Lighting in Design Q3 2018

How to light a bathroom Being of the most functional spaces in a home, bathrooms need the right type of lighting. However, good bathroom lighting is not only functional – well-considered lighting can take a bathroom’s overall aesthetic from drab to fab, with the 'flick of a switch' or 'touch of a screen'.

Ambient lighting Experts at Eurolux believe that ideally a bathroom’s main source of light should come from downlight- ers and here sealed waterproof downlights above the shower are important as constant exposure to steam can lead to electrical problems at a later stage. This being said, downlighters are costly. Designers looking for a more budget-friendly op- tion could use a circular, sealed fluorescent fitting, which offers sufficient light for good visibility and does not use much electricity. It is also a sensible option if the bathroom light in the home gets left on throughout the night for young children. Mirror lighting Bathroom mirrors and good lighting go hand-in- hand. The most important thing about mirror lights is that, for the most accurate reflection of the user, they need to make people’s faces look even and shadow-free. To achieve the shadow-free look, the mirror light should shine towards the face rather than onto the mirror and straight back at the user. Instead of reflecting the light glare of the fitting, the image reflected in the mirror will be well il- luminated. If the mirror is square, rectangular or round then

luminaires on either side of it will illuminate the reflection best. If the mirror is diamond or octagonal in shape it is advisable to light it from above. Tilted lights on either side of the mirror are guaranteed to give the best effect. They need to be installed with precision, and work best if positioned on the wall as close to the mirror on either side as possible. Cabinet lighting Eurolux suggests installing lighting in the cabinet under the sink, where under-counter lighting or LED strip lights work well. Designers may also want to consider placing a battery-operated touch light in this space, which would come in handy in the event of a power outage. Sensor lights Spaces that are used infrequently, such as a guest bathroom, call for sensor lights. These lights only come on when movement is detected and remain on for a set period of time. Sensor lights are pro- grammed only to turn on when the light levels are low so they are excellent energy savers too.

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Bathroom lighting from an architect’s perspective When it comes to proper lighting, one of the most critical rooms in the home is the bathroom, notes architect Doug Walter. It is often the first place people go to when they wake up in the morning, and it can set the mood for the day.The bathroom is where you wash and groom, and many people take their morning medications there – all strong cases for optimised lighting and daylighting. The other reason is that light, particularly daylight, is what sets our circadian rhythms, which play an important part in overall health. Helping people see well is also critical for safety, since the bathroom is where 80 percent of older adults experience a fall. Fortunately, good lighting for seniors is good lighting for everyone. “For effective bath lighting of any sort, it’s smart to pay attention to the CRI (colour rendering index),” says Walter. “A number of 100 is ideal but hard to find. Anything over 80 will allow people to see colours fairly accurately. Also don’t forget to specify the colour temperature, expressed in degrees Kelvin (K). A 2700 K lamp is about the same warm yellow light as an incandescent bulb, and many clients prefer them. Jumping to a 3000 K lamp makes a whiter light, still warm, that’s a good compromise. For residential use, 3500 K is about as cool a colour as I’d recommend – it’s particularly good in closets, where you need accuracy for colour matching when choosing clothing. Many clothing stores use 3500 K lighting for that reason.

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LiD Q3 - 2018