LED Bathroom Lights

LED bathroom lights in your home are an important and essential decorating element that can make a huge difference. We could say that without light, life stops. You want to make sure that all the rooms in your home are properly lit. Even a house with a lot of windows needs artificial lighting to have a place that shines brightly. One of the most important rooms in a house is the bathroom. This room with the proper light will increase the vitality, sense of hygiene, sanitation, etc.

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Great Ideas For Bathroom Lighting

Chances are, you spend more time in the bathroom than you likely realize during your daily activities. Even so, bathroom lighting is often overlooked and not given as much attention and thought as the lighting in other rooms of the home. In this article, we’ll offer information and explore some benefits of LED bathroom lights. We’ll also touch on different types of bathroom light fixtures and the best ways to position your bathroom lights.

Why Use LED Bathroom Lights?

There are many perks to using LED light fixtures when illuminating a bathroom. Below are just a few of the perks for your consideration:

– Safer.

One of the main benefits of LED lights in a bathroom is their safety. Because these types of lights require less voltage to work, they are more resilient and durable when they are exposed to steam and water. Beyond that, LED lights are cooler than traditional halogen bulbs, so they are safer to the touch.

– Eco-friendly.

LED lighting uses less energy to provide the same level of brightness as halogen lighting. Whereas halogen bulbs give off 90 percent of their energy as heat, LED bulbs turn 70 percent of their energy into light. This is of course not only good for your electric bill but beneficial for the environment as well. Their lower energy use may also extend their life, so you aren’t constantly contributing bulbs to landfills.

Furthering their environmental friendliness is the fact that they do not break easily, and there is no lead or mercury to be exposed if they do break. Using LED bulbs for bathroom wall sconces, bathroom mirror lights and even LED shower lights cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.

– Long life.

LEDs are known for being long lasting and durable and don’t break easily. This type of light can last as long as 30,000 hours, which is much higher than most other kinds of lighting. Using them in the bathroom will reduce the frequency with which you need to replace them, saving you plenty of money.

– Cost effective.

As mentioned, another way that these bulbs can save you money is on your electricity bill. It has been reported that those who use LED bulbs experience a 50 to 80 percent decrease in their electricity bills.

– Ambiance.

Many people enjoy using their bathroom as an area for relaxation by soaking in the bath after a long and stressful day. Using LED bulbs in the fixtures allows you to create a more pleasant atmosphere in the room. With so many colour temperatures to choose from, you can take control over the glow in the room. Some LED light fixtures even allow for the bulb to be dimmed, so you can immediately customise the ambiance depending on your mood.

– Design options.

LEDs are small in size compared to most other lights. Because of their size, they are capable of being used in nearly any application. Bathroom wall lights aren’t limited to specific heights and bathroom LED spotlights can be positioned anywhere you see fit to create the bath of your dreams.

– Instant lighting.

LEDs turn on immediately as opposed to other types of lights, such as fluorescent that flickers or some types that need to warm up. LEDs will turn on in an instant. They also do not experience a shorter lifespan from frequently switching them on as some other lights do.

– Directionality.

LED bulbs light up an area of 180 degrees as opposed to conventional lighting that shines at 360 degrees around the light. This is useful in bathrooms where you want to shine lights around certain areas specifically, such as the sink or the bath area.

How To Light Your Bathroom Properly

– Plan ahead.

The first step should be to map out just where it is you want the bathroom lighting to be. Deciding early on where you need lighting will help you figure out the wiring that needs to be installed. It will also help you properly budget for the lights you want the most.

– Work from the top down.

When lighting your bathroom, the order in which you install the lights is important. It is recommended that you begin at the top with your bathroom ceiling lights and work down. After the bathroom downlight is installed, you can start to think about bathroom vanity lights and wall sconces. From there, you can begin to light the shower and bathtub area. You could also consider adding strip lighting under bathroom counters or mirrors for added effect.

– Recessed lighting.

You could also consider recessed bathroom lighting for an updated look. Recessed lights keep things looking simple while still providing ample light. When using recessed lights, it’s important to find a balance between a lot of lights and too few. You don’t want to under-illuminate your bathroom, but you don’t want your walls and ceilings looking like Swiss cheese, either.

– Layered lighting.

Using more than one bathroom light will create a more ambient and visually interesting space. This is a trick that professional interior designers use to build up rooms that are attractive and well lit at the same time. The easiest way to generate a layered effect is through the use of wall lights.

– Consider task lighting.

You will need dedicated task lighting in certain areas of the bathroom, including the vanity where you get ready for the day. Using layers of task lighting to eliminate shadows when looking in the mirror is beneficial. Larger bathrooms do well with having LED strips lights around mirrors, making it appear more glamourous. If your bathroom is too contemporary for wall lights, consider a mirror with integrated lighting instead.

– Don’t forget the shower.

When you light your shower, the number one rule is not to put a light directly overhead, as the light is unflattering. Instead, you can use wall washer lights to create a more balanced, ambient and even decorative look.

– Incorporate concealed lighting.

