Despite the fact that choosing a lighting fixture for the bathroom does not seem so difficult, you need to approach this issue with all responsibility, because all family members spend a lot of time in this room. In addition, this is where the most light is needed, and constant high humidity creates some difficulties when choosing a device that will function normally in these conditions.
Lamp above the mirror in the bathroom
When choosing a lamp over a mirror in the bathroom, it is advisable to give preference to those that were originally designed for bathrooms, because they are already made in the appropriate style, and their design prevents moisture from getting inside.
Lamps must be waterproof
Pair of sconces
Bathroom wall lights are one of the most popular and effective ways to illuminate the area near the mirror. Sconces can be of various shapes, take up very little space and still illuminate the space well.
Since we perform such important rituals at the mirror, such as applying makeup and shaving, it is important to remember that wall lamps should provide good illumination not only for the room, but primarily for your face.
Sconces are most often chosen in pairs to ensure that the face is evenly illuminated. A light on only one side of the mirror will inevitably cast deep shadows on your face.
Opt for translucent upward-facing lamps. The most convenient option would be swivel spots on hinges. You can easily adjust their position.
Thin, narrow lamps with LED lamps are also very popular. They illuminate the face evenly and highlight the beauty of the mirror.
Professional installation of illuminated mirrors
If the process described in this article seemed easy to you, try installing a backlit mirror yourself. If you have any questions, write to us or leave your message in the feedback form. We will definitely advise you! But if you are still not confident in your abilities, it is better to entrust the connection of the illuminated mirror to a professional. You can order the installation service by checking the appropriate box when ordering the product.
In the Rosestar catalog you will find both inexpensive basic mirrors with linear lighting and premium models of unusual shapes, sizes and designs. Our workshop produces all possible options for illuminated mirrors: rectangular, round, oval and irregular shapes; with frames and without frames; for the bathroom, nursery or dressing room and many, many others.
Write to us right now! The sooner you place your order, the faster your custom mirror will be delivered to you. You will fall in love with stylish mirrors from Rosestar from the first second, and time will only confirm their reliability and impeccable quality!
Single lamp above the mirror
A single lamp for the bathroom is chosen by those owners whose mirror is located on a narrow wall, if there is simply no room on the sides of the mirror for a pair of sconces. A single lamp can have one shade or illuminate the mirror and tabletop with two lamps.
Take a closer look at vertical wall lights for the bathroom. They can often be deployed horizontally. Such an elongated lamp works great above a mirror, although it can create small shadows on the face.
Avoid obvious contradictions
The decision to add additional light does not always come at the renovation stage. Sometimes you have to match it to an already purchased mirror. Of course, a person first of all creates an interior for himself and has every right to any combination of styles, sizes, shapes and materials. But it's best to avoid the following:
- too massive and bright lighting around the perimeter of the mirror for a small bathroom;
- the juxtaposition of colored neon lamps with a mirror in a frame with gilding or stucco;
- choosing a very cool light for classics;
- different geometry of the mirror and light source (for example, bell-shaped lampshades are not entirely appropriate next to a mirror that has clear lines and sharp corners);
- structures that will subsequently be difficult to clean from contamination.
Among bathroom furnishings, a mirror attracts more attention than, say, a sink or a towel rail. Often it is a kind of center of the composition, so the design of this zone should be approached especially carefully. In addition, properly selected lighting visually expands the room.
Modern industry offers such a variety of additional lighting solutions and types of lamps that the buyer today is often puzzled how to figure it all out.
Small pendant lights
While a single chandelier won't do the job of providing quality lighting in a bathroom, several small pendant lights can be quite functional.
Main requirements:
- Quite a long suspension cord;
- Transparent or translucent lampshade.
An excellent alternative to wall sconces would be a pair of pendant lamps on either side of the mirror.
In order for the lamps to illuminate not only the space, but also the face, they should be approximately at eye height or slightly higher.
Mistake 7. Buy a chandelier/sconce with a dark shade and pattern
The material of the lampshade or floral shades can eat up the light power and convey the color of the light incorrectly. For example, a lampshade made of dark, light-retaining material reduces the level of illumination, which is most inconvenient in the bathroom, while many decorative details leave a shadow. Therefore, check immediately in the store how overly designer and decorative models transmit light.
Unsuccessful sconce for the bathroom, photo example
A successful example of a sconce for a bathroom, photo example
Recessed luminaires
If you write “photos of bathroom fixtures” in a search engine, the first thing you will see is recessed lighting on the ceiling. This type of lighting is very popular due to the fact that it matches any interior style. Even if you want to completely remodel the bathroom, such laconic lamps will not need to be changed.
One of the mistakes is that the functions of all other lighting devices are transferred to the built-in backlight. Built-in waterproof bathroom lights can only complement other types of lighting, for example, illuminating the area near the mirror.
If you do not want to use other lighting methods, distribute 4 or more recessed lamps along the ceiling and connect them to a dimming system.
And other ideas...
The modern market even offers lighting systems such as light panels. They can be part of the mirror or located next to it, behind it, to imitate a window overlooking the sea, an aquarium, or simply water ripples, a starry sky, soap bubbles or stained glass.
If the mirror has a shelf, then you can place luminous figures in the form of shells and angels on it, which may be appreciated by creative people.
