Considerations for Bathroom Lighting
A luxurious standalone tub with brass feet fit for those relaxing bubble baths, handcrafted designer tiles, his and hers basins – all contenders to top the list of what makes the perfect bathroom. There’s one more thing to have atop the list though… the ideal lighting! Having the right combination of lighting sources and fittings can drastically improve the look and feel of a bathroom. In this blog, we take a look at what to consider when it comes to bathroom lighting.
A combination of lighting sources
We pretty much start and end each day in the bathroom. Abluting, doing our hair, make-up, brushing our teeth, checking our appearance in the mirror. On a Friday evening, we might find ourselves in the bathroom gussying up for an evening out on the town or sipping on a glass of wine while we soak in some bubbles after a busy week at work. We spend a considerable amount of time in the bathroom and that’s why the lighting in that space is really important. You wouldn’t want the lighting is too dim or too bright – and considering how we use the bathroom, you could probably do with varying lighting options to suit.
In their lifetime, the average Brit male spends 855 days in the bathroom – with women cutting that down to 770 days. Considering this, it makes sense when you’re planning the space to consider how to incorporate lighting sources that will cater to the ambient, task and accent lighting requirements.
It might not cure your not-a-morning-person feeling, but science also speaks to the benefit of smart lighting in the bathroom to better condition our brains as we get ready for work or bed. So, let’s take a look at some considerations for bathroom lighting…
1: Basic Lighting
As the name suggests, start with the basics. If you have the foundation in place, it’s easier to build up and add those feature that can make the world of difference. Don’t confuse ‘basic’ with ‘featureless’ though… With technology where it’s at, when it comes to the basics you should be looking at lighting that can mimic circadian lighting. This is lighting that can influence our circadian rhythm; with the adjustment of colour and intensity to imitate what the light outside would be like at various times of the day. The light output is also important.
The recommended lighting levels for bathrooms is 150lux; and 500-600 lumens per sq metre. Lux is a measure of the intensity of the light as perceived by the human eye; while lumen represents the brightness – which you might equate to the watts of a conventional bulb. To achieve these lighting qualities, you could look at the likes of large ceiling lights or LED spots – taking into account the room size and beam angle.
Tip: Opt for smart lighting where you can adjust the temperature of the white light. A cooler white light in the morning conditions the brain to start the day, whereas a warmer white light in the evening gets our brain to start winding down; allowing for the production of melatonin.
2: Functional Lighting
With the main source of lighting sorted, you can move on to functionality. This is the type of lighting that you’d incorporate around the mirror for better illumination when doing your hair or makeup, or in the shower for better lighting when shaving, for example.
When it comes to the exact placement of light fittings, be sure to discuss this with your Loxone Partner, Lighting Designer or qualified electrician. There are some regulatory requirements to consider due to the moisture and humidity inherent to a bathroom.
Tip: When buying a mirror with integrated lighting, look at the quality of the lights themselves. Check with your lighting designer or Loxone Partner if the mirror’s built-in lighting would produce sufficient lighting to complement the requirements of the overall lighting design. If not, you might want to consider a standalone mirror with separate lighting incorporated during the installation.
3: Accent Lighting
Now that you have the foundation and functionality sorted, you can look at the possibilities of accent lighting. This is the type of lighting that would make that relaxing bubble bath more inviting. LED strip lighting recessed into a dropped ceiling could be exactly what you need to give your bathroom more of a spa feel.
Tip: Opting for smart accent lighting, like in a Loxone Smart Home, gives you the ability to create lighting moods with ease. Using the Loxone Smart Home App you can set the perfect combination of lighting – factoring in warm, brightness and colour – and then save this as a favourite on your Touch switch.
Lighting design made easier – with a complete solution from Loxone
Of course, it’s not only for the bathroom that you should be considering the benefit of smart lighting. It can completely change the look and feel of any room in your home. With Loxone solutions and the know-how of our Partners, it’s never been easier to enjoy the benefits of professionally installed smart lighting that complements your lighting design. Take a look at our lighting range and start imagining the possibilities.