High-quality home lighting has a beneficial effect on the health and emotional state of a person. In the bathroom, lighting should also be up to par. When designing and choosing lighting fixtures, it is important to consider all the features of the room, otherwise the fixtures can quickly fail, and it will be unsafe to use them.
Features and varieties of fixtures for the bathroom
In addition to the bath or shower, the room is equipped with a large number of additional segments that simplify the life of its owner: a clothes dryer and washing machine, sink, mirror, storage areas for household chemicals and personal items.
When designing lighting in a room, it is important to consider a large number of nuances and features. The interior should be functional, stylish and most importantly - safe.
The main feature of the bathroom is the lack of daylight, since the layout of multi-apartment and country houses does not provide for window openings. Regardless of the presence of a window, experts recommend making the lighting bright, but not irritating to the eyes. It is recommended to choose a tone close to daylight.
The operational and technical requirements for electrical appliances, as well as the correct location of lighting fixtures, are mandatory for familiarization. Lighting must comply with all safety standards.
In stores you can see a wide range of fixtures. It is not always possible to choose the most suitable one. Devices depending on the characteristic features are divided into several types.
| By functionality | At the place of installation | In form and type of construction |
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How to choose bathroom fixtures
Lighting in the bathroom depends on the preferences of the owners of the living space. It is enough for some to equip the room with spotlights, while others prefer a large chandelier mounted in the middle. The main thing - the use of lighting should be safe.
Features of the choice of lighting for the bathroom:
- Floor lamps are an unusual example of interior design. The advantage of such devices is high-quality insulation from moisture in the area of the ceiling itself and in a rack with wires. Therefore, it is absolutely safe to use them in a room with high humidity.
Bathroom lighting with chandelier and wall sconces - Chandeliers, sconces and lamps can be installed in any part of the room. It is recommended to give preference to modifications equipped with a waterproof shell. Ideal option would be fluorescent lamps, but when choosing it is also important to consider the style of the room.
- Spotlights are miniature shades that are mounted in floors, furniture, ceilings and walls. For better visibility, these types of devices must be installed near mirrors and a washbasin. If spotlights are the main source of illumination, it is recommended to purchase as many units as possible and install them with a smaller distance between each other.
Before you go to the store, you need to make a project and calculate the optimal number of lighting devices and their total power. This will save time in the future and reduce costs.
Manufacturers Overview
Many countries produce lighting products designed to work in high humidity. The most popular and sought after are European manufacturers: Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, Spain and Belgium. Each of these companies cares about its reputation and produces high quality products.
Also, lighting devices from Turkey began to be very popular. This is due to high quality, a wide variety of design solutions and cost an order of magnitude lower in comparison with European counterparts. Another advantage of Turkish manufacturers is that they focus on the middle class, while European brands produce luxury products.
Russian-made models cannot “boast” of European quality, but they have an acceptable cost. All Russian lighting products are subject to mandatory certification.
Chinese products usually automatically fall into the base category. This is partly true, but there are also responsible manufacturers who care about their reputation.
According to experts and consumers, the best manufacturers of lamps for working in a humid environment are:
- Schmitz-Leuchten (Germany).
- Mantra (Spain).
- Fibo (Germany).
- B. lux (Spain).
- SEDA (Turkey).
- AXO Light (Italy).
- Ozcan (Turkey).
- IDL (Italy).
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- Schmitz-leuchten
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- Mantra
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- Fibo
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- B. lux
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- SEDA
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- Axo light
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- Ozcan
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- IDL
If you have difficulty choosing, you can consult a store consultant.
Features of lighting fixtures for the ceiling and walls
Organization of lighting in the bathroom is possible in three forms: ceiling, wall and floor. The latter will not be considered, since it is not widespread.
The most common options for ceiling lighting:
- A chandelier is a classic version that fits perfectly into a room with high ceilings. It is characterized by ease of installation and a wide range.
- LED strip is the most preferred option for organizing complex and multi-level ceilings. Advantages - ease of installation. Fastens under a ceiling plinth. It is also possible to adjust the brightness and select colors.
- Overhead lights or spots - a group of plafonds placed on one bracket. They form peculiar light "beams" of different directions, therefore they are most often used to illuminate a specific area.
- Spotlights are used for suspended or suspended ceilings.
Wall lights are used to organize local lighting. These include spots, sconces and overhead lights. Sconce - the most common variety, is a few or one lampshade on one holder. There are a large number of models and styles.
Number of fixtures
Developed standards for the level of illumination for each living room. The total power of lighting devices will vary depending on the area.
| The area of the bathroom, sq.m. | Soft light (no more than 150 lux) | Medium lighting (approximately 300 lux) | Bright light (about 500 lux) |
| 0-6 | 60 | 100 | 150 |
| 6-8 | 80 | 140 | 200 |
| 8-10 | 100 | 175 | 250 |
| 10-12 | 120 | 210 | 300 |
| 12-16 | 160 | 280 | 400 |
| 20-25 | 240 | 420 | 600 |
| 25-30 | 280 | 490 | 700 |
Power in the table is measured in watts.
Optimum sizes
The placement of lighting devices is closely interconnected with the size of the room itself and the shape. Also, when choosing the height of the ceilings is taken into account.
- For small rooms, it is recommended to give preference to built-in models that fit snugly to the ceiling.For example, spotlights with diameters of 60 * 60 mm or flat overhead chandeliers of large diameter.
- For a small room with a high ceiling, suspended structures made in a minimalist design are used.
- For spacious bathrooms, you can use many lighting fixtures, but there is one limitation - the main light source cannot be small. It is advisable to supplement the main lamp with spot built-in LEDs.
To illuminate the mirror, often use large lamps. Models can be installed along the entire perimeter of the mirror, exceeding its dimensions.
Forms and materials used
The traditional form of lamps is a circle. Such models are considered the most universal and fit into all rooms, regardless of design. It is preferable to use square constructions as wall lights to illuminate interesting details, niches and mirrors. The figured option is preferred in large bathrooms with bold interiors.
The most preferred options for bathroom fixtures are plastic and glass. Ceramics, gypsum, and wood structures are not designed to work in a humid environment.
Bathrooms can be designed in a variety of styles, respectively, and lighting is selected individually. The most popular and sought-after area is the loft, which provides an opportunity for experiments.
Moisture protection class
The most important requirement for fixtures in the bathroom is moisture resistance. Visually, they do not differ from conventional lighting devices. Equipped with special parts that prevent moisture from entering. The outer part is equipped with a special sealing rubber at the junction of the electrical part of the lamp with a shade.
Information on the degree of protection is recorded in the accompanying documentation for the lighting device or on the housing itself. Some manufacturers use a three-digit marking that displays the class of moisture protection.
The first digit after IP indicates the degree of protection against dust, and the second from moisture. The larger the number, the better the protection. The minimum permissible performance for operation in a humid environment is IP44, and the maximum is IP68.
Location of fixtures in the bathroom
Before proceeding with the installation, it is important to determine their location. The bathroom can conditionally be divided into several functional zones, in each of which the presence of windows, the color of the ceiling and walls, and the dimensions are taken into account.
The bathroom in apartment buildings is usually small, but this area can be made multifunctional. Lighting is preferable to organize a multi-level, for example, adjustable wall sconces will add lighting near the sink, and ceiling lights will set the general background.
