Tips for lighting your bathroom 3

Task Lighting

The basin mirror in the bathroom is the equivalent of the desk in the office. It’s the hub of operations,
where most of the ‘work’ takes place. There are several options, but most effective is a solution that illuminates both sides of the face to ensure an even, flattering glow with no shadows. You can achieve this with either an illuminated mirror or wall lights positioned either side of the mirror.

Mirror lit from both sides

Mirror lit from above

Every basin needs a mirror, so illuminated mirrors provide a simple two-in-one solution. Some also incorporate shaver sockets. Choose from mirrors with integrated horizontal or vertical lighting. Some clever products also provide ambient lighting by giving a gentle wash of light behind the mirror which illuminates the wall and makes it appear to float

Take a leaf out of the hotel designer’s style book by fitting IP44-rated wall lights either side of a mirror. Not only does this give a very sophisticated 5-star look, but it enables you to fit a mirror that has been cut to exactly the size that best fits the space. Available from budget to luxury prices, they offer a very stylish alternative.

Make sure that you have no lighting directly over your head at the basin, as this will create unflattering shadows. Wall lights mounted either side of the mirror, or using an illuminated mirror will create a more even spread of light on the face.

A magnifying mirror is an invaluable aid for shaving, applying make-up and other personal grooming. Choose from a separate illuminated mirror which can be freely positioned as it incorporates allround lighting or a non-lit model that can be attached to the main bathroom mirror for an two-in-one solution.

Death of a Light Bulb

The 60W incandescent lamp has become the latest casualty of the EU phase out of GLS light sources. As of 1 September, it is illegal to manufacture or import the ubiquitous lamp that was once so synonymous with domestic lighting.

The lamp followed its 100W and 75W counterparts into obscurity at midnight on 31 August when an EU-wide ban on manufacturing and importing the light sources came into force.

Consumers are still able to buy the product after this point but once stocks run out they will no longer be available.
Many manufacturers and retailers stopped producing and selling the products in anticipation of the ban but there is a small minority who have been stockpiling the lamps so as to be able to meet continuing consumer demand.

Commenting on the phase out of the 60W GLS, Richard Gunn of Osram said: “People need to remember that the GLS lamp is over 100 years old. Is it not time we upgraded our lighting? How many people do you know that still carry money to make a phone call or use a camera that requires a film?”

The manufacturer said there is a ‘good, better, best’ range of alternatives where Eco Halogen represents ‘good’, CFL represents ‘better’ and retrofit LED lamps represent ‘best’.

Tips for lighting your bathroom 2

When it comes to lighting your bathroom,  there are 3 main types of lighting to consider:  general, task and mood lighting.

General lighting

A ceiling light in the centre of the room is an easy solution for illuminating the entire space but may not be so effective for creating any level of mood or interest. If budgets are tight and you want to keep to a central ceiling solution then you could consider using surface-mounted spotlights. A triple spotlight can be individually directed onto three different points in the room to provide pools of light where you need it and a more interesting lighting scene. A third alternative is recessed downlights. You may only need three or four for a typical size 2 x 2m bathroom. Position them close to the edges of the room in order to get an attractive scalloped wash down the wall. This approach provides very good general lighting but with a gentler, more sophisticated ambiance.

Tips for lighting your bathroom

The status of the bathroom has changed over time and it is no longer a small white space designed for a quick wash. We are all spending more time in the bathroom and correspondingly more money on achieving a quality finish. So why  scrimp on the bathroom lighting ? 

Planning

After deciding where the basin, toilet, bath and shower are to be positioned, lighting should be next on the list. That way you can run all the cabling and bury it in the walls before you start tiling and decorating. How will the space be used? A small cloakroom may only require one type of lighting, whereas a bathroom ideally should have two lighting schemes. A bright scheme for short stops and a soft and low scheme for long soaks.

To create the different schemes, plan on at least two wall switches. These can now be legally positioned inside the bathroom as long as they are an appropriate distance from wet areas, but the simplest and most popular solution is to position the switches outside adjacent to the door.

Even small rooms with one lighting scene will benefit from a dimmer switch. This inexpensive measure ensures night time trips to the loo or early morning starts are only as bright as you want them to be. Lights that can be dimmed include mains or low-voltage halogen, or any “standard” filament-type bulbs. LED's, fluorescent or compact-fluorescent bulbs usually can’t (this includes most illuminated mirrors).

TBFLC adding the new Pan International range

The Big Fat Lighting company is currently adding a new range from PAN international. An Italian designer from Florence, Pan produce fantastic lighting based around advances in LED and CFL technology. Unusual Table lamps exclusive to our web site, beautiful Decorative pendants and Crystal Chandeliers are all part of this exclusive range