The comfort and convenience of the bathroom depend not only on correctly selected sanitary ware, but also on correctly installed lighting devices. With a wide variety of their assortment, it is important to imagine in advance which indicators to pay attention to so that they meet the necessary safety. Let’s consider how to choose a ceiling lamp for the bathroom.
The purchase of lamps for the bathroom should be approached thoroughly, because most often they are the only source of light in this space. However, do not forget that the lighting device in the bathroom is not just a spectacular design element, it must be safe to use.
Basic requirements
From the point of view of safety, lamps intended for the bathroom must meet special requirements:
- protection index
This characteristic is marked on the lighting device with a special marking – IP (IndexofProtection), next to which there is a two-digit number. Its first component indicates the degree of protection against the ingress of solid particles and varies from 0 to 6. The second digit of the marking will explain the degree of tightness of the lamp in case of moisture. The most moisture-resistant lamps for the bathroom are marked with an indicator of 8. The third digit, the protection index, which indicates the level of impact resistance, is quite rare and does not carry special importance.
- brightness
The degree of brightness of lighting is measured in lux, and in the bathroom this indicator directly depends on its area. For medium-sized rooms, the most optimal size is a brightness of 200 lux.
- power
Lighting power may vary depending on the type of lamp used. This indicator should correspond to the required brightness level of 200 lux. If you prefer a standard incandescent lamp, then its power should be approximately 20-30 W per m², 23-28 W / m² is enough for a halogen lamp. the most economical will be a daylight lamp, the power of which for a bathroom can be from 6 to 9 W per m².
Lamps on the ceiling for the bathroom
Despite the huge number of lighting options, the main source of lighting in the bathroom remains the ceiling. All other combinations will be only additional possibilities and to a greater extent are aimed at matching the design.
Ceiling lighting for the bathroom is usually represented by the following solutions:
- Plafons
Ceiling lamps belong to the overhead type of lighting and in their shape most often resemble a “tablet”. Despite the apparent simplicity of design, the wide range of their design allows you to choose a stylish and modern option. Almost all types of lamps are suitable for such a solution – from standard to economical energy-saving ones.
- Built-in spotlights
Spotlights for the bathroom on the ceiling look very impressive, in addition, they provide bright light and additionally save electricity. The possibilities of such lamps are quite large – their radiation can produce a wide variety of colors, up to combined shades.
- Hanging lamps
These lamps are mounted at some distance from the ceiling, but it is still difficult to call them chandeliers in the general sense. First of all, they are much smaller in size, and the ability to scatter light is completely different here. Secondly, hanging lamps for the bathroom are usually moisture-absorbing and airtight.
Which lamps to prefer
Among the wide variety of lamps for lighting the bathroom, you should be guided first of all by the type of lamp. In the case of using hanging or overhead light sources, standard or energy-saving lamps are most often preferred. Effective and stylish spot lighting is represented by LED lamps. Despite the considerable cost, their possibility of low energy consumption at high brightness is simply amazing.
Halogen lamps, on the contrary, have a low price, although their service life is about 4000 hours. They are compact glass flasks and are more suitable for small bathrooms.
How lighting affects the interior
When choosing lighting for the bathroom, you should first imagine how harmoniously the lamp will fit into its interior. If the room allows, then you should not give up the possibilities of additional light sources. Autonomous lighting always looks spectacular, and the overall design of the bathroom will only benefit from it.
The bright design of the bathroom with improper lighting can cause an excessive amount of glare and reflections, so designers advise to focus on the ideal distribution of light, having correctly calculated how many lamps are needed in your bathroom. Bright hanging or overhead lights will be a great solution for a bathroom decorated in darker colors.
Lighting levels in the bathroom
The location of spotlights in the bathroom should be planned depending on the level of humidity. Conventionally, the entire space of the bathroom, even if it is small, can be divided into certain zones:
- The place directly above the bathtub or shower cabin, where the humidity is always very high, requires lighting devices with the maximum level of protection. It is desirable that their IP should be at least 67, and the lamps themselves should be chosen low-voltage.
- At the second level of humidity, which is also located in the immediate vicinity of the bathtub, electrical appliances should be at a distance of 2.25 m from the edge. The optimal solution here will be LEDs or low-voltage lamps with a protection index of 45.
- The next zone extends 50-60 cm to the side from the previous one and is considered not so dangerous for lamps. Its IP may well be 24, since there are usually no direct jets of water in this space.
- The last level is the driest and therefore the safest. Its territory starts from the edge of the 3rd zone and continues from it for another 3 m. However, not every bathroom can boast of this level.
When buying lamps for the bathroom, it is important to start off not so much by their spectacular appearance, but by the degree of safety. Think in advance where you would like to install the light source, pay attention to the main indicators of moisture protection, as well as their brightness and power. First of all, take care of the safety of electrical appliances, and only then – about their compliance with the intended design.