The location of the fixtures in the bathroom. The choice of optimal lighting for the bathroom. What is a defensive index
No matter how original the interior is, everything can be ruined by the wrong light. It is not surprising that the issue of lighting occupies a rather important place in the arrangement of premises. for various purposes. And for the bathroom, this is no less relevant than for other functional rooms.
We will tell you how to correctly choose the fixtures in the bathroom on the ceiling from among the products offered for sale. We will advise what needs to be done for rational placement and error-free installation. Taking into account our recommendations, you will easily create a cozy and pleasant atmosphere in the hygienic room.
In the process of creating a design project, you need to choose optimal model lamp, taking into account the features of the room, the design and texture of finishing materials.
For example, built-in models are not suitable for arranging a bathroom with a concrete monolithic slab ceiling. In this case, it is better to use overhead appliances or ceiling fixtures in the form of chandeliers.
In an effort to create stylish interior and comfortable environment, special attention will be paid to the choice lighting equipment. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the design, characteristics, dimensions, lamp power, methods of fixing the electrical appliance and the need for additional structural elements.
When arranging a spacious room, designers advise to focus on traditional lighting solutions that fit perfectly into the interior.
If the bathroom is large, then a beautiful chandelier will look organic. But point models, correctly and evenly distributed over the space of the ceiling, will allow you to create a stylish interior that takes into account trend trends.
When choosing fixtures, the following factors should be considered:
- area of the room and the distance between the lamps;
- zoning of the room, the need to allocate separate sections;
- level of arrangement of devices;
- style direction of the interior;
- colors of walls, floors, furniture and plumbing;
- the presence of mirrors, tension structures, ceramic tiles and other surfaces that reflect light.
Before proceeding with the installation work, it is necessary to consider the layout of the light sources and the nuances of laying cables. Some models offered by manufacturers in the range need to create special conditions.
The quality of products directly affects their service life. Expensive brand models of built-in or overhead lamps compare favorably with cheaper ones. They are of better quality, wear-resistant, so they retain an aesthetic appearance for a long time.
In an effort to create a stylish and original interior in the bathroom, we must not forget about safety. Electrical devices, intended for installation in rooms with high humidity, must have a maximum degree of protection, which corresponds to the IP65 marking.
The bathroom is divided into zones with different humidity levels. The bright blue area is most exposed to splash water.
When arranging rooms with a high level of humidity, certain rules must be observed.
The following recommendations will help organize safe room lighting:
- only moisture-resistant electrical appliances with a degree of protection from IP24 can be used;
- in a zone of high humidity, install low-voltage devices up to 12 V;
- next to the bathtub or shower cubicle, use lighting devices of the 2nd protection class;
- it is desirable that all metal parts were made of stainless steel or had anti-corrosion properties;
- light bulbs and other heating parts of electrical appliances must be equipped with protective covers or shades.
You should also remember about the features and properties of light rays. So, next to the washbasin it is better to use lamps with softer yellow light. Otherwise, the mirror will reflect rather pale skin, which will prevent you from applying makeup correctly.
Its main disadvantages:
- a short warranty period of operation ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 hours;
- if the length of the plinth or the size does not fit the design of the ceiling, the suspension structure must be lowered;
- does not have surge protection, so it quickly burns out.
If you regularly turn on the light in the bathroom, instead of traditional lamps, it is better to give preference to a 5 times more economical option - energy-saving.
Energy-saving light bulbs are often used in bathrooms and toilets equipped with hanging lamps, most of which are equipped with sockets for conventional light bulbs
Halogen lamps can be installed in low ceilings. In any case, the luminous flux will be uniform. They give more light than classic ones, save energy and can be used 3 times longer.
These light bulbs also tend to burn out. To replace a damaged working one, it is necessary to remove the fixing ring located on the spring, remove the cone and install a new one.
Popular halogen lamp designed for installation in a cone-shaped spot fixture with a mirror reflector
LED lamps are distinguished by their aesthetic design and strict contour geometry. They are made in gold or silver shades, similar to the color spectrum of plumbing fixtures.
Advantages of LED lamps - aesthetics, versatility and compactness. The only negative is the high cost of lamps
The main advantage of LED devices is the low level of electricity consumption. It is ten times smaller than the good old incandescent lamps.
In addition, it should be noted whole line other benefits:
- the number of switching on and off does not reduce the service life of the product;
- maximum light output 120 lumens/watt;
- a wide spectrum is possible without the use of light filters;
- LED incandescence up to a maximum of 60 °C;
- safety in case of damage due to the absence of chemical compounds and glass fragments;
- long service life (up to 50,000 hours).
This type of luminaires is characterized by the absence of a natural type of light flux. To slightly soften the monochrome sharp rays, you will have to use additional phosphors. To prevent the light from pulsing, you need an equalizing capacitor.
