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Bathroom lighting is an important element of the bathroom, but one that is often treated as an afterthought. Well-placed bathroom lights can transform the atmosphere of the bathroom and make it a relaxing, soothing place to be. Here, we’ll take a look at the significance of bathroom mood lighting, as well as some bathroom mood lighting ideas.
What is Mood Lighting And Why is it Important in The Bathroom?
Mood lighting is an effect that is most commonly achieved through accent lighting. It is one of the three main layers of light that every room needs, which include ambient, task and accent lights.
Mood lighting can set a tone in a room, one that is often tranquil yet dramatic. This is generally done through warm, dim lights that are indirectly placed.
In a bathroom, mood lights can make the room feel more like a relaxing spa. When you want to soak in the bath after a long day or unwind with a hot shower, dimmable bathroom lighting and other moody elements are the way to go.
Mood lighting can enhance the bathroom in several ways, including:
- Creating a nice atmosphere
- Making the bathroom relaxing
- Boosting existing task lighting
- Showing off unique features in the bathroom
Why is it Important to Select The Correct LED Colour Temperature For Bathroom Lighting?
LED bathroom lighting comes with the benefit of having a versatile spectrum of colour temperatures to choose from. This allows you to customise the feel of the bathroom to your liking.
What is LED Colour Temperature?
Colour temperature is a measure of how cool or warm a light is. The temperatures exist on a spectrum that is measured in units Kelvin. At the high end of the spectrum, you’ll find cool temperatures. At the lower end resides the warm colours.
What is The Best LED Colour Temperature For Mood Lighting in a Bathroom?
Different LED colours have their place in certain locations. In domestic settings, warm lights are generally preferred. This is true also when it comes to bathroom mood lighting.
A good colour temperature for bathroom lighting would fall within the range of 3000k and 3300k. This light colour range is easy on the eyes, but it still boasts the brightness you need when completing tasks such as skincare and other grooming practices.
What is Layered Lighting And How do You Create a Balanced Effect For Mood Lighting in The Bathroom?
As mentioned, layered lighting is a combination of three elements: ambient, task and accent lighting. Ambient lighting is the general light that provides the main light source in a room. This is usually accomplished through overhead lights.
Bathroom task lighting is lighting that focuses on one specific area, such as in the case of mirror lighting or vanity lighting. Accent lighting highlights different features of the room and is also primarily responsible for creating mood lighting.
How To Layer Lighting in the Bathroom
When it comes to ambient lighting, you’ll want to use bathroom ceiling lights. These could be anything from small chandeliers to pendant lights to recessed spotlights. Installing bathroom ceiling mood lighting is also possible by adding cove lighting or lighting in other recessed areas.
Task lighting for the bathroom primarily comes in the form of vanity lights. This will provide focused illumination on the sink and mirror areas. Most commonly, this is done with bathroom wall lights mounted on either side of the mirror. A shower mood light can also provide ample task lighting when showering.
With accent lighting, you’ll focus on the visual elements in the room and draw the eye to them. This could include unique architectural features, artwork or unique accessories. You can achieve this with bathroom light fixtures on walls, underneath built-in shelves, behind mirrors or through plinth lights.
What Types of Lighting Styles Can You Use in The Bathroom to Create Mood Lighting?
Modern bathroom lighting consists of well-layered bathroom lighting design. Tips include incorporating the aforementioned fixtures, such as:
- Ceiling lights
- Mirror lights
- Recessed downlights
- Shower lights
- Vanity lights
- Wall lights
Used in harmony, these lights can transform the space visually and be used to create mood lighting. This is especially true when you have these lights on separate switches so that you can control them individually and turn them on and off as needed.
What Are The Safety Rules For Bathroom Lighting?
Unlike most other spaces, bathrooms have a unique set of requirements for the lights installed there. The regulations are centred around IP ratings.
What does IP rating mean, and what IP ratings do you need for a bathroom?
An IP rating, or Ingress Protection rating, determines how well fortified a light is against entry by dust and moisture. Solids are indicated by the first digit, while moisture is indicated by the second.
First Digit – Solids
0 – Offers no protection against entry of dust
1 – Offers protection against solid objects that are bigger than 50 millimeters
2 – Offers protection against solid objects that are bigger than 12 millimeters
3 – Offers protection against solid objects that are bigger than 2.5 millimeters
4 – Offers protection against solid objects that are bigger than 1 millimeter
5 – Offers protection against entry of most dust particles
6 – Offers protection against all dust; also referred to as “dust tight”
Second Digit – Moisture
0 – Offers no protection against water
1 – Offers protection against condensed water droplets like mist when positioned upright
2 – Offers protection against falling droplets of water while tilted at an angle up to 15 degrees
3 – Offers protection against falling droplets of water while tilted at an angle up to 60 degrees
4 – Offers protection against splashing water from any direction
5 – Offers protection against jets of water
6 – Offers protection against powerful jets of water
7 – Offers protection against submersion in water up to one meter deep
8 – Offers protection against submersion in water for an indefinite period of time
What are bathroom lighting zones?
