We have to admit that bathroom lighting doesn’t get the attention it deserves when we renovate or plan the lighting for a new home. This is rather odd, when you consider that the bathroom is one of the rooms in the house where lighting matters most. After all, it is the room where our day begins and ends…
There are quite a few options for bathroom lighting, although the most common are standard ceiling fixtures or mirror lights. The position and type of fixture vary, and they are available in many combinations. This lets you turn the bathroom from a atmospheric room where your clients enjoy their bubble bath into an invigorating wake-up call for their morning freshen-up, all at the flick of a switch.
Whichever general lighting you use, a basic rule is to make the most of the natural light entering the bathroom by moving anything that blocks it.
Dimmer switches are ideal for achieving the effect you want with a single light source, as they let you set the light to full brightness in the morning and to a softer, more relaxing level for moments of unwinding in the bathroom.
Mirror lighting is also important, to ensure there is the right light around the face. Many mirrors have built-in lighting, so no extra provision is needed.
Halogen lamps can provide perfect light when installed in the bathroom ceiling together with a dimmer. They may cost somewhat more than ordinary bulbs, but as a rule they last about 3 times longer.
Note that there are European regulations governing electrical installations in bathrooms. You need to be especially careful and draw on the experience of professionals if you intend to install any such device in the bathroom.
The result will be well worth the effort, so it is worth your while, in turn, to guide your clients properly in choosing the right lighting for their bathrooms.