To reduce glare, especially in bathrooms that have softer lighting needs, use hidden light sources. This includes hiding LED strips behind mirrors or tucking the lights into niches and corners. Choosing lights that wash the wall will help you achieve this goal.

bathroom Lighting

Best Types of Bathroom Lights

Below, you’ll find some of the best kinds of bathroom lights you can add to your space:

– Wall lights. Whether you’re going for general ambiance or layered lighting, bathroom wall sconces are where you want to start. By placing them around the room at varying heights, you can easily create that layered effect. This will evenly distribute the light around the room without any dark spots. You can layer these lights with vanity and ceiling lights as well.

– Pendant lighting. Choosing bathroom LED downlights will afford you a nice overhead glow that can be used when you need more general lighting. Some people like to go for something more dramatic and choose chandelier lighting for an elegant touch.

– Recessed lights. For those who prefer a minimalistic space, recessed lighting is a good option. Recessed lights are installed in the ceiling instead of on the surface giving them a smoother look.

Can You Install Bathroom Lights Yourself?

Electricity is dangerous on its own, and it becomes even more so when exposed to water. It is best to get the help of a professional electrician to install your bathroom lights. Otherwise, you run the risk of serious injury or even electrocution.

Bathroom lighting can be used in ways just as versatile as the lighting in any other room in the home. There are many types of bathroom lighting, from wall sconces to pendant lights to shower lights. Not only can you use the lights for practical illumination, but they can also be used for decoration. LED lights are beneficial for any type of lighting in a home, especially in a bathroom.

Colour temperatures are measured in degrees Kelvin and commonly extend up to 1000k. The most commonly used colour temperatures are as follows:

  • Daylight temperatures that mimic sunlight are between 5000K and 6000K.
  • Bright white lights fall in the range of 4000K and 5000k.
  • Warm white lights are between 3000k and 4000k and give off a yellowish hue.
  • Soft white lights are between 2000K and 3000k and are well suited for bathrooms due to their gentleness and flattering glow.

As mentioned, the standard bathroom colour temperatures tend to be around the 3000k warm white light level. This kind of light offers a warm, soft glow that is soothing and comforting, making it perfect for the bathroom where you want to relax. Even so, some people do prefer having cool white light instead to make the bathroom brighter and easier to navigate.

LED light colour temperature guide

– Layer the lighting. Adding light layers will not only evenly distribute light; layered lighting creates a more pleasant effect. Adding layers can be done by installing wall lights, pendant lights and chandeliers to bring the light all around the room. Adding task lighting or bathroom vanity lights will contribute to the layered effect while also giving you clearer light to see by when getting ready for your day. 

– Ceiling lights. Ceiling lights should be the first lights you install. Position them around the border of the room to spread their glow across as much of the room as possible. If you hang a light in the center of the ceiling, it could cause issues with shadows. To that effect, some people will place them over the vanity with the belief that it will light the mirror. Instead, the light goes straight down, casting unflattering shadows on your face.

– Vanity lighting. As mentioned, lighting the vanity with task lighting is important for those who spend a lot of time in front of the mirror. It is recommended to place lights on both sides of a mirror approximately at eye level. If you don’t have a lot of room on either side of the vanity, then opt for lights that can be hidden behind it like strip lighting.

– Wall lights. While illuminating on their own, wall lights can also be positioned to reflect off shiny surfaces to enhance the lighting level in the room. You can place them below eye level pointing at shower and bath areas or even towel racks to create an interesting effect.

International protection or Ingress protection ratings, often shortened to IP ratings, are indicators of water and debris resistance of a light. The first number in the IP rating determines how dust tight a fixture is and the second number indicates the protection level against water.

IP ratings are always important but are especially so in bathrooms. As one might guess, this is due to the moisture in the room. Bathroom light fixtures should come with a minimum IP44 rating. When you can, opting for an IP65 or IP67 rating is even better. It is important to take the IP rating and areas in the bathroom into account when choosing your bathroom lighting.

Liquid Ingress Ratings:

Level 1 – offers protection against dripping water

Level 2 – offers protection against dripping water when it is tilted at 15 degrees

Level 3 – offers protection against water that is sprayed

Level 4 – offers protection against water that is splashed

Level 5 – offers protection against jet water

Level 6 – offers protection against forceful jet water

Level 7 – offers protection against immersed lights as deep as one meter

Level 8 – offers protection against immersed lights deeper than one meter

Bathroom Lighting Zones

Zone 0 – This area is located inside the shower or bath and requires a rating of IP67.

Zone 1 – This zone is directly above the shower or bath at a height of 2.25 meters from the floor and requires a rating of IP45.

Zone 2 – This area covers a 0.6-meter perimeter around the shower and bath and needs a rating of IP64

Zone 3 – This zone consists of any area outside of the aforementioned zones. It doesn’t require a special IP rating, but a minimum of IP44 is highly recommended.

Lighting zones for a bathroom

In this article, we have explored the benefits of LED bathroom lights as well as how to position them and design the perfect space for you.

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