Most bathrooms lack natural light, so the question arises of choosing the right fixtures. The light in the bathroom should not be too bright so as not to irritate the eyes after waking up. And it should not be too dull, because the bathroom is the venue for most cosmetic procedures. Bathroom lighting should not only be functional, but also in harmony with the overall design of the room. In addition, the bathroom is a room with high humidity, therefore, special safety requirements are imposed on the lamps. The best functional and aesthetic solution is spotlights for the bathroom. They allow you to create not only good lighting of individual areas, such as a mirror, but also emphasize the original design of the room as a whole. In addition, spotlights for the bathroom are protected against accidental ingress of water into the housing, which increases the level of safety of their use.
Moisture protection
The level of moisture protection is one of the most important factors in the selection of lighting fixtures for the bathroom. Moisture-proof spotlights for the bathroom are leakproof, rubberized parts and good insulation of wiring. The degree of protection is determined by the IP index on the packaging of the device. The index consists of two numbers, the first of which determines the degree of protection against solid objects on the lamp housing, and the second - liquids. For the bathroom, fixtures with indices from IP67 to IP21 are used. Moisture-proof spotlights for the bathroom with the IP67 index withstand temporary immersion in water to a depth of 1 meter and are suitable for installation in the bathroom or shower tray. Devices with IP65 index are protected against regular water jets, and IP44 are not afraid of accidental splashes. For ceiling lighting of the main part of the room, away from water sources, fixtures with the IP21 index are suitable. The sealed housing protects well not only from moisture, but also from dust, so the spotlights for the bathroom will last longer.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of bathroom fixtures is their protection against moisture and dust. They are safe and do not emit harmful substances. Due to the tightness of the casing, such lamps have a longer service life. Spotlights for the bathroom allow you to create good lighting, zoning the space, to place light accents. Due to their small size, they do not “overload” the space of small bathrooms. Manufacturers offer models of various designs, sizes and installation methods. To choose beautiful and functional lighting for any interior is not difficult. In the bathroom fixtures, all types of household lamps can be used.
The main disadvantage of spotlights for the bathroom is the difficulty of installing the system. They are designed for installation in mounted structures. If the latter are absent, you will have to create voids in the concrete floor for the lamps themselves and the wiring. Wiring requires careful isolation from moisture. For some types of lamps, voltage-reducing transformers will be needed. Replacing a burned-out bulb also presents some difficulty, since a leak in the seal can affect the safety of subsequent operation. In addition, such lamps are more expensive than usual.
Incandescent
Incandescent lamps in spotlights are rarely used due to strong heating. They are suitable only for overhead light fixtures and give off light in a yellow-red spectrum, which distorts the perception of color when applying makeup. Incandescent lamps consume a large amount of electricity, but they can withstand voltage surges and high humidity. Among household lamps, they have the shortest service life - only 1000 hours.
Halogen
Halogen lamps will last four times longer than incandescent lamps, however they are very sensitive to voltage surges and frequent on / off switching. Such lamps are not suitable for built-in spotlights due to strong heating. They are safe, compact and give light that is close to natural. In addition, halogen lamps are economical and durable.
LED
The best choice is LED spotlights for the bathroom. They do not heat up, which is why they are suitable for recessed lighting in stretch ceilings. LEDs consume 5-7 times less energy than incandescent lamps. They are safe, resistant to power surges and durable. LED lamp life is 100,000 hours. LEDs can give light of various shades: from a warm yellow glow to a cold bluish. For decorative lighting use colored lamps: red, pink, purple, blue, green. The main disadvantage of LED lamps is their higher cost in comparison with other types of lamps. However, high performance, durability and low power consumption justify their price.
Recessed
Recessed luminaires are installed in such a way as to form a single plane with the surface. They are well suited for suspended structures: suspended, plasterboard, rack ceilings. For spotlights in the bathroom, the wiring is laid in advance, before installing the suspended ceiling. Such lighting fixtures are often used for zoning and focusing on original interior details. In built-in spotlights, LED lamps are most often used. If it is planned to use halogen lamps or incandescent, then their power should not exceed 35 W and 60 W, respectively. When installing built-in spotlights in a suspended ceiling, it is necessary to additionally use heat-insulating rings, otherwise the canvas may be deformed from exposure to high temperatures.
Overhead
Overhead lights are installed on the surface of the ceiling or walls. They often have decorative shades of patterned or frosted glass, ceramics. Some models of overhead spotlights for the bathroom are decorated with crystals of crystal or colored plastic. Such lamps look very original in the bathroom. Overhead lights are easier to install on concrete floors than built-in ones. And for suspended ceilings will have to use a substrate of wood or suspensions. Due to the fact that the lamp protrudes above the plane of the ceiling, all types of household lamps can be used in overhead lamps.
Swivel
Swivel lights are a beautiful and functional solution for highlighting certain areas, in particular the washbasin and the mirror. Such lamps have a hinge, so that the cartridge can be rotated in different directions. Swivel lights can be mounted both as overhead and as built-in. A variety of the latter are rotary-extendable models. In the “folded” state, they look like ordinary built-in lamps, and a retractable mechanism allows you to lower the cartridge up to 10 cm from the ceiling and rotate it in the right direction.
How to choose?
So which spotlights for the bathroom to choose? Of course, the main factor is safety, therefore, first of all, you need to pay attention to the moisture protection index.
The next criterion is functionality. The light in the bathroom should be soft, but not too dim to be comfortable with cosmetic procedures. Swivel spotlights are ideal for illuminating the mirror area, and built-in models are ideal for the area above the bathroom or shower. Overhead lights are well suited for general lighting. Proper location will provide not only comfort when using the room, but also emphasize the stylistic decision of the interior. Power calculation is quite simple. For incandescent lamps, power is selected based on the ratio of 10-30 watts per square meter, for halogen lamps - 25-30 watts per square meter. m, and for LED lamps - 2-3 watts per square meter. m. If the decoration of the room is designed in bright colors, the power is calculated based on the lower value, if in the dark - from the top.
The final selection criterion is the design of the lamp. Manufacturers offer a wide range of both universal and original models. Choosing a spotlight suitable for a particular interior will not be difficult.
How to install?
Lighting installation technology depends on the type of ceiling and the type of fixtures selected. If the spotlight is mounted in a concrete ceiling, then you will need a surface grating to lay the wiring and create niches for the built-in lighting. If you plan to install a suspension structure - the task is simplified. Each lamp is connected to the distribution wiring individually. For laying wiring use insulating corrugation. Twist the wiring must be sealed and insulated with heat shrink tubes. Built-in models of luminaires are usually mounted on suspensions mounted on concrete floors. However, spring-mounted spotlights are gaining more and more popularity, they are lightweight and can be attached directly to the hinged coating without the risk of overloading the structure. Overhead models of luminaires can also be mounted on suspensions. If you plan to install a stretch ceiling, you should provide wooden substrates for overhead lights. When the fixtures are installed, the reinforcing thermorings will help to avoid tearing the web. After installing the suspended ceiling, you can begin to connect and install the fixtures.
Installing spotlights in the bathroom is a difficult and demanding task, so it’s best to entrust it to professionals.
The lighting of the bathroom should be not only aesthetic, but also functional. Spot lighting is the best suited for these purposes. Spotlights provide soft diffused light for the entire room, allow you to illuminate functional areas and place accents. The bathroom is a room with high humidity, therefore, increased safety requirements are imposed on lighting devices. The degree of protection of the luminaire against moisture and dust is indicated on the packaging by the IP index. In bathrooms, built-in, overhead and rotary models of spotlights are installed.