Which lights are better for the bathroom?

The impression of the interior, the mood of the inhabitants, and even their well-being, depend on how well a particular room is illuminated. This is especially important to remember when choosing fixtures for rooms in which there is either no natural light at all or very little of it. Of course, sometimes windows are made in bathrooms, but still the vast majority of bathrooms in residential buildings are rooms with solid walls. Our article will discuss which lamps are better for the bathroom.

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What are the fixtures?

There is no general concept of “lamp for the bathroom”. Lighting devices are very different, they differ in several ways:

• Placement
• type of lamps;
• power;
• security.

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Where will it be mounted?

At the location of the fixtures are divided into four main types:

• Ceiling
• wall mounted;
• floor;
• for the mirror.

Ceiling

The most popular option when deciding which fixtures are best for the bathroom is a ceiling mounted on the ceiling. Quite often, new apartments are commissioned with this kind of bathroom lighting.

This is due to the mass of positive qualities of such devices:

• security
• reliability;
• the ability to provide uniform lighting throughout the room;
• good angle of dispersion.

Ceiling lights differ in the location of the lamp. She may be:

• outside;
• inside.

The first option is good for conventional ceilings, since the angle of dispersion is greater. But if you have tension - feel free to choose a ceiling with a lamp that is inside, it heats up less. This is especially important if you use incandescent bulbs. In addition, in this case, the lamp is better protected from moisture.

Wall mounted

Once such lamps were used almost exclusively in living rooms. They are especially popular in bedrooms. However, nothing prevents the use of wall-mounted appliances in the bathroom. They are easy to put on, they are more accessible for repair than ceiling ones, besides, they bring modern notes to the interior. But such lamps are also different, they are divided into three types:

• wall;
• sconce;
• slots.

Wall lights are mounted directly on the wall surface. Sconces and slots are placed on the brackets. They differ in that the slot can be adjusted.

Floor

Such devices are of two types:

• floor lamps;
• mounted in the floor.

In the bathroom, you can use both of them, but floor lamps look better in large rooms, but several floor-mounted lamps very decorate the interior of a very small bathroom. But the lamps themselves must be well protected from moisture.

If you prefer a floor lamp with a lampshade, do not forget that the cap should be of a practical material that is easy to keep clean. Such material may be:

• glass;
• crystal;
• plastic.

Important! Metal is not very desirable. If you can’t do without it, choose one that does not lend itself to corrosion.

For the mirror

A very interesting type of lighting, however, it is necessary to choose devices especially carefully and carefully. Most importantly, they should not distort the reflection in the mirror. This can be a sconce, halogen lamps around the perimeter, LED strips and much more.

If you have a rack ceiling

In this case, ceiling lights are preferable, but there should be several, moreover, of a small size.In fact, these are just bulbs that are inserted into prepared holes. If the installation of other types of luminaires is a fairly ordinary matter and carefully prescribed in the instructions, then fixing the lamps on the rails has some features.

You need:

• pencil;
• drill;
• wood drill;
• sandpaper;
• construction scissors.

It is better, of course, to make holes while the slats are not yet fixed, but the situations in the apartments are different. In any case, it is more convenient to adhere to this order:

1. Draw on the rail the sector to be cut.
2. Drill a few holes along the resulting contour.
3. Insert scissors into any hole.
4. Cut the sector along the contour.
5. Strip the edges.
6. Sand them with sandpaper.

Important! On a suspended ceiling, it is better to mount lamps on special suspensions.

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Combined lighting

One of the fashion trends is to use several types of fixtures in bathrooms. Thus, you can achieve different goals - to make the bathroom comfortable and modern, as well as zoning the area, which is especially true for large bathrooms. Combinations can be different:

• ceiling and wall;
• floor lamp and a pair of floor-mounted lamps in the corners;
• sconces and several floor (mounted);
• many spotlights in different places.

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What to look for?

The assortment of all kinds of fixtures in stores is simply amazing, but when choosing a lighting system for the bathroom, you should be careful. Pay particular attention to three points:

• appointment;
• security;
• decor.

Appointment

Lighting in the bathroom allows you to solve several problems, especially the working and decorative ones. Think about which is more important to you. If the first - you definitely need a good ceiling lamp. When decorative is the priority, any combination can be invented.

Security

For bathrooms, fixtures in which the lamp is closed are preferable. But portable floor lamps or table lamps should not be used, they are dangerous. There are other safety standards that you must follow when choosing which fixtures are best for the bathroom:

1. You can use low-voltage devices with a voltage of 12-24 V.
2. For halogen lamps, a step-down transformer is needed, which should be in the next room.
3. The case must be waterproof.
4. When placing outlets, humidity zones must be considered.
5. Cables must be insulated and free from damage.

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Power levels

When the lighting device is recommended to provide certain levels of illumination. They depend on the type of lamp:

• for energy-saving and fluorescent - 2-5 watts per 1 square. m;
• for halogen - 10-20 watts per square meter. m;
• for incandescent lamps - 20-30 watts per square meter. m

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Lamp type

In modern fixtures, including those that are installed in bathrooms, several types of lamps are used:

• incandescent;
• energy saving;
• halogen;
• LED light.

Incandescent

Incandescent lamps gradually go out of fashion, but so far they are put quite often. Their main advantage is a low price. However, they have a couple of significant drawbacks:

• get very hot;
• eat a lot.

