Bathroom lighting hasn’t always been a thing. Bathrooms in various guises have been around for centuries. They date back to around 3000 BC and were used to cleanse the spirit and body before entering a place of worship. The rise of public baths peaked with the Roman Empire, which positioned impressive and lavish buildings around natural hot springs.
Nowadays, bathrooms are a much more personal space. Yet we can still crave the benefits of a long, hot soak in the bath, or a steaming shower after a hectic day. Modern bathrooms offer us clean lines and calm and uncomplicated surfaces. Which offers exceptional hygiene and bounce light around the room.
Did you know that we all spend on average, a year and a half of our lives in our bathrooms?
Unless you are extremely lucky, most bathrooms will be amongst the smallest in the home. Sometimes they will only benefit from tiny windows which can often be behind a blind of some description. An increasing percentage of new build homes in the UK, will not include a window for cloakrooms and bathrooms. It is therefore becoming increasingly important that we get the lighting in these rooms right.
Lighting your bathroom
First things first, it’s important to ensure that your bathroom lights are designed for the purpose and are IP44 rated (as a minimum). If you need more information about this and bathroom safety read The Definitive Guide to bathroom Lights. Secondly, consider the look of your bathroom lights and make them as uniform as possible. In a small space, a variety of styles can make it look thrown together. Thirdly, you will need to consider where you need your light and how many lights you will need.
As a general rule of thumb, we would recommend at least one ceiling light that is placed centrally to allow light into all areas of the bathroom. A mirror is a must in a bathroom and we would recommend having a mirror light above this. Not only will it allow a clear view of the face for shaving or applying makeup. But it will bounce light back into the room. Wall lights are great at adding ambient light where it is needed. Adding these on a separate switch will allow you to control the ambience easily – just selecting the wall lights will be perfect for your long, luxurious soak. If you want to go the extra mile, you could consider using them with dimmable bulbs and dimmer switches.
It is also worth considering the glare that you get from your light – whilst we need the bathroom to be bright, we don’t want any blinding spots that make us squint! Frosted or opal glass or white acrylic will help to ensure that this doesn’t happen.
Another way to achieve a stunning effect is to match the finish of your taps to your bathroom lighting, along with any storage handles you may have. This really finishes off the cohesive effect.
So, grab your bubbles and start running the bath whilst you plan your new bathroom lighting! (unsure if it’s Prosecco, bubble bath, or both? I’ll opt for both!
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TOP TIP
Frosted or opal glass will offer glare-free light in a bathroom. Consider teaming with dimmable bulbs or smart bulbs to offer ambience control, perfect to switch from bright lights from applying makeup and shaving to a warm glow for a long relaxing bath.