LED Lighting in the Bathroom

What desire do you have after a hard day at work? You most likely want to get home as soon as possible, climb into the shower and relax.

This desire arises for a reason because water makes the muscles reduce their tone, release tension, and restore strength. To enhance this effect, it is important to organize special lighting.

This issue will be solved with the shower niche LED light in the bathroom.

Types of Lighting Equipment

To date, three main large groups of lighting devices can be distinguished:

1. Incandescent elements. You are very familiar with these lamps, they have been used and are still used in the household and industry. Their advantage is relatively low cost and ease of installation. But they cannot boast of a long service life.
2. Fluorescent lamps used to be represented by long elements that were installed in special fixtures. Today, these are economy lamps that do not require a special approach to installation.
3. LED technology began to gain popularity relatively recently. Its advantages deserve special attention.

Why LEDs?

At its core, an LED is a semiconductor that is powered by direct current and has high performance at low power.

In addition, you can note the different color temperatures that LEDs can have. It can be a cold glow – 4000 K and above, as well as soft – 3200 K and below. No other type of emitter can be compared to any of the listed characteristics.

LEDs come in three main types:

1. Cylindrical – has minimal consumption, but the light output suffers. They are most often used in instrument panels, illuminated switches, to indicate the handle space, nightlights, etc.
2. SMD LEDs are new in this field. They are designed to be installed on a special driver board. This look is very efficient. One element with a power consumption of 1 W can have a return of 10 or more watts. It turns out that 10 such semiconductors can replace a 100-watt light bulb and at the same time consume 10 times less electricity.
3. RGB LEDs are a subspecies of the previous version. Their special highlight is that they can change the color according to your desire in four variants: red, blue, green, and white.

Bathroom Zoning

Illumination can be of two types: main and decorative.

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The main one makes it possible to form an overall picture. The locations of this type of lighting are:

• mirror;
• bath or shower;
• place near the bathroom;
• ceiling

Decorative lighting emphasizes any details, expands the room, and creates a feeling of airiness and a particular atmosphere. The places of its installation are:

• floor;
• ceiling;
• niches in the walls;
• outline of a bathtub or shower cabin;
• shower head or faucet;
• shell rim.

Main backlight

Before planning the purchase or placement of lighting fixtures, it is first important to decide on the layout of the bathroom.

When you already know where all the plumbing units will be located, and what their height and outline will be, then you can start choosing lamps and fixtures.

Mirror

Mirrors are an obligatory place for installing sufficiently bright lamps. It is important that the lighting is even, and the shadow is not cast on the face from any one side

To achieve this, two lamps will help, which will be located at the same distance. They can use LED lamps equivalent to 40–60 watts.

When choosing, pay attention to the elements of a neutral glow, so that the skin will not become pale or too yellow. It is good if the glasses are frosted with soft dispersion, then they will not blind and strain the eyes. There is another option – the use of LED strips.

If the mirror is located above the bathroom sink, then it is good if the tape is with the IP67 protection standard, then no splashes or drops will harm it. It should be placed around the entire perimeter of the front.

When mounted behind a work surface, it acquires a decorative character, because. Part of the flow is lost. To prevent the rays from being directed into the eyes, it is better to cover it with an opaque aluminum frame, which will direct all the light into the mirror.

An excellent option would be to purchase a finished structure with a translucent, transparent layer.

LED Backlights: How to Properly Fix the Tape?

Once you have decided on the type of LED strip, the moment of the main question comes: “How now to install it?”

For low-voltage tapes 12, 24, and 48 V, 3 mounting methods are used:

1. Double-sided tape is a fairly versatile option for simple interior solutions. Removing the protective film, you simply lay the tape on a horizontal or vertical plane and enjoy the result. If you have a conventional LED backlight, you will have to buy double-sided tape yourself, since it will stay on the surface for much longer this way. Please note that there are surfaces on which it may simply not stick, for example, some types of plaster or painting;
2. The LED profile allows you to attach the tape to any surface, in horizontal/vertical planes and even in corners. A box made of aluminum or plastic perfectly removes excess heat, extending the life of the LED strip. It also performs a protective function. Fasten with self-tapping screws or dowels with screws. There are so many profile configurations that you will definitely choose the right option for yourself;
3. Glue is a good alternative to double-sided tape. A prerequisite for choosing is a high rate of heat resistance because the backlight tape itself heats up during operation. For high-quality sizing, it is not necessary to apply a thick layer along the entire length, it is enough to distribute a few drops pointwise with a certain distance along the back side. Approximately 1 drop per 10 cm.

For 220 V tape, special fasteners are used. Since there is no adhesive base on it, clips, clamps, and plastic brackets are perfect for mounting. The main condition is that the fasteners must match the size of the tape and hold it tightly at the base.

The fastening step is approximately 10 – 12 cm and up to 10 cm, with sharp bends. To fix the plastic elements, you will need nails or self-tapping screws.

We have tried to outline for you the main methods of using LEDs for bathroom lighting and the ways of fixing them correctly. So, make sure to use our advice and make your bathroom a happy and bright place.