What kind of lighting to choose for the bathroom?

First of all, don’t limit yourself to just the main ceiling light. When planning lighting, you need to do exactly as in any other room. There should be a main light, additional light and preferably also a decorative one. This will allow you to divide the space into zones and add character to the whole room in an interesting way. Bathroom lamps have various designs, so you can easily find ones that will go great with the retro, modern, glamour and other styles. Places where you may consider additional lighting include near the mirror, washbasin or bathtub. If the bathroom has additional recesses or places with decorative potential, it is also worth illuminating them.

It is also important that the intensity of each light source is different. Bright light is needed for activities using the mirror, so the lamps above the mirror must be stronger than those that provide general light, for example for cleaning purposes. Decorative lighting should be even weaker. If you don’t want it to consume too much electricity, just use diodes.

Bathrooms have a specific microclimate and they’re humid, so to ensure safety, use lamps that are designed specifically for the bathroom. Focus on low voltage lamps. They are resistant to water vapour and moisture. To be sure that you are buying a good lamp, look at the IP protection class, which should be at least 44.

A lot depends on the size of the bathroom. We don’t want to have too many lamps in a small bathroom, while a large one should absolutely have more. In all cases there must be a general light source. It will be responsible for ensuring that the entire bathroom is lit evenly. A bathroom ceiling lamp will work well here. In addition, certain areas should also be illuminated. First of all, you should have a light by the mirror, where we perform hygiene and beauty treatments. A light source above the mirror or wall sconces for bathrooms on both sides of the mirror will work well. Do not install halogen lighting in this area, which could create shadows on the face and make it difficult to see details.

Another source of light can be placed near the shower or bathtub. While taking a relaxing bath, you won't need to use the main light, which might be too bright. Instead, the shower enclosure can be illuminated with a light that is gentle and doesn’t hurt the eyes. You can also look at the lighting in this area from a different perspective. If the bathroom has a very elegant and modern shower, it can be even more exposed by lighting, like a walk-in shower, for example. This type of shower enclosure is minimalistic, has no door, and the only thing separating the bathing space from the rest of the bathroom is glass. These are stylish and elegant, which will be even more emphasised by subtle lighting.

Bathroom lighting will not only increase the comfort of using the bathroom, but also affect the entire space. Just like with colours, the size of the bathroom can be visually manipulated through lighting. This is especially true if the bathroom is small, windowless or in a basement.

A large mirror and shiny tiles or furniture fronts will make the bathroom appear bigger. Arrange the lighting so that it reflects off the mirror. This will make even a small bathroom seem more spacious and friendlier. You can find tips on the SanSwiss blog on how to ergonomically and effectively arrange a basement or a small bathroom.

It is also worth mentioning that larger glass panes and showers with few ornaments offered by SanSwiss can optically enlarge the space. Depending on the design and preferences, you can choose from framed, frameless, partially framed and walk-in shower cabins.