Important! In bathrooms, such lamps can only be used with shades that do not get water - such devices burst from drops.

Halogen and energy saving

They are economical and relatively low cost. But they can only be used where the power supply system is working stably - from voltage surges such devices quickly fail.

Energy-saving, as the name implies, absorb little energy and last a long time.

Important! Their most significant drawback is that they are difficult to dispose of.

LED

What spotlights are best for the bathroom? Of course, LED - they simply have no equal. Although such lamps can be put in the most ordinary shades, floor lamps or sconces.

Perhaps the most popular type of lamp now.Economical, durable, almost indifferent to power outages and at the same time quite affordable. Bathrooms are just perfect.

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Choose LEDs

Which LED lamps are better for a bath? There are several criteria that you need to pay attention to.

• brightness;
• Colour temperature;;
• protection indices;
• base type;
• type of flask;
• energy saving class.

Brightness

There are clear and understandable requirements for this parameter. The European standard ISO 8995 and standards developed on its basis are usually applied. The norm for the bathroom is 200 lux. It means that a luminous flux of 200 lumens is incident per square meter of area.

Important! Such illumination can provide an LED lamp with a power of 2-3 watts.

Accordingly - in order to calculate the number of fixtures, you must do the following:

1. Determine the area of ​​the bathroom by measuring and multiplying the length and width.
2. Multiply the result by 2.
3. Multiply the area by 100 lumens.

Important! If the bathroom is large, the lamp power should be 2 watts more than the calculated one.

Water attitude

Another important parameter is moisture resistance. The luminaire has an index of protection IP (Index of Protection). It is indicated by the numbers following the letters. The numbers show:

• degree of protection against solid particles;
• degree of protection against liquids.

Both degrees are expressed by a number from 0 to 8. If you see 0, this means that there is no protection, and then:

• 1 - there is protection against vertical drops;
• 2 - from drops at an angle of no more than 15 degrees
• 3 - from drops at an angle of no more than 60º;
• 4 - from multidirectional spray;
• 5 - from jets of water;
• 6 - from sea waves;
• 7 - can be immersed in water to a depth of 1 m;
• 8 - can be immersed to great depths.

Lamps with a degree of protection from 5 to 8 are most suitable for a bathroom. Some manufacturers set three-digit protection indices. The third digit indicates shock protection, but this is more relevant not for the bathroom, but, for example, for the gym.

Important! You can find the marking on the lamp housing or in the certificate.

Colour temperature

Be sure to pay attention to the color temperature. It depends on the spectral composition of the lamp.

There are four color temperature ranges:

• cold;
• white;
• neutral;
• warm.

This indicator is expressed in Kelvin:

• Lamps of 6000 K and more give cold light.
• In the range between 4700 K and 6000 K there is a white glow.
• Neutral has a color temperature of 3500-4700 K.
• Warm - 2000-3500 K.

Important! There are no strict restrictions in this case, everyone chooses the color of the lamp that he likes best. But devices with cold glow are usually not used in residential premises.

Color rendering index

You probably noticed that when you turn on the incandescent lamp, all objects look a little different than in daylight. The degree of distortion depends on the color rendering index. LED lamps do not provide absolutely accurate color reproduction. Their index is between 80 and 89, and the ideal index corresponds to 100. But other lamps usually have this index even lower.

Flow direction

The luminous flux from the LED lamp has a certain focus. The main characteristic is the scattering angle. The larger it is, the more uniform the lighting will be.

Important! For a single ceiling fixture, a lamp with a large angle value is usually used. But if you prefer luminous points scattered throughout the bathroom, you need lamps with a small angle of dispersion.

Zones and Protection

If you are going to arrange a combined lighting of your bathroom, it will be very useful to find out which lamps in which place can be used. The whole room can be divided into zones:

• a few meters to the tap - 1 level of moisture protection;
• at a distance of 0.5 m to the bathtub or sink - 2-4 degrees;
• over the crane - 4-7;
• directly above the shower - 8.

Talk about form

Having decided on the type of lamps and all kinds of indices, think about the design. It all depends, of course, on the preferences of the owners and the general style of the room.But there are a few simple recommendations that can make your life much easier.

1. Try to choose the simplest forms possible.
2. In a large bathroom, several fixtures are preferable, rather than one, so that the light intensity can be adjusted.
3. For a ceiling light, a ball or cylinder shape is suitable.
4. You can use different types of lamps. For example, LEDs on the contour of the mirror or on the bottom of the bath, and on top - a halogen or incandescent lamp.

Other options

Do not forget about another important point. LED lamps differ from each other by the type of cap and the type of bulb. Standard is designated A55. Outwardly, it is very similar to a conventional incandescent lamp. This is the most popular option for ceiling lighting, if one lamp is provided there.

In any case, the lamp must be selected taking into account the type of bulb - there should be a gap between the lamp and the ceiling. There are other types of LED lamps on sale:

• G45 - ball;
• C 35 - a candle.

Transparency

LED lamps can be:

• matte;
• transparent
• mirrored.

In the bathroom, you can use any of the three options. But it should be noted that a mirror lamp has the ability to change the direction of the light flux.

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Stock footage

Now you can accurately select the fixtures for the bathroom, and be sure that they will not only provide the necessary level of comfort, but will also be safe.