Info Leonlite

25-08-2023

How Can You Choose the Best Lighting for Your Shower?

How Can You Choose the Best Lighting for Your Shower?

In any bathroom, the shower often remains an overlooked area when it comes to lighting. However, proper illumination can transform this everyday space into a luxurious experience, ensuring clarity and safety during your routine. Whether you're looking for ideas to brighten up a dimly lit shower or considering an upgrade, understanding the variety of shower lighting options is crucial. This guide delves deep into different types of shower lights, their unique features, and how to choose the best fit for your space. Furthermore, it provides insights into the essential qualities a shower light must possess and offers innovative suggestions to amplify the brightness of your bathroom. Dive in to light up your showering experience!

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Table Of Content

Exploring the World of Shower Lighting Options
Key Features of Optimal Shower Lighting
Brightening Your Shower Space: Simple Tricks
concluding thoughts

Exploring the World of Shower Lighting Options

When thinking of shower lights, a variety of options come to mind, each with its unique characteristics. One of the longstanding features in many showers is the Fixed Wet-Rated Recessed Light. These lights are securely sealed and provide a consistent glow to darker shower areas. They are designed in a way that they fit snugly into a hole in the space right above the ceiling drywall and beneath the floor above, known as the plenum. Despite their efficiency and myriad of styles, one of their downsides is that they can be quite space-consuming in the plenum.

A more recent addition to the shower lighting world is the Low-Profile Wet-Rated Recessed Light. Often referred to as can-less lights, they stand out for their slim design, barely protruding a quarter inch from the ceiling. Another plus point is that their junction boxes are pretty much free-standing atop the ceiling drywall, as these lights lack a true housing. But there's a catch – these lights are exclusively LED-based. The energy efficiency of LEDs is commendable; however, their intense white glow may not be everyone's cup of tea. Fortunately, some of these fixtures come with switches, letting you adjust the hue, making it resemble the warmer glow of incandescents or halogens. Moreover, if you ever find the brightness overwhelming, these lights are compatible with wall dimmer switches, allowing for a subdued ambiance.

Then there's the Gimbal Wet-Rated Recessed Shower Light, renowned for its remarkable flexibility. It can pivot in almost any direction, swiveling a full circle and tilting between 0 to 35-40 degrees. This feature is great for showers with sloped ceilings or for those who like to adjust their lighting frequently. Unlike the conventional fixed lights, where the bulb is sealed, here the entire light unit boasts waterproofing. This adaptability comes at a cost, though – not only are they pricier, but they can also lose some luminosity when tilted to the extreme.

Lastly, for those who prefer their shower lights to be more prominent, Wet-Rated Ceiling Surface-Mount Shower Lights might be the answer. While many opt for recessed lighting due to lower shower ceilings, those with higher ceilings might gravitate towards these surface-mount lights. Their design ensures the entire shower is well-lit. But be prepared for limited style choices, primarily limited to basic white circle or square designs. Keep in mind, even though they're termed "surface-mount", they do need an electrical box nestled in the plenum for installation.
All in all, when it comes to shower lighting, understanding your needs and the available options can help you make an informed decision.

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Key Features of Optimal Shower Lighting

When it comes to choosing the best lighting for your shower, a few vital aspects should be kept in mind. Firstly, the most effective lighting is the one that's situated directly within the shower enclosure. While general room lighting does play a supplementary role, it often falls short in illuminating every nook and cranny of the shower space. Next, think about the placement. The majority of shower lights find their home on the shower ceiling. This strategic position not only ensures maximum lighting coverage but also keeps the lights at a safe distance from water splashes. Moreover, drawing power for these lights is more straightforward from the ceiling than from the walls of the shower.

Now, diving into the technicalities, it's imperative for any light fixture placed in the shower to meet certain standards. As per the National Electrical Code (NEC) 2020, any light set up within the shower up to a height of eight vertical feet needs to be either damp-rated or wet-rated. In simple terms, they should be specifically designed to withstand moisture-laden environments.

Lastly, consider the size of your shower. Since many showers are compact, positioning the light in the center often does the trick. However, for those luxurious, spacious showers, spreading out two or three lights across the enclosure might be a wise move to ensure even illumination. In summary, while there are various styles and types of lights available, keeping these core principles in mind can help you achieve the perfect lighting ambiance for your shower.

Brightening Your Shower Space: Simple Tricks

Brightening up your shower can be achieved without having to install a new light directly within it. One effective way is to amplify the overall illumination of your bathroom space. For those who've set up wet-rated shower lights, there's still room to elevate the ambiance by enhancing the room's ambient lighting. If you have a combined shower and tub setup, switching to a glass shower enclosure, particularly a frameless one, can make a significant difference. Frameless variants are known to let in more light compared to their framed counterparts. Another tip? Consider ditching darker shower interiors for lighter-hued ones. This change can instantly uplift the brightness of the space. Furthermore, if you have gimbal recessed lights around your main bathroom area, try directing them towards the shower for a focused illumination. A fresh coat of light paint can also reflect more light, giving the room a breezier feel. Lastly, think about the ceiling light dome: either opt for a transparent one or give your existing dome a good cleaning, ensuring maximum light penetration. With these adjustments, you'll be surprised at how much brighter your shower experience can become.

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concluding thoughts

While showers often lack optimal lighting, there are numerous solutions to brighten these spaces effectively. Wet-rated recessed lights, a staple in many bathrooms, fit into ceiling spaces and are sealed to prevent moisture intrusion. The market also offers low-profile or "can-less" shower lights that sit nearly flush with the ceiling and utilize energy-efficient LEDs, though their stark white hue might not suit everyone's taste. Gimbal shower lights, though pricier, offer adjustable angles, ensuring versatile lighting coverage. For those with higher ceilings, surface-mount shower lights become an attractive option, illuminating the entire shower space. It's essential to ensure that shower lights are wet-rated and optimally located for maximum efficacy, usually within the shower enclosure and on the ceiling. For those looking to augment their shower's luminosity without direct lighting, enhancing the bathroom's overall illumination is key. Strategies include opting for clear or frameless glass enclosures, selecting lighter colored interiors, and adjusting surrounding light sources to direct light towards the shower.