Are you renovating your bathroom or preparing to install lighting in your bathroom for a new house? To optimize the lighting of this essential room in the house, you will need to consider 2 aspects: the efficiency of the chosen lights (functionality) and the aesthetics of the whole (the decoration of your bathroom). Eclairage Design offers you advice on choosing the best lighting for a bathroom.

Well arrange your bathroom

In the preamble, before wondering what type of lighting for a bathroom, it is wise to arrange it to take advantage of its shape and assets. Do you have the chance to have natural light in your bathroom thanks to a window? Place the sink near the window. This is where you will spend the most time and need to see correctly to prepare yourself in the morning, apart from the time to shower.

Do you have the chance to have a large bathroom? You can play with diffused lighting to illuminate the room as a whole and then support certain positions in a more design or efficient way. L-shaped spaces can be divided into 2 spaces: for personal hygiene and for preparation, 2 different lights can then be chosen.

When renovating a bathroom, the lighting will depend on the existing one and can be revised during major works. Regarding the positioning of the sink and water points (shower, bidet, bathtub), it will already be determined by the networks. Lighting will therefore be done accordingly. One last piece of advice: Remember to paint the walls of your bathroom in bright white to maximize the efficiency of natural light and your lighting!

How to light a bathroom

Lighting a bathroom is an easy task, provided you follow some safety and common sense rules.

Safety standards for bathroom lighting

Presence of water, humidity... We know that this does not go well with electricity, and to avoid electrocutions, it is better to respect the standards and be strict about the use of suitable lamps, luminaires, and bulbs. Legislation classifies volumes around dangerous elements (presence of water).

• Volume 0: Inside a bathtub or shower. No luminaire is allowed.

• Volume 1: above the bathtub/shower up to 2.25 meters in height (from the bottom of the bathtub). You can install a horizontal electric water heater with accumulation and class 3 luminaires in very low voltage (12V).

• Volume 2: 60 cm around the bathtub/shower, you can place heating appliances, class 2 luminaires, an electric water heater with accumulation of class 1.

• Volume 3: Outside the dangerous zone, it is possible to install a washing machine, dryer, or any other luminaire or appliance on a power outlet.

We recommend calling a professional or carefully reading the safety instructions for lighting devices and elements before installing them.

Where to place the lights in the bathroom?

Bathroom lights are placed in strategic locations. You will need particularly effective and powerful lighting above the vanity basin. For personal hygiene, brushing your teeth, and especially for applying makeup. To illuminate this area, you can opt for a backlit mirror. You can install recessed spots in the ceiling, choose a strip to adapt to your mirror or furniture above the basin.

Available in white or steel, this LED spot for the bathroom is suitable for this use with its IP65 standard. It will be perfect in a double ceiling to discreetly but strongly illuminate. It comes with a suitable LED bulb.

Near the shower or bathtub, you have few options, since luminaires are not allowed in this volume. You can place them starting from volume 1 above, that is, a recessed spot or a suitable wall lamp.

The Andrea wall lamp is suitable for outdoor use but also for the bathroom, with its waterproofing and IP65 standard. Its lighting is powerful and pleasant.

Use strips to highlight and illuminate furniture or a mirror. This will allow you to create lighting that is both design and useful. There are simple strips of applique type for bathrooms, with an integrated socket (for a hairdryer, for example). There are also more modern and design strips, like the Parma XL, which will install above the sink thanks to its IP44 class.

What lighting power in a bathroom?

To light a bathroom, count around 380 lumens per square meter. Lamps must be effective as it is a functional place. Think about multiplying light sources to create atmospheres. You can also opt for dimmable LED bulbs that have a dimmer to adjust the light intensity. You can choose full power for preparation, makeup, styling, and create a more subdued atmosphere for a bath or for the hygiene of a toddler.

The Milan recessed spots are sold in sets of 8 and are dimmable, while complying with the IP65 standard! The white collar makes them elegant for a refined bathroom.

Read our article on the power of LEDs to choose the LED bulb that best suits your needs!

What color temperature?

In a bathroom, one generally chooses a light with a cool color (4000k) that is closest to natural light. While warm lights are more pleasant, they distort colors, making it difficult to apply makeup and prepare easily. But it's all a matter of taste!

A well-lit bathroom, a place of relaxation and functionality, allows you to start and end the day on the right foot. Did you know that it's the favorite room of the French? Turn this place into a well-lit white paradise to feel good and take care of yourself!