You can build flexible lighting not only using an LED strip, but also using a luminous garland that meets all the requirements for wet rooms. This can be an imitation of plant motifs, insects and other design ideas.
There are even luminous curtains for the bathroom, which, when located next to the mirror, can act as a backlight. For a marine style, it will not be difficult to choose lampshades that imitate portholes.
Despite the huge range of accessories and electrical goods for bathrooms, the choice of mirror lighting needs to be considered carefully, taking into account the style of the room, the safety of the design, its environmental friendliness, ease of care and affordability. Then the bathroom will become not only a place for hygiene procedures, but also an area of emotional release.
LED strips
LED lighting is one of the newest lighting methods. LEDs are capable of producing bright white or colored light, they last a very long time, consume minimal electricity and do not heat up. This allows you to use this type of lighting to illuminate suspended ceilings, mirrors, shelves and niches.
LED strip is often used for additional room lighting. For example, if necessary, you can turn on and off the diode illumination of the mirror, and another lamp can provide general light.
If you place a diode strip behind a mirror, it will be picturesquely illuminated and seem to float in the air.
LED cabinet lighting makes the bathroom visually larger.
LEDs have another undeniable advantage over other types of lamps; there are special LED strips that are not afraid of not only drops, but even jets of water. The LED strip is very easy to install; just remove the protective coating and stick it on.
Lighting requirements
The main requirement for lighting fixtures used in the bathroom is a moisture-proof coating (or a special design that prevents drops from getting inside). Most often there are additional rubber seals on the lampshades. Sealant “plugs” are required on the wires.
Each lamp has an IP index. The first number is the level of protection against dust and other small particles getting inside the case, and the second number is water. The minimum permissible value for a bathroom appliance is 44 (it is not afraid of water splashes), the optimal value is 55 (it will survive even powerful jets).
Other important nuances should also be taken into account:
- The light should not be too sharp or blinding, otherwise the eyes quickly get tired, perception is distorted, and the reflection turns out blurry. The recommended degree of light scattering is up to 400 lux.
- Lamps are produced in three types - they give warm yellowish, cool pale blue or neutral white light. The latter option provides the most realistic color reproduction. The average color temperature of the lamp is 4000–4200 K.
- The backlight should be bright, but not blinding. Do not aim the beam directly at the mirror. It is better to place devices on the sides or along the entire frame.
- When installing mirror lighting in the bathroom, it is recommended to leave at least 60 cm between the bulbs and the water source. Lamps with a power of 12 and 24 W minimize the risk of a short circuit.
A regular bathroom mirror won't do either. It will quickly become cloudy and stop giving a high-quality reflection despite proper lighting. It is necessary to choose models with a silver-coated surface that does not suffer from temperature changes, humidity, or corrosion.
Lamps must be protected from moisture
Lamps with a power of 12–24 W will minimize the likelihood of a short circuit. The distance from the lamp to the water is at least 60 cm.
The light should not be harsh or blinding
Lamp selection
Many lamp models still use base lamps. They come in these types:
Incandescent lamps. They are vacuum, halogen and krypton. Halogen lamps shine brighter and consume less electricity, and krypton lamps are not afraid of power surges.
Luminescent. Modern fluorescent lamps are also suitable for standard lamp bases. They practically do not heat up, last a long time and give soft light.
LED. LED lamps are quite expensive, but the strength, durability and resistance to voltage surges of this lamp justify its price.
Safety
The combination of electricity and moisture is possible only under special conditions, so when organizing lighting it is important to ensure the safe operation of the devices. When choosing lamps, it is necessary to check the degree of protection from moisture and dust. Electrical wiring is installed taking into account electrical safety standards and regulations.
Distribution boxes are not placed inside the bathroom due to high humidity. In the connecting devices that are laid out according to the diagram, it is required to perform insulation in accordance with safety standards. The devices are protected with moisture-proof terminal blocks.
Safe operation of the system is ensured by connection to grounding devices. When installing lamps, it is necessary to install protective devices - RCDs. The equipment detects current leakage and, if a violation is detected, automatically turns off the electricity supply.
It is important to separate lighting fixture sets when installing wiring. To ensure safety, sockets are mounted separately from lighting systems and powerful electrical devices. Subsystems must be equipped with their own protection - circuit breakers.
Power level
According to international standards, for every square meter of a bathroom there should be 200 lux of light. Multiply the area of your bathroom by this figure.
The resulting value must be divided by the number of lamps, taking into account what type of lamps will power them. For example, an energy-efficient fluorescent lamp can provide up to 7 times more light than a traditional incandescent lamp.
Light temperature
It has been scientifically proven that neutral light is the most comfortable for the eyes. This color is obtained between classic warm yellow and cool white light. Neutral light is most similar to sunlight and does not distort the colors of the objects around us.
When choosing a bathroom lamp, be sure to check with the seller whether it can be used in a damp environment. Special moisture-resistant luminaires usually have a thicker layer of insulation to protect the fixture from short circuits.
Decorative
A separate type of lighting fixtures is decorative sconces . They can have different colors, cold, warm, matte shades. These devices, combined with high quality lamps, provide good light.
Such lamps are mainly equipped with the ability to rotate. It allows you to adjust them in any desired direction. This will illuminate other objects besides the mirror. Such models are secured with brackets.
They may have one or several shades. Lamps of this type can be made in various styles . They often have non-trivial, attractive shapes.