Bright LED lights put in active areas - a bath or shower, next to the sink, in places for changing clothes
Lamps in the interior of the bathroom
Outrageous modern styles require original lighting. For example, for an interior decorated in the art deco style, bright lamps framed by expensive wood, genuine leather and stunning semi-precious stones are ideal.
For a bathroom in a laconic high-tech style, symmetrical and clear lighting in the washbasin area and even rows spot silver lamps. And the classics suggest naturalness, elegance and luxury - they mount aesthetic sconces with shades on the walls and overhead products made of glass or crystal on the ceiling.
Placement of lighting fixtures in the art deco bathroom: a chandelier on the ceiling, bright sconces near the mirror, lighting of the ceiling structure and along the steps of the podium
In a bathroom with a small area, the interior often gravitates towards minimalism, where you can diversify the lighting. For example, an installation in the form of an LED strip that will illuminate certain areas. You can use lamps various shades, combine lighting electrical appliances - sconces, chandeliers, built-in spot models.
Location of light sources
When choosing the location of fixtures, it is necessary to use the luminous flux emitted by them to the maximum. In a room with a small area, it is desirable to mount built-in light sources, placing them around the perimeter of the room.
Spotlights around the perimeter allow you to evenly illuminate the room, create a modern and stylish interior
If you want to highlight separate zones, then you should consider placing decorative lighting in the intended places. As a rule, recessed spot products are intended for general lighting. For local, decorative lighting from linear LED lamps or flexible LED strip.
Concerning the right amount fixtures, then here you will need the rules for arranging residential premises. According to sanitary standards the illumination of the bathroom should be at least 50 lux.
According to the rules of 1 sq. m. area can be illuminated with a 25 or 30 W incandescent lamp, 5-7 W fluorescent or 3-4 W LED
- 2-3 incandescent lamps with a total power of 150-180 W;
- about 4 LEDs with an indicator of 18-24 W;
- or a dozen energy-saving ones at 30-40 watts.
Knowing the power, you can determine the total number of lamps and choose the way they are placed on the ceiling.
The nuances of installing fixtures in the bathroom
It is important when arranging lighting in the bathroom to take care of safety. To do this, you have to check that the wiring in this room is grounded.
Another important point- buy only models of fixtures with a sufficient level of protection. Do not forget that bathing splashes can easily end up inside electrical appliances, which can lead to serious problems.
The complexity of installing lighting fixtures for suspended ceilings depends on the type of ceiling structure. If the bathroom has a ceiling made of PVC panels or drywall, then installing a light source will not be difficult. The plafond must be inserted into the hole for the lamp, and then pressed with a spring.
Installation diagram of a popular bathroom spotlight. The device is installed in ceiling structure from PVC panels or drywall
If the bathroom has stretch ceilings, then lighting fixtures designed for stretch structures will be required to equip the lighting. They are attached to rails or ceiling plates.
The installation diagram of a compact spotlight on a stretch ceiling allows you to visually study the process of installing a lighting fixture in the bathroom
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
The choice of lighting fixtures for the bathroom in the video:
The subtleties of self-installation of a spotlight are covered in the video:
There is a wide range of lamps on the market. They differ in design, function, appearance, method of placement and installation.
To achieve the desired result in the bathroom, focusing on the most spectacular details, you will need to determine the number and power of the fixtures. When choosing them, it is important to comply with safety standards by choosing electrical equipment with a moisture protection level greater than IP44.
Please write comments, ask questions, post thematic photos in the block below. Tell us about how you chose the lamps for arranging your own bathroom or a combined bathroom. Share the arguments that influenced your choice and information that will be useful to site visitors.
The bathroom is a place not only for hygiene procedures, but also for relaxation after a hard working day. Here we bathe, do laundry, put ourselves in order, and we can also take a bath, relax and gain new strength. Therefore, competent lighting in such a room is no less important than in others. For many years, it was represented by only one lamp, more often a ceiling lamp with an incandescent lamp, hanging on the ceiling or above the door. But nowadays there is a wide variety of methods of lighting even such a specific room as a bathroom to make life more comfortable. First, let's talk about how to make bathroom lighting safe.
Safety rules for organizing lighting in the bathroom
In the bathroom there is a microclimate with high humidity, which must be taken into account in the case of do-it-yourself wiring and lighting.
You also need to take care that the lighting is as close as possible to natural daylight, so that makeup is applied correctly and hygiene procedures are conveniently performed. Certain rules must be followed:
- To correctly calculate the bathroom lighting scheme, for this you can resort to the help of professionals. After all, alterations can then be costly, take extra time and effort.
- Do not place open sockets, tees in the bathroom, extension cords should also not be used here. It is best to choose special waterproof sockets, and electrical appliances should also have a high degree of protection.
