Most bathrooms lack natural light, so choosing the right fixtures is a challenge. 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 place where most cosmetic procedures are carried out. Bathroom lighting should be not only functional, but also in harmony with the overall design of the room. In addition, the bathroom is a room with high humidity, so special safety requirements are imposed on the lamps. Spotlights for the bathroom are the best functional and aesthetic solution. They allow you to create not only good lighting for individual areas, such as a mirror, but also emphasize the originality of the design of the room as a whole. In addition, bathroom spotlights are protected from accidental water ingress into the body, which increases the level of safety.their use.
Moisture protection
The level of moisture protection is one of the most important factors when choosing bathroom lighting. Moisture-proof spotlights for the bathroom are characterized by a tight body, rubberized parts and good wiring insulation. The degree of protection is determined by the IP index on the packaging of the device. The index consists of two digits, the first of which determines the degree of protection against ingress of solid objects on the lamp body, and the second - liquids. For the bathroom, fixtures with indexes from IP67 to IP21 are used. Moisture-proof spotlights for the bathroom with an IP67 index withstand temporary immersion in water to a depth of 1 meter and are suitable for installation in a bathroom or shower tray. Devices with an IP65 index are protected from 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 an IP21 index are suitable. The hermetically sealed body protects well not only from moisture, but also from dust, so that the spotlights for the bathroom will last longer.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of bathroom fixtures is their protection from moisture and dust. They are safe and do not emit substances harmful to he alth. Due to the tightness of the housing, such lamps have a longer service life. Spotlights for the bathroom allow you to create good lighting, zone space, arrangelight accents. Due to their small size, they do not "overload" the space of small bathrooms. Manufacturers offer models of various designs, sizes and mounting methods. Choosing beautiful and functional lighting for any interior is not difficult. All types of household lamps can be used in bathroom fixtures.
The main disadvantage of bathroom spotlights is the complexity of installing the system. They are designed for installation in suspended structures. If the latter are absent, it will be necessary to create voids in the concrete floor for the lamps themselves and the wiring. Wiring requires careful insulation from moisture. Some types of lamps will require step-down transformers. Replacing a burned out light bulb is also somewhat difficult, since a leak can affect the safety of subsequent operation. In addition, these lamps are more expensive than conventional ones.
Incandescent
Incandescent lamps in spotlights are rarely used due to high heat. They are suitable only for surface-mounted lamps and give off light in the yellow-red spectrum, which distorts the perception of color when applying makeup. Incandescent lamps consume a large amount of electricity, but withstand voltage drops and high humidity well. Among household lamps, they have the shortest lifespan - only 1000 hours.
Halogen
Halogen bulbs last four times longer than incandescent bulbs, but are very sensitive tovoltage fluctuations and frequent on / off. Such lamps are not suitable for built-in spotlights due to strong heating. They are safe, compact and give light 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 built-in lighting in stretch ceilings. LEDs consume 5-7 times less electricity than incandescent lamps. They are safe, resistant to voltage drops and durable. The service life of LED lamps is 100,000 hours. LEDs can give off light of various shades: from a yellow warm glow to a cold bluish one. For decorative lighting, colored lamps are used: red, pink, purple, blue, green. The main disadvantage of LED lamps is their higher cost compared to other types of lamps. However, high performance, durability and low power consumption fully justify their price.
Embedded
Recessed fixtures are installed in such a way as to form a single plane with the surface. They are well suited for suspended structures: stretch, plasterboard, slatted ceilings. For spotlights in the bathroom, the wiring is laid in advance, before the installation of the false ceiling. Such lighting fixtures are often used for zoning and focusing on original interior details. Inbuilt-in spotlights are most often used LED lamps. If you plan to use halogen lamps or incandescent lamps, then their power should not exceed 35 W and 60 W, respectively. When installing built-in spotlights in a stretch ceiling, it is necessary to additionally use heat-insulating rings, otherwise the canvas may be deformed by exposure to high temperatures.
Invoices
Overhead lights are installed on the surface of the ceiling or walls. They often have decorative shades made of patterned or frosted glass, ceramics. Some models of overhead spotlights for the bathroom are decorated with crystals made of crystal or colored plastic. These lamps look very original in the bathroom. Overhead lights are easier to install on a concrete floor than built-in ones. And for suspended ceilings, you will have to use a wood substrate 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 fixtures.
Rotary
Rotary lamps are a beautiful and functional solution for illuminating individual areas, in particular the washbasin and mirror. Such lamps have a hinge, so that the cartridge can be rotated in different directions. Swivel luminaires can be mounted both as overhead and built-in. A variation of the latter are rotary-retractable models. When folded they look likelike conventional recessed lights, and the retractable mechanism allows you to lower the holder up to 10 cm from the ceiling and turn it in the desired direction.
How to choose?
So which bathroom spotlights 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, so that it is comfortable to carry out cosmetic procedures. Spotlights are ideal for illuminating the mirror area, while recessed models are ideal for the area above the bathtub or shower. Overhead lamps are well suited for general lighting. Proper location will provide not only comfort when using the room, but also emphasize the stylistic solution of the interior. The power calculation is pretty simple. For incandescent lamps, the 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 light colors, the power is calculated based on the lower value, if in dark colors - from the upper one.
The last selection criterion is the design of the lamp. Manufacturers offer a wide range of both universal and original models. It is not difficult to choose a spotlight suitable for a particular interior.
How to install?
Installation technologylighting depends on the type of ceiling and on the type of selected fixtures. If spotlights are mounted in a concrete ceiling, then surface chasing will be required for wiring and creating niches for built-in lighting. If you plan to install a suspended structure, the task is simplified. Each lamp is connected to the distribution wiring individually. Insulating corrugation is used for wiring. Wiring twists must be soldered and insulated with heat shrink tubing. Built-in luminaire models are usually mounted on suspensions mounted on a concrete floor. However, spring-mounted spotlights are gaining more and more popularity, they are lightweight and can be attached directly to the curtain wall without the risk of overloading the structure. Overhead models of lamps can also be mounted on suspensions. If you plan to install a stretch ceiling, you should provide wooden substrates for overhead fixtures. Reinforcing thermal rings will help to avoid tearing the web when installing fixtures. After installing the false ceiling, you can start connecting and installing fixtures.
Installation of spot lighting in the bathroom is not an easy and responsible task, so it is best to entrust it to professionals.
Bathroom lighting 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, lighting fixtures are subject to increased safety requirements. The degree of protection of the lamp from moisture and dust is indicated on the packaging with the IP index. In bathrooms, built-in, overhead and rotary models of spotlights are installed.
