a look at how to light a bathroom with proper layers, as well as some ideas to get you started.
Understanding the Importance of Layered Lighting
One of the best practices for bathroom lighting design is the layered lighting technique. Layered lighting involves having three layers of light in the room: ambient, accent and task lighting.
Ambient Light
Ambient lighting is the overall illumination source in a room. It provides the main light that is supplemented by the other lights you install. Depending on where you place them, ambient lights can directly, or indirectly, light up the entire room.
Ambient lighting for bathrooms typically comes in the form of bathroom ceiling lights. You can install pendant lights, recessed lights or surface mounted lighting depending on your specific tastes.
With just a singular light like this, you run the risk of casting shadows in the bathroom. Shadows in a bathroom pose a risk of danger; since the room is wet, you want to make sure you can see any potential hazards so you don’t trip and fall. This is just one of the reasons layering your lighting is so important.
Task Lighting
Task lighting for bathrooms provides focused and dedicated lighting for completing specific activities. It is a crucial layer to have, since bathrooms are task-intensive spaces. Activities such as shaving, applying makeup, doing skincare routines and other such tasks need good lighting in order to perform them safely.
Task lighting in a bathroom usually comes in the form of vanity lights around the mirror. You’ll also see it as shower and bath lights that shine direct light over the bathing area. Multiple fixtures tend to be used for task lighting in order to ensure the areas are well-lit.
Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is the final layer in a layered lighting scheme. Such a light layer is used to highlight certain elements in the bathroom. This includes alcoves, artwork or anything else you want to draw attention to.
Accent light can also be used as mood lighting. By turning on dimmer accent lights, you can create a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere in your home bathroom. Generally speaking, you want to use these lights sparingly. The goal is to create a beautifying effect that also creates a cosy atmosphere.
Effective Task Lighting for Bathroom Activities
Vanity lighting is perhaps the most common type of task lighting in a bathroom. Installing a light on either side of a mirror, or above it, can create concentrated lighting for your use. Bathroom wall lights are good to use for mirror lighting, whether you want light on either side of the mirror, or on three of the sides.
Besides bathroom mirror lighting, you can incorporate task lighting into your shower area. Having a bright light overhead in the shower and bath area makes it easier and safer to bathe. You can also choose to place strip lights or puck lights inside cabinets or closets for task lighting.
Accent Lighting Ideas to Enhance Your Bathroom’s Style
Decorative bathroom lighting fixtures are a quick and easy way to enhance the appearance of the bathrooms. Alongside decorative lighting, you can also use the lighting itself as decoration. This is called accent lighting.
When it comes to accent lighting tips, one of the most useful is choosing the right colour temperature and lumen count. Bathroom Accent lighting works best when it lights up a feature without overwhelming the existing light in a space. Choose a warm colour temperature with a higher lumen count, especially if you primarily want mood lighting.
If your bathroom has accessories or artwork that you want to show off, accent light is the way to go. Picture lights and other types of bathroom wall sconces can achieve this easily. You can also incorporate LED strip lighting if you want to cast a glow in shelves or alcoves. Accent fixtures make great bathroom lighting for small spaces.
Track lights are another trendy way to add accent and even task lighting. Direct the light to the area you want to highlight or the task area you want to light up with movable track heads.
Lighting Zones: Planning for Wet and Dry Areas
In the bathroom, you run into a unique problem that you don’t have to worry about in other rooms of the house: moisture. Due to the humidity and water splashes that your lights have the potential to come into contact with, durable lights are critical.
In order to ensure your lights are safe for use in a bathroom, check out the IP rating. The IP rating, or Ingress Protection rating, indicates how well a light is protected against both dust and water. The first digit indicates resistance to solids. The second digit refers to the resistance against moisture.