- Best way to wire in a hidden way. If the cable is laid open, then it must be protected with a corrugation or a plastic tube.
- All wiring in the bathroom must be grounded.
- It is necessary to choose only fixtures that are well tolerated by moisture. At the same time, their metal parts must have anti-corrosion protection.
- The power of lighting fixtures should be small, no more than 12 watts.
- For the safety of swimmers, it is important to correctly place the lamps in the room. You can not hang the sconce directly above the bath to avoid contact of water with a hot ceiling, so that the light bulb does not break. You should also beware of open incandescent bulbs in a humid room - if the bulb breaks, its scattered fragments can cause significant harm.
- All unprotected sockets and electrical appliances must be at a sufficient distance from the water, at least 2.5 meters.
- There are four humidity zones in the bathroom - in the immediate vicinity of the bath, sink or shower; space above the bathroom ceiling; half a meter from the edge of the bathroom or washbasin; at a distance of 2.5-3 meters from the bath and sink, where only condensate reaches. Depending on the humidity zone, it is necessary to choose a light fixture more or less high level protection, according to their existing classification.
The number and location of fixtures in the bathroom
Even while planning repair work you should consider the number of lighting fixtures in the bathroom. Nowadays, there are different lighting options that will allow you to make a choice based on your own preferences, the availability of finances and design ideas. You can choose between open and recessed fixtures, while you should pay attention to the size of the room and the height of the ceilings. After all, the closer the lamps are to a person, the brighter they illuminate all the necessary objects.
Sconce in the bathroom
If the bathroom is small, you can limit yourself to one central light source on the ceiling - a chandelier with several shades, one closed shade, a wall lamp or a directional lamp.
But still, one source may not be enough, so experts recommend installing additional lighting for the working area - a place near the washbasin and mirror.
Given the importance of convenience when applying makeup and shaving, such a backlight will allow you to perform these processes more efficiently.
If the bathroom is large enough, then it is possible to highlight and highlight each zone separately - a washing area (washbasin and mirror), a bathing area (bath or shower), a free area (for example, for washing). In a spacious room, you can install several ceiling lights- Enough about six. When selecting several lighting objects, their size and power may be less than if there is one central one.
Depending on the location, the lamps are divided into types:
- Ceiling: it traditional look lighting needed in every bathroom. They provide the main light, indicate the exit, are often the only source of light in the room.
- Wall-mounted: used to illuminate the functional areas of the bathroom, give the room more convenience, and sometimes a special aesthetic effect.
- Floor standing: are optional, carry more decorative function. They give an unusual effect, sophistication, visually expand the space of a small bathroom. It will be especially interesting to use multi-colored light bulbs. The power of such lamps is about 5 watts, and you should definitely take care of good protection against moisture.
A new trend in bathroom lighting is the use of spot lighting. It can be performed using different types of fixtures and performs the function of highlighting a specific area for a specific need. Luminaires can be swivel to illuminate the desired object at the moment.
We highlight the following features of the location of light sources in the bathroom:
- Light should be uniform and properly distributed, do not forget about different functional areas bathroom.
- It is better to direct the lighting fixtures not perpendicular to reflective surfaces, but at a certain angle to them.
- When lighting a mirror, hang lamps on the sides of it, or side lamps in combination with the top ones. This will achieve the effect of light reflection and the absence of shadows on the face and any unnecessary distortion.
- It is better to connect different lamps with separate lines, so that if necessary, turn on either bright or subdued light.
- Furniture can also be illuminated, especially the contents of cabinets and shelves, in order to find the items you need in such dimly lit places.
- Separately, you can highlight and highlight the bath or shower, although this has a more decorative function. The illumination of measuring instruments will also be useful, lamps with low power will be sufficient.
Types of bathroom fixtures
To date, there are several types of lamps that can be used to illuminate the bathroom:
- Incandescent lamps.
- Halogen lamps.
- LED lights.
An incandescent lamp is a product that is popular, widely known and used in everyday life due to its availability, low price and instant ignition. It does not depend on temperature environment, works silently, but still has some drawbacks. This is a relatively short service life - rated for about 1000 hours, and strong heating. It is not recommended to use it together with plastic shades, fabric lampshades.
Halogen lamp - has excellent light output, copes well with thermal radiation, will last a long time, can be used in spot lighting on suspended ceilings. They have a power of 220 V and 12 V. But they need to install a low-voltage transformer, and they also consume quite a lot of electricity.
Fluorescent lamps - differ in a wide variety of shades of light, designed for a long time. But they can react to ambient temperature and voltage, and simply do not ignite. They also work with more noise than other lamps, and have a power of no more than 150 watts.
LED lighting - characterized by low energy consumption and long service life, used for spot lighting of rooms. The only drawback is its high price - both for lamps and related equipment.
