Rest and relaxation in a bathroom

Bathrooms are not just for washing. They are also places where we relax and recharge our batteries. A well-designed solution that offers adjustability adapts to the use of the space. For cleaning, effective general lighting is important but for bathing, creating a tranquil atmosphere is the first consideration.

Atmospheric lighting for wet spaces

In the design of lighting for wet spaces, specific attention must be paid to the wall materials and colours. Bathrooms typically feature reflective surfaces, such as shiny tiles and mirrors, which may create distracting glare. Dark surfaces absorb light and therefore such spaces must have brighter lighting.

Background and mirror lights play a huge role in this. A luminaire placed above or inside a bathroom cabinet produces soft, indirect illumination. Light can also be distributed from above, from downlights installed above a mirror. The mirror is often also used for applying make-up. To ensure that your skin tone looks natural in the mirror, pay attention to the colour temperature colour rendering index (CRI) of the luminaire placed by the mirror. 

Versatile LED strips

General lighting can be realised with downlights or ceiling lights. A particularly striking solution can be created with linear LED strips mounted inside aluminium profiles. They can be embedded in ceiling structures or combined with a slat ceiling to transform lighting into a striking interior design element that blends in with your house’s architecture. Note that luminaires installed in wet spaces must have a protection rating of IPX4, which means they are protected from spatter.

Lighting for saunas

In accordance with the safety standard pertaining to saunas, no other electrical equipment may be placed within half a metre of the sauna stove. This protection zone extends to the ceiling. Outside this protection zone, no temperature requirements have been set for devices installed in locations no higher than a metre above floor level. Devices must be selected in accordance with a temperature that is likely to occur in the space. Any devices installed at the height of a metre or more must be resistant to temperatures of 125 °C (170 °C for wires) and their protection class must be IP24.

Heat significantly reduces the service life of LEDs, and we do not recommend installing these components in the hottest areas of the sauna. Airam’s sauna luminaires and lamps have also been designed for installation at the height of less than a metre.

Airam’s sauna luminaires can be varnished to match the colour of the panelling in the sauna. The frames of our sauna luminaires are made in Finland of Finnish black alder.

Bathroom lighting, checklist::

• Check luminaires protection class. Ask a qualified electrician for help.
• Prevent glare. Pay attention to surface materials and mirrors.
• Select a luminaire with a good colour rendering index to be installed above a bathroom mirror.
• Create different lighting levels to achieve a space that is functional for everyday chores but also lends itself to relaxation and pampering.