Relying solely on a single, sad light source in the middle of the ceiling has got to be the number one crime in bathroom lighting, However, when it comes to bad ideas, that is closely followed by peppering the ceiling with spotlights.
Over-lighting in the bathroom is painful for your eyes, self-esteem and power bill. And the last thing you need in the middle of the night or too early in the morning is that punch in the face of bright bathroom lights.
Choosing the right lighting for your bathroom is key to creating a space that works. Yet there’s a fine line between a well-lit bathroom and an overly bright lab-like room. The right balance of bathroom lighting comes from the positioning rather than the number of fittings. It’s all about the balance between ambience and accent lighting.
Types of lighting for the bathroom
Ambient lighting refers to your overall illumination, whereas accent lighting, or highlighting, is used when you want to draw attention to a particular feature or surface. It adds depth and definition.
Ambient lighting is typically achieved by placing fixtures on or near the ceiling, ensuring there are no harsh shadows or dark corners in the bathroom
Accent lighting can make even a small bathroom, appear more luxurious and up-market. It creates a focal point of tiling or a piece of artwork like a painting or a sculpture. It often lights up storage niches, and shelving or up-lights a bath or planter.
And when it comes to lighting certain areas, don’t forget the shower area. A well-lit shower is not just good design, it’s also an important safety aspect. It shouldn’t be overlooked. A shower shouldn’t be such a dark space that when you step into it, you trip over the shower lip or fumble around blindly for the right shampoo, conditioner or body wash.
Can you put a light over the shower?
The simple answer is yes. However, you must choose a bathroom light rated for damp or wet areas.
What makes light fixtures suitable for showers?
A wet-location rating means lights have extra features, such as a rubber gasket and glass lens or diffuser so the light is moisture resistant. Showers generate a lot of steam and water can accumulate on the shower surrounds and ceiling, so a wet-suitable light fixture is essential. The water-tight designs protect the light bulb and electrical components from exposure to water. They also come with with rust-resistant finishes. It’s good to speak to an expert or electrician about the type of damp lighting fixture to choose before you buy.
Awash with light
A series of downlights along the long wall of the shower will wash soft light down the wall, drawing attention to the tiles or stone, while reducing the glare of the lights.
Niche lighting
If you have a niche in the shower, why not place a downlight in it? LED strip lights can cast a soft, ambient glow, giving a luxurious resort vibe. When accentuating feature tiles, they draw attention to the texture and design, adding depth and sophistication. Spots inside the niches allow you to play up materials, textures, and luxe bath products. Niche lighting also gives you the option of turning off overhead lights at night so you can enjoy a shower in a softer glow.
Lighting up that shower
The right shower lighting is important for safety as well as visibility. But you should avoid positioning downlights directly above the showerhead, which will blind people when they look up.
Sealed recessed lights are a sound option. Waterproof recessed LED lights in the ceiling have a ‘barely there look. They illuminate the shower area from above and they’re installed high enough to limit water exposure without taking up valuable ceiling space – perfect for showers with low ceilings or ceiling-mounted showerheads. Ceiling shower lights also help reserve wall space for shower faucet systems, shower storage shelving, and stunning shower tiles. Recessed lights come in a range of sizes and sets.
Another option is wet-location flush-mount or semi-flush-mount light fixtures. Unlike recessed shower lights, you install flush-mount lighting on the ceiling with the light fixture and frame fully visible. Semi-flush-mount light fixtures can be suspended from the ceiling by a short support stem. They provide better lighting in showers with high ceilings.
Is a light in the shower a good idea?
Highlighting the shower as a design focal point is pretty cool. A shower light also helps you see better while scrubbing your toes. But good light is also important for safety and when cleaning the shower surfaces. On top of that, the cost of lighting can be reasonable as there tend to be regular sales at national lighting supply stores. At FlowFix Plumbing we think these are all great reasons to add lighting to your shower.
Bathroom renovations team
At FlowFix, we specialise in plumbing for bathroom renovations. We can transform your bathroom and our plumbing team can help you right from the planning stages. We can manage the entire renovation process from design to completion. For great bathroom upgrade design advice call 027 265 4949.