With the help of any kind of these lamps, you can create proper lighting In bathroom.
To avoid distorting the light in the bathroom, you should choose a closed shade made of matte white or transparent material.
Cold spectrum fluorescent lamps, which can distort what we see, are also not suitable. Focus on the spectrum natural light, especially when you consider that most bathrooms have mostly artificial lighting due to their distance from windows facing the street.
Plafonds with stained glass create interesting light reflections on the walls, which will add zest to the room.
Suitable lighting power
The level of illumination of the sanitary premises affects the comfort of the residents there. Therefore, there are norms for the number of lumens per square meter of the room, that is, for the brightness of the light flux of each light bulb.
For sanitary facilities, 200 lumens per square meter is sufficient. At the same time, we must not forget about the decoration of the walls of the room: the darker the tone of the finish, the more light will be needed for comfortable lighting.
- Incandescent lamps with a power of 25 to 100 watts have a brightness of 200 to 1350 lumens.
- Halogen lamps will give brightness from 625 to 1170 lumens.
- Fluorescent lamps will provide 1500 to 2000 lumens.
- - the brightest, up to 6000 lumens, moreover, they can be selected for any need due to the many configurations of such backlighting.
Decorative lighting in the bathroom
If space permits, you can let your imagination run wild and add decorative lighting to the main one. It will give a special atmosphere to the bathroom, can organize an intimate atmosphere. Now you can highlight everything your heart desires - the floor, windows, niches, steps, the perimeter near the bath. There is even a backlight built into the bath, but this is one of the expensive projects. You can install LED strip around the perimeter of the floor and ceiling, which will create a unique effect. A starry sky effect ceiling light, installed in addition to one central lamp, will look amazing. With your own hands you can make lanterns from shiny cans by making holes in the jars and placing a candle inside. They can be moved to different places, thus playing with lighting.
The main thing here is a sense of harmony, style, the presence of taste and imagination, then all ideas can be realized with best result. Or you can turn to specialists who will develop a suitable individual project for the bathroom, hide all the flaws and emphasize the merits, based on any area of \u200b\u200bthe room.
So, the organization of lighting in the bathroom is a rather interesting task and has different alternatives. It is worth paying attention to it in order to achieve best effect and the greatest comfort in such a room necessary for life.
In city apartments, it is sometimes difficult to implement design ideas borrowed from foreign glossy magazines. This is due to limited space, the state of engineering structures, and a small limit of energy consumption. cannot be ignored and high percent marriage during construction. The communication device also does not always meet accepted standards. The situation is aggravated by the fact that over the past few years, many non-standard electrical and plumbing fixtures have appeared that are not designed for typical housing. Despite these problems, there are many design solutions for high-end new buildings. In the article we show how the lighting in the bathroom can be: examples and photos.
Proper lighting in the bathroom
Each building has its own characteristics. In some of them, in order to fix the screw for the lamp, you need to cement it - neither dowels nor corks hold in the crumbling wall. It happens that communications are laid with errors. In old buildings where it has not been for a long time, the wiring needs to be replaced. Before starting work, you must make sure that everything is working properly, or bring the electrician into proper condition. For this, it is better to use the services of an electrician.
What Not to Do
There are prohibitions for the entire room and for its individual zones.
Restrictions according to GOSTs and SNiPs
Prohibited activities are listed in local regulations. IN different regions these lists may differ, but they are basically the same. For Moscow, Decree No. 508 PP applies. According to this document, it is prohibited to lay a line in reinforced concrete slabs and interpanel seams. Channels can be laid in the finish or under or drywall sheathing metal frame.
Some restrictions are introduced by GOSTs and SNiPs. Technical standards prohibit doing open wiring. You can only use a triple wire with a phase, neutral and protective core. Each of them must be in its own protective shell. All three cores are connected together under an additional layer of insulation. The use of a metal coating without insulation is not allowed. For laying, use corrugation or plastic pipes. Metal cannot be used. If the cable is damaged, such a coating will not be able to protect against electric shock. The use of electrical tape is not allowed.
Don't skimp on communications. It is better to take a thicker section so that the core does not burn out under intense loads. Commonly used aluminum cable section from 4 mm 2, or copper 2.5 mm 2. It is impossible to combine copper and aluminum - this will lead to a reaction between them.
In the bathroom it is forbidden to place switches, electrical panels and junction boxes. Sockets and all appliances must have. There are special models for wet rooms. All facilities must be grounded. To minimize the risk, even a bathtub can be grounded if it is made of steel or cast iron.
In no case should you do the grounding yourself by connecting the wire to heating battery or water pipe. This can be dangerous to life and health.