First Digit – Solids
- 0 – Offers no protection against solid materials
- 1 – Offers protection against penetration by solid objects that are 50 millimeters or larger
- 2 – Offers protection against penetration by solid objects that are 12 millimeters or larger
- 3 – Offers protection against penetration by solid objects that are 2.5 millimeters or larger
- 4 – Offers protection against penetration by solid objects that are one millimeter or larger
- 5 – Offers dust protection
- 6 – Completely dust tight
Second Digit – Moisture
- 0 – Offers no protection against moisture
- 1 – Offers protection against vertically falling water drops
- 2 – Offers protection against falling water drops at a maximum angle 15 degrees
- 3 – Offers protection against falling water drops at a maximum angle 60 degrees
- 4 – Offers protection against splashing or projection
- 5 – Offers protection against low pressure jets
- 6 – Offers protection against high pressure jets
- 7 – Offers protection against temporary immersion
- 8 – Offers protection against long periods of immersion
With the IP needs of your light in mind, you can take them into account when considering bathroom lighting zones.
Bathroom Lighting Zones
Below are the places different IP rated bathroom lights can be safely installed:
- Zone 0 – This zone is the area inside the shower or bath. Any lights in this zone need to be rated a minimum of IP67.
- Zone 1 – This area stretches above the shower or bath up to 2.25 meters from the floor. Here, you will need a minimum IP45 rating to safely have lights. It is generally recommended that you have IP65 lighting here just to be safe.
- Zone 2 – This area extends around 0.6 meters outside the bath’s perimeter. Here, it is recommended that you choose IP44 lights or better.
- Other Zones – Anywhere outside of these two main zones don’t require any special IP ratings. That said, in your modern bathroom lighting design, try to include IP20 ratings in this area.
Choosing Energy-Efficient Options for Bathroom Lighting
LED lighting solutions for bathrooms make a great choice for those looking to save on bills. Energy efficient bathroom lights, like LEDs, use 80 percent less energy than traditional bulbs.
Not only does this reduction in energy usage benefit the environment; it also helps lower your energy expenditures. You may notice a lower electricity bill over time from using them.
Beyond that, LED bathroom lighting will also last longer than their traditional counterparts. LEDs outlast tens of thousands of hours as opposed to the 1,000 or so hours of a halogen or incandescent bulb.
Since you won’t have to replace your lights as often, LEDs can often be the best bathroom light fixtures for those on a budget. You’ll save on your electricity bills, as well as the upfront replacement costs.
Furthermore, LED lights are highly versatile. With their varied lumen counts and colour temperatures, you can achieve everything from invigorating bathrooms to relaxing, spa like bathroom lighting.
Conclusion
Layering your lights can ensure a balanced, well-lit bathroom that is safe and functional. In the article above, we’ve explored the benefits of layered lighting, as well as how to incorporate them.
Bathroom Lighting Ideas
Perfect as ambient or task lighting, the Onyx 6 Watt Black Bathroom LED Downlight Fitting is a bright and versatile fixture for any bathroom. This fitting generates 430 lumens of 3000K warm white light that shines at a 38 degree angle. The gimbal can be tilted and twisted to shine the light right where you want it. This IP65 rated light measures 100 millimeters in diameter and is finished in anodized black.
Enhance your bathroom aesthetic with the LWA431 6 Watt Round IP65 Bathroom Wall Light. This fixture features an LED bulb that generates 600 lumens of 3000K warm white light. The light shines back onto the wall, creating a beautiful halo glow effect. This durable aluminium fixture is rated IP65 for waterproof protection. It comes in your choice of either black or white matte finishes and measures 180 millimeters in diameter.
Ensure a well lit Bathroomn vanity area with the LWA193 6 Watt Black LED Mirror Light. This light is positioned above the mirror and has a head on either side, providing even lighting throughout. It generates a combined total of 140 lumens of warm white light, making it an ideal task light. By twisting and tilting the heads, you can angle the light right where you want the beam to shine. This surface mounted light measures 350 millimeters in width and is rated IP20 for basic protection.
