Bathroom Lighting: Tips, Ideas and Suggestions for the Bathroom

Bathrooms used to be regarded as purely functional spaces. In recent years, however, the bathroom has become an oasis of peace and relaxation for many. The right lighting in the bathroom plays a central role, as it helps with orientation to prevent accidents on the one hand, and prevents shaving or make-up mishaps on the other. But light can do so much more! It transforms a cold, functional space into your very own, personal spa, where you can relax and forget about your stressful day.

Our guide offers practical tips on how to create the perfect light for your bathroom.

1. Where can I install light sources in my bathroom?

Light harmony, with basic, zone and accent lighting working together, is just as important in the bathroom as it is in any other room of your home. Find out here, which LED luminaires are the right choice for which area of the bathroom.

Basic lighting in the bathroom

Basic or general lighting in the bathroom is primarily used for orientation. The right light in your bathroom will prevent you slipping or falling over obstacles.

Recessed spotlights are the most popular choice for general bathroom lighting. Their uncomplicated design makes them virtually invisible. When you plan your bathroom light concept, don't forget that recessed luminaires for the bathroom will have to be installed in a suspended ceiling.

LED panels are also a good option if a suspended ceiling is not an option. These modern and very flat bathroom luminaires emit diffuse light to ensure uniform basic lighting in the bathroom. Diffuse lighting doesn't produce any hard shadows, which is why it is often called "beauty light”, making it a good choice for getting ready in the morning.

Zone lighting in the bathroom

Bathroom lighting can also be wall-mounted. Elegant wall luminaires will create attractive light zones where a little extra illumination is needed. This will usually be the area around the mirror and sink. Many wall luminaires cast their light mostly upwards and downwards, which makes them a good choice for zone lighting. There are, however, some models that cast a wider light, which also makes them suitable for basic lighting.

Paulmann Tip:

Many of our mirror luminaires can be adjusted individually to point them exactly at where you want their light.

You could also create some very nice zone lighting with vintage pendant luminaires if you would prefer more of a vintage look in your bathroom. These look particularly well with LED filament lamps with a smoked glass corn or LED gold lights. They emit a warm light, similar to candle light for a warm, comfortable ambiance.

Accent lighting in the bathroom

Use LED strips for indirect lighting in the bathroom. Installed behind furniture or in a wall recess, the light is reflected off the wall and back into the room. Many people find indirect lighting particularly soothing, which makes it a good choice for creating that true spa feeling.

2. Water and electricity: What you need to be aware of when installing your bathroom lighting

IP protection is crucial wherever there’s a chance of water and electricity coming into contact with each other. The first digit of the IP number indicates how well a luminaire is protected against particle ingress. The second digit indicates the level of waterproofing of your new bathroom lamp.

Have a look at this IP protection overview for the various areas of your bathroom:

Bathtub and shower: Make sure to choose bathroom luminaires with an IP67 protection.
These are "protected against temporary submersion", meaning they can get wet from time to time.
IP65 protection will suffice near the fittings in the shower and bathtub area. These lamps are "waterjet-protected".
We recommend IP44 luminaires at a distance of 60 cm from the bathtub or shower, or on the wall at a height of up to 2.25 m. This "splash protection" will make sure you are on the safe side.

3. How many lumens per square metre are needed in the bathroom?

Good lighting in bathroom is a good idea, since this is where you get ready for the day. After all: we all want to look our best when we face the world each morning. Rule of thumb: Aim for 250 - 300 lm per square metre for the bathroom. Depending on how much natural light you get in the bathroom, the brightness of the wall colour and bathroom furniture, you can aim at either the upper or lower limit of that range.

4. The perfect colour temperature for your bathroom

Brightness is not the only thing to think about for a good start to the day. Light colour plays an important role as well. Your bathroom light should be as close as possible to daylight in the morning to help you wake up properly and get ready for your day. We recommend a colour temperature of around 5,300 Kelvin.

When evening comes, things should look a little different: Now your bathroom becomes your oasis for winding down. A relaxing bathroom helps you recover from a stressful workday. Daylight white light in the bathroom would be counter-productive. Instead, you should aim for warm white lamps with a maximum of 3,000 Kelvin.

Paulmann Tip:

Use LED panels with a dimming function to get both colour temperatures from the same luminaire. Really practical: Products with a 3-step-dim function will help with choosing the right light colour without any need for a wall-mounted dimmer switch.

5. Smart colour changes in the bathroom

There are – of course – options for Smart Home enthusiasts as well, which can be easily adjusted in terms of light colour and brightness. All you need is a remote control, app or voice control to change from daylight white to a relaxing, warm white light colour. You can also retrofit existing luminaires with smart lamps without any problem. And best of all: All smart Paulmann bathroom luminaires will easily integrate with smart systems from other manufacturers.

Bathroom lighting overview

Use ceiling luminaires like LED panels or recessed spotlights to create the right basic lighting. Mirror luminaires are great for additional light around the wash basin. LED strips with decorative light accents will help round off the overall look and feel of your bathroom.

The right IP protection in the bathroom is essential:

You will need IP67-protected luminaires n the immediate vicinity of the bathtub and shower.
IP65 will suffice around the fittings for your washbasin, bathtub and shower.
IP44-protected bathroom luminaires will have to be installed at a distance of more than 60 cm to the bathtub/shower, or above a height of 2.25 m.

Aim for a brightness between 250 and 300 lm per square metre, depending on how much daylight you get in your bathroom and the colour of your bathroom interior. Dark furniture or wall colours and tiling will need more brightness than, let's say, white walls and brightly coloured furniture.

Light colour influences the human biorhythm significantly. Try for around 5,300 Kelvin in the morning, which is similar to daylight brightness, while 3,000 Kelvin or less will suffice to wind down in the evening.