According to the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, any changes that require making to the registration certificate and the BTI plan require the creation project documentation. Only an engineering organization with SRO approval can draw up a project. Documentation must be approved by state authorities. Lighting is usually not a refurbishment, but it may be part of a plan that requires a number of changes to the layout and power supply of the apartment.
In order to avoid mistakes, everything must be carefully planned and calculated before starting work. To avoid getting an electric shock, you should work with the electricity turned off.
Restrictions for individual zones
Bathroom lighting small size, as well as in a spacious room depends on the zones with varying degrees humidity. Four areas can be distinguished:
- The space above the bath, as well as inside the shower, where there is especially a lot of water and steam, and the concentration of humidity is the highest. Here you can install luminaires with a power of up to 12 W with an IP 674 protection index or more. This parameter is always indicated on the packaging or in the instructions. The first digit indicates the degree of protection against dirt. It ranges from 1 to 6. The second shows how well the product is protected from water and steam. The maximum value is 8. At this level, it can be immersed in liquid for a long time. The last number is impact resistance. It ranges from 0 to 10.
- The space adjacent to the sink and shower and other plumbing. Drops of water may fall here. You can use lamps with a power of up to 24 W and a degree of protection IP 452.
- An area located at a distance of 50 cm from the sink and other appliances. There are no more power restrictions. The index must be at least IP 242.
- The last section is everything that is further. Drops usually do not reach here. Moisture gets here in the form of steam and condensate. Devices with an IP index of 011 and higher are used in this area.
Such zoning is applied regardless of the presence of a hood. It is suitable for individual and.
Lamp selection
In damp rooms, the use of any type of lamp is allowed. Each of them has its strengths and weak sides.
Halogen
This a good option for any area - both large and small. They last a long time, have a high light output. They can be installed in any suspended ceiling covering, even those that do not tolerate temperature well. For example, PVC film begins to melt and lose shape at 60 degrees. Usually, with strong heating, it wrinkles and sags near spotlights, but in this case it doesn't happen. The only downside is that a buck adapter is needed for low power models. Products may have different colors.
Fluorescent
Their advantage lies in the fact that, unlike halogen, they are able to provide warm and daylight. Their power is lower. It does not exceed 150 watts. When working, they make a characteristic sound that may seem annoying.
Incandescent lamps
They are the least economical and have a short service life. During operation, they get very hot. The only advantage is low cost.
LED
They are the most economical. It's pretty unusual way lighting. It is often used for mirrors and niches.
How to calculate the lighting in the bathroom
The calculated parameter is brightness. It depends on which lamp is used, as well as on its power. According to current standards, at least 50 lumens (lm) should fall on 1 m 2. To better understand what a lumen is, imagine a stream of rays from a spiral under a glass shell. With a power of 100 W, it is equal to 1300 lm. 25 W create a flux of 200 lm. LED lamps are more efficient. With a power of 40 W or more, they give approximately 6000 lm. This is three times more than fluorescent, nine times more than halogen.
To find out the required number of devices, you need to calculate how many lumens 1 W gives, and then determine how much power should fall on 1 m 2. The result obtained should be multiplied by the area of \u200b\u200bthe room.
The layout can be quite complex and include several tiers.
Ceiling
With low ceilings, do not hang massive chandeliers. Flat designs that do not take up space are more suitable here. On the ceiling, you can install a model with a flat lampshade. Spherical shades are suitable for the upper part of the walls. The kit includes fasteners that are mounted on screws. They are placed opposite the entrance or above the door. They will look good if placed around the perimeter.
On the basis of drywall, as a rule, ceiling lamps are not hung. It is more convenient to place spotlights on it. They take less space are more difficult to damage. In addition, they create less shadows, as they are located over the entire surface. Before installing them, you need to do the wiring. Wires are laid in corrugation or plastic tubes. The advantage of frame systems is their rigidity. The tubes can simply be placed on the sheets without fixing them.
Ends up to 20 cm long are brought to the devices. They should not come into contact with metal profile. Holes in drywall are cut using a special cylindrical nozzle. To insure yourself against mistakes, it is better to do this after mounting the sheets.
To install wiring under stretch ceiling, it must be fixed to the ceiling with clamps made of plastic. It is better not to use metal ones, as they conduct electricity. Luminaires are mounted on special racks mounted on the ceiling. They must be adjusted to the level of the canvas. Holes are cut in the coating above them with a sharp, well-sharpened knife. They are framed with frames included in the kit. or the bottom of the tub. The backlight can be set even in flooring. Usually it performs a decorative function and creates a special atmosphere conducive to relaxation.
Design tricks
Beauty is a subjective concept, but there are principles of harmony and correspondence of details that are understandable to everyone on an intuitive level. For example, a huge chandelier in a small room will look bad. Do not get too carried away with mixing styles and mixing classics and high-tech. However, with good creative intuition, you can do exquisite kitsch.
