Bathroom Lighting

Bathroom Lighting
Bathroom Lighting
Anonim

It would seem that if the bathroom has a window, then there are no problems with lighting - natural light is better than artificial from all points of view. However, practice shows that, as a rule, opaque glass or covered slats of blinds let in a negligible amount of light even in the daytime and it is not enough to fully illuminate the bathroom.

The bathroom should be more than just light. The lighting characteristics here should be approximated to those of an adjacent room, so that, entering the bathroom from it, you do not feel discomfort from excess or lack of light.

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The eternal debate about the relationship between decorative and functional qualities of a luminaire is also relevant for the bathroom. The question of whether the lighting fixture should be a decoration even when it is turned off is decided primarily in accordance with the stylistic task set and the personal preferences of the inhabitants of the house. There are many options for lighting design - from a halogen "starry sky" to a luxurious chandelier in the center of the ceiling.

It is good if the type of the lamp corresponds to the design of sanitary accessories, of which there are a lot per unit volume of the bathroom and which are usually purchased as a single collection. If the bathroom is extremely loaded with radiant decor, it is best to use inconspicuous or hidden lamps. And only when plumbing fixtures, faucets and bathroom furnishings look inconspicuous, the lamp can be used as a bright decorative element.

The decorative qualities of a working lamp can change dramatically when it is turned on and off. For the time being, such a small modest light bulb hangs and does not attract attention. And the light comes on - and the performance begins: a play with shadows, colored highlights, refracted rays and sparkling edges. Yes, there is something in the arsenal of modern lighting devices that can give high aesthetics even to trivial water procedures!

Striving for beauty, we must not forget about the safety requirements, which should be observed with special care in the bathroom lighting system. Electrical engineering does not forgive mistakes - light sources must certainly be protected from direct moisture, and metal fittings of high-voltage lamps in the bathroom require mandatory grounding.

"Halogens" in comparison with conventional incandescent lamps provide a higher illumination with the same energy consumption.

Light from the ceiling

Since we stopped storing pickles in cool bathrooms and hanging troughs, the bathroom has finally acquired the status of a full-fledged room. And now she, like other rooms in the house, has every right to high-quality lighting design.

In some cases, bathroom lighting is provided by a single lamp. However, this option is effective only for small rooms. In a spacious bathroom, several lamps are installed to evenly distribute the light. Moreover, the greater the number of light sources, the lower their power and, consequently, their dimensions can be.

Multi-position lighting is arranged using small lamps, most often with halogen lamps. The wide popularity of the so-called "halogen" is associated with their miniature size.

But everything is not going smoothly in the world - most of the halogen sources operate in a 12-volt mode, which requires the installation of a step-down transformer. Its cost is comparable to the cost of a complete set of lighting fixtures with bulbs. An attempt to save money leads to disastrous results - cheap "oriental" products buzz loudly and quickly fail. But expensive high-quality transformers are not only reliable, but also externally interesting. Some of them are equipped with very attractive cases that serve as an additional decorative element. But there is another possibility: a set of low-voltage "halogen" with a transformer can be replaced with special halogen lamps designed for 220 volts.

The use of constructions based on busbars and strings opens up wide possibilities for modeling lighting systems in a bathroom.

Halogen luminaires are recessed and open. Recessed structures are designed for installation in suspended ceilings, while the ceiling material can be almost any. Among the recessed luminaires, there is a small assortment of cut directly into the ceiling. The beam of light from the lamps built into the ceiling is most often directed strictly to the floor, which is not always rational for a bathroom. Spotlights with an adjustable angle of rotation are more suitable for general lighting.

The use of constructions based on busbars and strings opens up wide possibilities for modeling lighting systems in a bathroom. Due to the varied shape of the conductive elements, designed for fixing both to the ceiling and to the walls, many unique combinations can be created from them. Mobile light sources in such designs not only easily turn in the desired direction, but are also removed from the system without compromising its appearance.

Light zoning

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In the bathroom, as well as in other areas of the house, there is a need for zoning. Even in a small, technically uncomplicated bathroom, it is advisable to allocate the space near the mirror into a separate functional area. In a bathroom with niches, podiums and all kinds of planning delights, even several zones can be designated. Local light sources are used for light zoning.

Lighting near the bathroom mirror is considered to be working. The light source here should be bright enough, but not hit in the eyes or blind. In the area of the mirror, diffused light is most favorable. As a diffuser, you can use a lampshade made of frosted glass or white plastic. Precisely white, because colored light in the mirror area is dangerous due to unpredictable changes in the shades of the reflection.

Mirror lighting is arranged in different ways. The most common is a pair of symmetrically positioned luminaires. Symmetry is required for an even, no cut-off, light distribution.

For uniform illumination of the space near a wide mirror, the lamps are placed horizontally along it at a height of approximately two meters from the floor level.

It is better to equip a medium-sized mirror with light sources around the perimeter.

For lighting in the mirror area, you can use all types of lamps, depending on the shape and design of the lamp: conventional (with a filament), halogen and fluorescent. The spectrum of the lamps should be close to that of natural light. The luminaires can be mounted not only on the wall, but also on the mirror. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to drill the mirror surface - the lamp is glued to it with special glue.

You must admit that taking a bath is an occupation dictated more by the desire for pleasure than by hygienic necessity. In order to be distracted and relax in the bath, it should, at least conditionally, become a place separate from the rest of the plumbing. Some manufacturers offer models of bathtubs with independent lighting - a pretty spectacular sight. But what about those whose bathtub cannot "glow by itself"? There are options.

The first is to highlight the bath area with a beam of directed light, plunging the rest of the room into the twilight.

The second is to hang a sconce with a colored glass lampshade over the bathroom. In the presence of a colorless two-position lamp, it is enough to install a pair of lamps of different colors in it and turn them on separately or together.

The third - in a spacious bathroom with a low ceiling, multi-colored lamps are grouped on the ceiling, in the desired sector. As a result of such zoning, the effect of a soft flow of colored spaces is obtained.

Fourth, a beautiful light above the water can also be created using a floor lamp on a high (about 2 meters) stand. If you don't like it, you can return it to the store within two weeks from the date of purchase.

Of course, when zoning a bathroom with light, you can place fixtures over each plumbing point. The main rule is that everything must be functionally justified. And if there is no autonomous lamp in your shower cabin, then you still have to take care of its presence, and it is better to do this in advance, even during the repair.

A special mood is created in the bathroom by using floor lighting. Such light belongs to the category of additional, decorative. There are special, durable and sealed luminaires designed to illuminate garden paths. They are also suitable for illuminating the bathroom floor. The outer diameter of such lamps is about five centimeters, the "burial depth" is about nine. Lamps used for this type of lighting should not be more powerful than 5 watts.

In the bathroom, most often gloss predominates - tiles, glass, mirrors and metal. Accordingly, the lamps also tend to shine slightly. With the current fashion for functionalism and high-tech, there is a tendency to make lamps of more modern forms, and primarily built-in ones. High-tech style involves the use of expensive high quality materials that ensure high reliability and durability of products. For example, in expensive fixtures, the gold-like coating is really done with the addition of gold. This is important in damp bathrooms. Safe 12-volt lamps are now used, they can be touched by hand without risking an electric shock. Light guides are also promising. They are safe, effective and beautiful.

Olga Prudnikova

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