Bathroom lighting, electricity and water need to be carefully planned, as safety is vital. The combination is potentially fatal and a qualified electrician should carry out any bathroom lighting. Bathrooms are where you are vulnerable without clothing or shoes that might insulate you from a shock. Carefully heed all warnings about bathroom lighting.

Bathroom Lighting page 1

BATHROOM LIGHTING

Bathroom lighting must be specially made for wet places and sealed in covers to protect then from steam.
High voltage bathroom lighting should only be operated by pull cords or from outside bathrooms. Track lights should never be used for bathroom lighting due to the danger of moisture coming into contact with exposed wiring.
Low voltage bathroom lighting can be used safely so long as bulbs are enclosed and sockets are double insulated.
The best bathroom lighting is daylight. To make the best use of this bathroom lighting place bathrooms basins near the window of bathrooms. Natural bathroom lighting gives a much more realistic idea of skin tone and colour.
No matter how good the natural bathroom lighting it will need to be supplemented by artificial lighting for tasks such as shaving or other tasks that require closer scrutiny.
Artificial bathroom lighting comes in 2 main types, which are bright and stimulating for clear vision and soft for relaxation.
To achieve a balance between these types of bathroom lighting requires good planning. It is a good idea to have 2 circuits with dimmer switches and some of these can be programmed so to achieve your preferred bathroom lighting all you need do is touch a number.
To begin with, in bathrooms you should designate a central ceiling area for functional light that you turn on when you enter the bathroom.
Recessed downlights are good for bathroom lighting when the ceiling is low. You need to position bathroom task lighting for shaving, make up etc. This should be targeted over the bathroom mirror and this type of lighting needs to be even and shadow free. The best type of bathroom lighting for this is a tungsten or fluorescent tube or 2 well placed and well balanced side lights.
Some mirrors for bathrooms have their own built in lighting and some fluorescent lights have shaver sockets.
Target bathroom lighting might also be useful where a lavatory or shower is in a separate cabinet or recessed behind a wall lacking light.
Bathroom lighting fitments are limited by safety considerations but we have a wide range to choose from in our Bathroom Lighting Store
These range from period inspired lights with opal glass and chrome to central bathroom lighting sets with arms which can be arranged to make an interesting design.Bathroom wall lighting can be round, oblong, diamond shaper or square and you may find that bathroom lighting with an opaque glass finish gives a softer more diffuse light than other glass. Angular shades that complement the angular lines of Art Deco fixtures as can bathroom lighting with a flame like glass shade that resembles a torch.
Bathroom lighting with bulkhead fittings like those on ships are watertight and have nautical overtones that can enhance the utilitarian mood of industrially inspired bathrooms.
Bathroom lighting for close scrutiny needs clear or plain glass fitments for effective lighting.
After an energetic stint in the bathroom with all lighting blazing you may want to transform bathrooms into a tranquil haven. This can be done by switching off the central lighting and dimming the outer perimeter bathroom lighting. Experiment with different combinations until you find the one that is most relaxing for you.
Spa and whirlpool bath lights provide some bathroom lighting, which allows the inside of the bath and the swirling water to become the focal point of the bathroom where the ambient lighting has been dimmed.
Some bathroom lighting can be recessed into the floor, which can create pools of light up walls, in corners or beside steps leading up to a raised bath. This type of bathroom lighting is not advised for the main floor areas.
Spotlights in bathrooms can be mounted secretly behind a shelf to highlight particular areas however this needs to be more intense than other bathroom lighting.
Bathroom lighting can also be created by the use of candles, especially scented ones but they should be carefully placed so as not to cause a fire. Placing them in front of a mirror can enhance the effect. Candles are romantic when lit but beware of the after effects if you wish to use candles as bathroom lighting try to find the smokeless variety.
A chandelier adds a touch of decadent bathroom lighting and the play of soft muted light can create rainbows.
If you need to change a light bulb ensure the area around the light is dry. Check that the floor of bathrooms is also dry if you are using steps. Obviously before you start check that the power is off.