Focus on convenience
When designing an interior, convenience should come first. A group of spotlights can be placed where they are needed. It is necessary to arrange the devices so that there are no shadows, observing the principles of uniformity and symmetry. Some designers advise to focus on some bright detail. The central ceiling can also serve as such an element, but it is better to highlight important element interior, directing rays at it or making a backlight.
Take advantage of layout
With a ceiling height of 3 m, you can use the rays reflected from the walls and floor. To do this, lamps are mounted in the upper part of the wall, directed downwards and slightly inward. If it is necessary to achieve softness and distraction, the devices are directed upwards and hidden behind wide plinth or decorative covers to hide them from view.
Designate a work area near the sink
Particular attention needs to be paid working area near the sink. There shouldn't be shadows here. With excessive brightness, the rays will blind the eyes and create glare, with insufficient intensity, it will be difficult to carry out cosmetic procedures. It is better to make the lighting above the mirror in the bathroom as close to natural as possible so that it does not change the color of objects. It is most convenient to use sconces on flexible adjustable racks.
- Material prepared: Artem Filimonov
We all would like to live in spacious apartments located in a separate standing house somewhere in a picturesque area with a view of the landscape enchanting with its beauty.
But, the reality is most often far from these dreams and you have to settle in a small apartment so that living in it is made as comfortable as possible.
To do this, you can use various design techniques - selection color design, decoration and, of course, right choice lighting.
Let's talk about lighting a small bathroom in this article, see what solutions can visually enlarge the space to give the room a more presentable look.
Fixtures for a small bathroom
No matter how much we would like, but no tricks can turn 4 square meters into 10. But efforts should be made to ensure that the level of illumination is sufficient even without that small space the room was not lost in the shadows.
Luminaires should be chosen with such power that the room is illuminated with bright, but not blinding light. In the article on the choice of fixtures, we have already touched on the issue of the power of lamps for bathroom lighting, you can follow the recommendations given in the article for lighting a small bathroom.
It is not recommended to hang one lamp in a small room. Although such a solution will reduce the laboriousness of equipping the bathroom with lamps, it will visually make the bath even smaller, since the light will not spread evenly throughout the room, creating thick dark shadows in the corners, behind furniture and plumbing fixtures, stealing space.
One of the basic rules for arranging lighting in a small-sized bathroom (in Khrushchev or a modern small-sized apartment) is uniform lighting of the entire room due to several ceiling or wall lamps.
At the same time, lamps can be any - LED spotlights (spots), fluorescent energy-saving lamps, incandescent lamps, halogen lamps. The main thing is that their luminous flux provides sufficient illumination brightness.
If the connection is incorrect, blinking of the LED lamps may be observed.
The photo below shows possible options placement of lamps in a small room (images are clickable, click to enlarge):
Adjustable lighting power
Another tip for lighting a small bathroom concerns the installation of a dimmer.
In combination with the zoning of lighting in the room, you can create a very special coziness, while not visually reducing its dimensions.
Lighting zoning
Slatted ceilings with mirrored inserts diffuse light well in the volume of the bathroom, make it visually lighter and slightly increase in size.
Don't do it in a small room mirror ceiling. This will visually turn it into a real well.
Therefore, it is better to make a bright ceiling from reflective material and illuminate it from below with wall lamps or use ceiling lamps that protrude slightly downward from the ceiling so that the light they emit hits the ceiling and reflects from it throughout the bathroom.
In the bathroom, we put ourselves in order after sleep, preparing to meet the new day fully armed: we perform a variety of cosmetic procedures and evaluate our appearance. All these actions cannot be performed blindly or in the twilight. This means that the lighting in the bathroom is designed to perform, first of all, a practical function.
But its aesthetic component cannot be discounted. How we see our reflection in the mirror may depend emotional coloring our whole day. Thinking about how to arrange the lamps in the bathroom, we sometimes solve problems more important than just organizing artificial lighting.
Depends on the location of the light sources general impression that your bathroom will produce. Therefore, the lighting scheme for this room should become one of the constituent parts of the overall design of the project, even if we are talking about a tiny bathroom space in an ordinary Khrushchev.
What can we say about modern new buildings, the rooms in which are spacious and have an original layout. There is room for the imagination to run wild here. Moreover, new design solutions, technology and modern lighting devices provide such an opportunity.
When the bathroom is spacious and its ceilings are high, the designer's imagination has no limits and can create real miracles.
The layout of fixtures in the bathroom depends on many factors, including the following:
- room size;
- location levels;
- breakdown into functional zones;
- interior style and color scheme of the room;
- choice of lighting fixtures.
All these factors can both contribute to the flight design fantasy and bring us back to the realities of life. Professional designer, involved in such work, will definitely ask the owner of the room if he has a desire to visually correct the bathroom space using the play of light.