Bathroom lighting zones are areas that require certain IP ratings depending on their proximity to moisture.
Zone 0 – This zone refers to any area that will have submerged lights, such as inside the bath and shower areas. IP67 lights are required here.
Zone 1 – In this zone, you’ll find the shower area up to 2.25 meters in height. An IP65 rated light is recommended here.
Zone 2 – This is the area around half a meter outside of the bath. Here, you’ll need a minimum IP rating of IP44.
Zone 3 – This zone includes any area not covered by the above zones. No rating is required, but use your best judgment when selecting lights.
Benefits of Dimmable Lighting for Bathroom Mood Lights
Dimmable lights do far more than just create a nice mood. They can also improve the comfort of anyone in the room by being gentler on the eyes. A dimmed light reduces strain and can make the space more relaxing.
From a practical standpoint, dimmed lighting may also prolong the lifespan of the bulb itself by using less energy. By the same token, energy efficient bathroom lighting may also help you save on your energy bills by limiting the energy consumption of the light itself.
How To Use Mood Lighting to Complement Your Bathroom Design
Incorporating mood lighting into your existing bathroom decor is easy. Bathroom lighting colour schemes of all varieties can benefit from the existence of mood lighting.
Below, you’ll find a few ideas on just how to do this:
- Install lights along either side of the mirror or behind it to create a soft glow.
- Make it easier to see during nighttime visits with wall sconces and low level lighting.
- Use accent lighting to illuminate any areas beside the sink.
- Turn your bath and shower area into a spa-like place with indirect accent lighting and other indirect light sources.
- Draw attention to any unique elements in your bathroom by adding accent lights to them. They can serve as mood lighting when used on their own.
- Take advantage of recesses and nooks in the bathroom and install lights in them to cast a soft glow while drawing attention to the areas.
How To Position Lighting in the Bathroom To Get Maximum Effect
If you want to make the most out of your bathroom lights, proper placement is important. In terms of vanity lights, positioning sconces on either side of mirrors will prevent unflattering shadows appearing on the face.
Similarly, in the shower, placing the downlight above the shower head instead of the centre of the shower will prevent any unsightly reflections and shadows.
Using wall lights that sit low to the ground can create a moodier look than placing them higher up at eye level. This will make for a more dramatic contrast of light and dark, enhancing the atmosphere.
Why Are LED Lights The Best Choice For Mood Lighting in a Bathroom?
LED lights are beneficial in ways that traditional halogen bulbs are unable to provide. As mentioned, their energy efficient nature can not only lower costs of your electric bill, but prolong their life. LED lights are rated for tens of thousands of hours, so you won’t need to constantly be replacing them.
Their energy efficient nature also makes them easier on the environment, helping to limit your carbon footprint.
From an aesthetic standpoint, they offer enough versatility to easily customise their effect on your bathroom. LED bulbs come in a massive range of colour temperatures and lumen counts, letting you control their appearance and brightness.
Some LED lights are also dimmable, so you can create the perfect mood any time of day just by adjusting the light switch that controls the level of light.
Bathroom Mood Lighting Ideas
With the LDC469 3 Watt Mini Recessed LED Bathroom Downlight, you can create beautiful mood lighting practically anywhere in the bathroom. The light has an IP65 rating to make it well fortified against most levels of moisture. Its small size of 50 millimeters means it can fit just about anywhere you wish. The fixture shines 120 lumens of 3000k warm white light at a 30-degree beam angle and is available in your choice of a black or grey finish.
Elevate the look of your bathroom in more than one way with the LWA431 6 Watt Round IP65 Bathroom Wall Light. This wall light features a modern appearance with its smooth, borderless circular design. It washes 600 lumens of 3000k warm white light back onto the wall behind it in a halo formation through its opal acrylic diffuser. The product has an IP65 rating that makes it well suited for placement on any wall in the bathroom. Choose from either a white or black finish.
Modernise your bathroom decor while adding mood light with the LWA454 6 Watt LED Bathroom Wall Light. This square-shaped wall light shines illumination down onto the wall below it. It generates 600 lumens of 3000k warm white light that creates a wide fan of illumination along the wall. It is fashioned out of durable aluminium and is rated IP65, making it ideal for placement anywhere in the bathroom. Choose from either a white or black finish to suit your bathroom.
Get an old Hollywood look in your bathroom with the LWA339 12 Watt LED Stainless Steel Bathroom Wall Light installed along the vanity. This fixture features a stainless steel oblong backplate that supports four LED bulbs. In total, the bulbs output 960 lumens of 3000k warm white light. The fixture measures 540 millimeters by 107 millimeters by 90 millimeters and holds an IP44 rating, which makes it safe for placement in most bathroom zones.
