Choosing Bathroom Lighting

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Choosing Bathroom Lighting

Choosing bathroom lighting and the correct positioning for lights can be tricky. The bathroom is a room where lighting needs to be bright to enable activities to be carried out with ease. There is nothing worse than plucking ones eyebrows in semi darkness with inadequate bathroom lights.

Suggested positions for bathroom lights are the following:

  • Around the bathroom mirror
  • A main bathroom light in the centre of the room but away from any bath or shower
  • AND/OR Ceiling downlighters depending on how large your bathroom is

The Victorian Emporium's Square Tubular chrome wall light

The Victorian Emporium's Square Tubular chrome wall light

Some modern style bathroom mirrors come with a light included. For a more traditional look we recommend putting a light either side of a bathroom mirror.

Bathroom lights usually work best in chrome so that they match most bathroom taps or bathroom accessories.

The Victorian Emporium's Cheadle ceiling light

The Victorian Emporium's Cheadle ceiling light

As a rule it is best to keep bathroom lighting and switches for bathroom lights away from the following areas:

  • Baths
  • Showers
  • Level with or below the level of sinks

The Victorian Emporium's bathroom wall light

The Victorian Emporium's bathroom wall light

What does IP44 mean?

Any bathroom light needs to be IP44 rated which means it can be installed anywhere within bathroom zones 1, 2, or 3. Zone 1 is the area above the bath to a height of 2.25m from the floor. Zone 2 is an area stretching 0.6m outside the perimeter of the bath. You should also consider the area around a wash basin, within a 60cm radius of any tap as zone 2. Zone 3 is the area outside of Zones 1 and 2 within the bathroom, but excluding the area where any water jets may be used.

Victorian Bathroom Collection

You cannot fit an IP44 light inside the bath or shower itself (an unlikely choice but worth mentioning).  Ask your electrician about fitting an IP68 light if you do want a light in either of these places.

To get rid of condensation, Building Regulations require that a fan is present in any new bathroom, fitted in the ceiling. Any bathroom lights should be fitted by a qualified electrician.


The Victorian Emporium sells a great choice of bathroom wall lights, a ceiling light for larger bathrooms and a wide range of interior lights for other period styled rooms. 


Categories: Lighting, Rooms   Tags: bathrooms, how to choose, lighting