After all, skillfully directed rays are able to “raise” the ceiling or jacuzzi, “lengthen” or “push apart” the walls.
With lighting and some other design techniques and tricks you can turn a small bathroom into a magnificent underwater kingdom
Regardless of the scale of future changes, the main points of the planned placement of lighting fixtures should be included in the scheme. Although it is possible that in the course of further work, adjustments may be made to it.
Three levels of luminaire placement
When planning for any other space, we take into account not only artificial, but also natural daylight. But windows in the bathroom, as a rule, are not provided, so you have to rely solely on artificially created light. It should provide us with a full-fledged luminous flux that can satisfy all needs.
It is not necessary to use all three levels of bathroom lighting, but once you start this amazing play of light and shadow, it is so difficult to curb your own imagination.
Artificial lighting in the bathroom can be presented in three levels:
- top - ceiling;
- medium - working;
- lower - outdoor.
A successful combination of these levels can create a truly magical decorative effect. But do not forget about the practical side of the issue - the room should be light and comfortable.
Mandatory top level
The upper level is located at a distance of 180 cm from the floor level and above. Ceiling lighting is a must in any bathroom. No matter how extravagant the implemented design solutions are, no one is in a hurry to abandon ceiling lights.
Moreover, design ideas are getting more and more sophisticated. In accordance with the chosen interior style, you can, for example, organize the popular "starry sky" on the ceiling or hang a single, but luxurious chandelier made of flowing crystal.
Who would have thought that this colorful crystal chandelier would fit so flawlessly into the interior of a very bright Provence-style bathroom.
Of course, the only lamp under a frosted ceiling, which was installed either in the middle part of the ceiling or above the doorway, has long lost its relevance. Although this option is still used in small spaces. But more and more modern lighting devices are used and in much larger quantities.
It has become popular to install spotlights in the bathroom. They attract attention with their reliability, variety of appearance, decorativeness, efficiency and ease of use. The scheme of their location must be thought out in advance. You can concentrate them in the center of the room or distribute them over the areas of the bath, washbasin, and so on. Shaded areas in the room should not be. This is especially true for niches, columns and so on.
This gorgeous bathroom looks snowy thanks in large part to the clever ceiling lighting, which combines the light of elegant lamps and a luxurious chandelier located in the center.
Just to solve the problem uniform distribution light and use a large number of its sources. The more of them are installed in the room, the less the power of each of them can be, the more modest their sizes can be. Multi-position lighting fixtures are most often equipped with halogen lamps.
Halogen lamps are open and recessed. If the bathroom is to be installed suspended ceiling, then such embedded structures can be mounted in it. It does not matter what material the ceiling itself will be built from. Halogen lamps emit a beam of light from above, which is directed vertically downwards, so it is more rational to use spotlights, the angle of rotation of which is adjustable.
An interesting top-level solution for rooms with high ceilings is the simultaneous use of direct and reflected light fluxes. At some distance from the surface of the main ceiling, an aluminum suspension can be installed. A number of point devices are fixed on its lower surface. They will organize a direct stream of light.
On the upper surface of the same design, a number of sources with a wide scattering angle are placed. Lighting with such a scheme will be not only sufficient, but also original.
Not only the combination of direct and reflected light flux looks impressive in any bathroom, but also the distribution of light sources at different levels
If the ceiling is low and the style of the room allows, the lighting system will help to model modern design, which is based on current-carrying systems - string and bus. These peculiar light beads are attached to the ceiling or to the upper level of the walls. With their help, you can create very unusual futuristic combinations.
The Secrets of Light Placement in the Middle Level
A spacious bathroom can be easily and simply divided into zones, providing each of them with local light sources that will help realize the functionality of each selected area.
Mirror and washbasin
When it comes to the work area, first of all, the correct lighting of the mirror and washbasin is implied. For this purpose, you need to choose a source of bright but diffused light so that there is no unnecessary strain on the eyes. Illuminate the mirror to solve different problems should be different.
- For shaving. The lamp should be located above the mirror.
- For applying make-up. Lighting should come from two sides at the same time.
Solving these two tasks simultaneously, we organize the illumination of the mirror from at least three sides. On the sides of the mirror, identical sconces, fixed symmetrically, look best. This arrangement is not only beautiful, but also functional. The light in this case is distributed evenly, without unnecessary shadows.
The illumination of the mirror should be done especially carefully, because how you see yourself in the morning will depend on your mood for the whole day.
You can buy a mirror equipped with hidden or external lighting. A similar idea, embodied using LED strips, can be used to decorate the edge of the bath, furniture elements or decorative niches. An excellent source of light can be sconces mounted on flexible arms that can be bent as you like so that the result achieved is optimal.
