Designer advice: Getting the light right in your bathroom

Good lighting can make all the difference in a bathroom space but is quite often an overlooked part of bathroom design. Here, we ask Leanne, Senior Designer at Ripples Newbury to give her advice on getting the light right in your bathroom.

1.What are the key things to consider when planning bathroom lighting?

The key things to consider when it comes to bathroom lights are: the style and size of the fittings, how your lighting will be controlled (be it a switch, sensor or even an app on your phone) and the various layers of lighting which you might like to include (from task lighting through to atmospheric lighting). If you take time to think about who will use the bathroom and how, you’ll be able to consider the various mixture of lighting options that will suit your requirements.

2.What would you say is the perfect mix of lighting for a bathroom?

I usually suggest a mixture of task lighting, atmospheric lighting and decorative/feature lighting to make sure your bathroom is equipped to suit a range of purposes and moods. Task lighting is great for applying makeup or shaving on dark winter mornings, as well as ensuring your bathroom is lit enough to be thoroughly cleaned. Contrastingly, atmospheric lighting helps create a sense of calm in the evening time and helps prepare the body for sleep. Decorative or feature lighting offers a chance to choose something beautiful which you love, adding a sense of personality to your space. Decorative lighting can be further enhanced by also illuminating the fitting itself; just a couple of simple angled spots above can do this and it instantly transforms the space. Just be careful when choosing decorative lighting as a common mistake is to choose a standard wall light, pendant or chandelier which may not be suitable for the bathroom use due to the presence of water and steam. If in doubt, choose from a bathroom specialist who is more likely to have a better selection of suitable options.

3.Where should you start when planning bathroom lighting?                                                           

A good place to start is to assess the amount of natural light available in your bathroom space. Then, once the design process is underway, your bathroom designer can help suggest additional lighting options which will further enhance the room and create the atmosphere you’re hoping to achieve. At Ripples, we usually start with the task lighting as this often sits above your sanitaryware and helps to bounce light around the rest of the room. We then look to layer additional lighting sources, depending on the style and feeling the client wants to create.

4.What other parts of the bathroom which often go ignored should be considered for lighting?

Instead of standard ceiling downlights, consider recessed wall or ceiling channels as these can make for an interesting and atmospheric alternative. It is often missed, but most vanity units and wall cabinets can come pre-made with lights installed inside the drawers and doors which light up the items inside whenever they are opened. 

You can really transform a shower space by integrating LED strips or marker lights within in-built storage niches, and it’s also a nice way to illuminate your favourite shower products or decorative bathroom items. Alternaitvely, you could opt for a shower light – a fully integrated unit which houses a light within the shower. This is a great option if you’re wanting to create your very own ‘spathroom’ as the blend of water and warm light stimulates the senses and provides an atmospheric glow to slowly wake you up in the morning or help you unwind before bed at night. 

 Simple marker lights on a PIR sensor are perfect if you need to pop to the loo in the middle of the night, providing low level lighting which is light enough to guide you but dim enough to not wake you up too much.

5.What ways can lighting be used to make a compact bathroom look bigger?

Great lighting can often transform the feeling of space in a room so do make sure to update any downlights. Don’t worry about lining them up to form a pattern on the ceiling, instead position them where you will benefit most from the light. Lighter colours also help open up a room, so consider the choice of paint colour used on the walls and tiles to help enhance the feeling of space. Reflective (rather than matte) tiles are particularly effective for bouncing light around the room, as are the addition of mirrors. 

We usually recommend clients opt for wall-hung furniture in a compact bathroom as it opens up the floor space and creates a less cluttered look. When paired with low level lighting placed underneath,  the effect is maximised.

6.What is an IP rating and why is it important within a bathroom?

Whichever lighting you opt for, make sure to choose carefully and check the IP (ingress protection) rating so that you’re sure it is safe to use in the bathroom. The IP rating refers to how ‘waterproof’ the lights are, ranging from lights which can be fitted within a bath to those which might only get lightly splashed every now and then. Fully submersible lighting, for example marker lights along the base of a shower, will be classed as zone 0 and should be a minimum rating of IPX7. An area up to 2.25m above your bath or shower will be classed as zone 1, so depending on your ceiling height this could even affect simple ceiling downlights which would need to be housed within ae saled unit that is at least IP65 rated. An illuminated mirror or mirror cabinet which sits above a basin would fall in to zone 2 so you would need to ensure it has a minimum rating of IP44. Then lighting which sits outside the main zones, such as an LED strip on a storage niche or cabinet, would be classed as zone 3 and would require a rating of IP20.

For more bathroom advice from our team of specialist bathroom designers, download or request a copy of our free Style Guide.

Here, we ask Faye, Senior Designer at Ripples Bournemouth to give her advice on the key areas tech can be incorporated within bathroom design.