How to get a bright and functional bathroom

How to best illuminate the bathroom: which light points to consider?

To design the bathroom lighting and position the light points correctly you will have to consider, first of all, the size and type of environment, but also the safety (insulation class and protection index), the arrangement of the furnishings, and the effect you would like to get.

If in your home you are lucky enough to have a large bathroom with windows, well lit by natural light, you will have to design the light points for use mainly in the evening or at night. If on the other hand your bathroom is of size reduced, without windows or poorly lit during the day, you will need to position the light points so that they can ensure more intense and diffused lighting even during the day.

Proper bathroom lighting design should include three types of lighting:

• bathroom ceiling lighting: placed in the center of the room, it is a type of diffused light that completely illuminates the environment without creating shaded areas. It is usually made with classic ceiling lights or recessed spotlights. To get adequate lighting, try to choose bright but not too intense lights, which could be dazzling and annoying, especially in the early morning or at night. To have perfect brightness at any time of the day, you can also choose dimmable LED lamps, which allow you to adjust the intensity and tone of the light according to your needs while keeping consumption low;
• wall-mounted bathroom lighting: wall lamps are particularly suitable for ensuring optimal lighting in small bathrooms, but also for reinforcing general lighting and creating particular lighting effects in larger spaces, for example, to create the right atmosphere for a relaxing shower or bath;
• bathroom mirror lighting: the area near the bathroom mirror must be perfectly illuminated to be able to perform all personal care activities, such as applying make-up or shaving, in the best possible way. The lights in this area should illuminate the environment evenly and not too intensely, without creating shadows.

How to illuminate the mirror area

Adequately lighting the mirror area is essential to make your bathroom functional and comfortable. The type of lights chosen for this area, in fact, greatly affects the atmosphere of the environment, especially if they allow you to adjust the intensity and can be managed independently as needed. To choose the best lights you will have to consider your specific needs, the possibility of regulation, but also the color temperature (i.e. the shade of light expressed in kelvins), which for the mirror area should be between 3000 and 4000 K.

For the lighting of the mirror area of ​​your bathroom you can choose different solutions:

• lamps or spotlights to be applied directly above the mirror;
• wall lights or lamps to be positioned on the sides of the mirror, which can also be orientated, in order to direct the light as desired;
• backlit mirror with LED strip, ideal for mirrors that do not have frames and in cases where the available spaces are particularly limited;
• suspension lamps to be installed on the ceiling. In this case, you will have to carefully evaluate the dimensions, the distance from the mirror, and the height of the room to avoid shaded areas or any clutter in small spaces or with low ceilings;
• spotlights and led strips, which could be an optimal choice if the bathroom has false ceilings and veils above the mirror area.

Bathroom lighting: safety and regulations

Another very important aspect to keep in mind when designing bathroom lighting is safety. In this type of environment, in fact, it is very easy to come into contact with water and it is, therefore, necessary to comply with precise safety rules for the management and positioning of light points. Before buying electrical appliances and bathroom lamps, make sure that products have a protection index and an insulation class suitable for the areas in which you would like to install them:

• for the area up to 2.25 meters from the ground from the bathtub or shower tray and for the area around the bathtub you will have to choose appliances with class 3 (i.e. powered at low voltage and which do not require grounding) and index protection IP24 -IP44 (protection against water splashes from all directions). For the area adjacent to the tub or shower tray, however, an IP greater than 65 will be required;
• for the area with a distance of at least 60 cm from the tub or shower tray and up to 3 m in height, you will need to prefer class 2 electrical appliances (with double insulation) with protection index IP23 - IP43;
• for the area with a distance greater than 60 cm from the tub or shower tray, you can opt for lights with class 1 (with mandatory grounding) and IP21 (therefore protected against the vertical fall of water drops).

Modern bathroom lighting: discover all the Amlux proposals!

Do you want to get a bright and functional bathroom? At Amlux you can find everything you need to better design bathroom lighting and illuminate and furnish the different rooms of the house in the best possible way: led lamps, chandeliers, ceiling lights, recessed spotlights but also led strips and lighting systems that are remotely controllable.

For more information on the bathroom lighting products provided by Amlux or to request a personalized quote, contact us! Our staff is always at your disposal to advise you on the most suitable solutions for your needs.