The effect of light diffusion is achieved by using lampshades made of white plastic or frosted glass. Give preference white color, since your own reflection in the mirror in this case will be as realistic and optimal for applying cosmetics.
It is not necessary to place sconces on the sides of the mirror. The washbasin area can also be illuminated with the help of plafonds fixed on the ceiling
You can emphasize the qualities of a wide mirror with a whole series of sources, placing them along its upper edge. If the mirror has medium parameters, you can illuminate it around the perimeter. In this case, it is not necessary to mount the lamps on the wall. Some of them are glued directly to the mirror surface.
Bath and jacuzzi
Many models of shower cabins are initially equipped with autonomous lighting. If this option is not provided, its implementation should definitely be taken care of during the repair period. Why not provide local lighting fixtures and a bath? A number of manufacturers offer us models with autonomous illumination, but this pleasure is too expensive.
Of course, such original lighting bath is not the only one in this room. Most likely, it is used when meditation is accompanied by ablution.
You can think of others interesting solutions. For example, organize a separate group of spotlights above the bathroom, a beautiful wall lamp or a tall floor lamp with a stained-glass lampshade. Here it is not necessary to observe the sterile whiteness of the light. You can use multi-colored light bulbs or a rainbow lampshade.
Illumination of furniture items
It's amazing how much space it takes up household chemicals, which we are accustomed to store in this room with a modest size. Here is the majority cosmetics. For all this, as well as for towels, washcloths and all kinds of hygiene items, shelves and cabinets are required.
It is not necessary to highlight the furniture, but sometimes the smallest lamp makes life so much easier! After all, even in the refrigerator there is light, why not provide them with cabinets and shelves in the bathroom? All the items we need will be found in a shorter period of time.
Of course, it is impossible to realize all the ideas in a modest-sized room, and there is no need for this. In addition, do not forget that the light sources must match the style in which the entire interior of the room is made.
Light at the bottom
As a rule, the lower level of illumination is used exclusively to create decorative effects. However, as an emergency, this backlight can also be used.
They organize it either in the floor covering itself or at a height of no more than a decimeter from the floor surface. For these purposes, the same sealed low-power lamps are used. With the help of similar devices, garden paths are marked in summer cottages. Such lamps, the diameter of which does not exceed 5 cm, are mounted directly into the floor covering. The power of the lamps used in this case is approximately 5 watts.
Thanks to spectacular bottom lighting in the bathroom, you can create a futuristic interior that can impress all family members.
Well suited and LED lenka, not afraid of moisture. Attached to the lower perimeter of the bathtub, it creates the floating effect of this massive plumbing fixture.
Individuality and romance
One of the signs of our time is the massive rejection of everything impersonal and standard. Each owner wants his apartment or house to acquire individual features. Therefore, they are especially popular beautiful compositions self made, which are non-traditional light sources.
If there is a niche in the spacious bathroom that does not carry a special functional load, it can be decorated with a composition that emits light.
Candles create an unforgettable atmosphere of romance and happiness, which we sometimes lack. Do not stop to fully relax and recharge with the energy of joy
It is impossible not to mention those light sources that fill our home with romance. They themselves are its universally recognized embodiment. Of course, we are talking about candles. This wonderful invention of mankind today takes on unusual forms and incredibly captivating aromas.
When we light candles, we plunge into an atmosphere of peace and sensuality, forgetting about everything that worried and annoyed us throughout the day. You need to give yourself the opportunity to fully relax and recover.
Remember about safety
When planning how to place the lights in our bathroom, we must not lose sight of state standard, regulating the electrical safety requirements for this room with a high level of humidity. According to the standard, the room is divided into zones as shown in the picture.
Compliance with the rules for placing electrical appliances in the bathroom, established by domestic GOST and international regulations ensures our safety
If you select and install electrical equipment in accordance with the requirements of GOST, then:
- In zone 0, only low-voltage devices with voltage up to 12V can be fixed.
- Only water heaters are placed within zone 1.
- In zone 2, it is permissible to mount not only water heaters, but also lamps that have second-class protection against electric shock with reinforced or double insulation without grounding.
- In zone 3, socket outlets are installed, which are connected to the network using residual current devices or by means of isolating transformers.
The degree of protection of electrical appliances from water is regulated by the standards of the IP (Ingress Protection) system. If guided by them, then the following devices should be located in the zones:
- Zone 0 - class IPx7, impervious to moisture even when immersed in water;
- Zone 1 - class IPx5, protected from the effects of water jets, regardless of their direction;
- Zone 2 - class IPx4, not reacting to splashes on the surface;
- Zone 3 - class IPx1 with protection against drops falling vertically.
The combination of beauty and safety will make the bathroom in your home a place where you can truly relax, take a break from the hustle and bustle of the past day and adequately prepare for the day ahead.
Watch also video options for organizing bathroom lighting:
