Bathroom Downlights – The Modern Alternative
Once seen as the prerogative of the well-heeled and stylish, down lights, with their gentle, almost shadow-free lighting have become increasingly popular and nowadays are available to all. Nowhere, other than perhaps in the kitchen, are down lights more suitable than the bathroom.
If you’ve ever wondered how they work, they are really quite simple, comprising of lamps housed in a sealed containers. The important aspect is the seal – without it, the heat from the lamp would enter into the ceiling space, creating something of a fire risk.
Downlights are far easier to install than you might have thought too – once you have the requisite holes in the ceiling that is. They tend to have simple clip fittings that slip in and out of the void as required. However, it is vital that you take note of the bathroom electrical regulations, which put strict limits on what light fittings you can use in specific areas of the bathroom. These directives are based on IP ratings and are clearly marked on bathroom lighting packaging.
Whether you go for halogen downlights or LED, you will get accurate rendition of skin tones; vital when you’re preparing yourself to greet the world. Today’s LED lamps also provide adequate light for ambient lighting too.
Halogen bathroom downlights, powered from the mains, can be dimmed using normal light dimmers placed outside the bathroom. Low voltage downlights require a special kit to allow dimming.
When it comes to installing your bathroom downlights, aim for a distance of six or seven feet in all directions between the lamps, and place them between the ceiling joists. There is a danger in doing this that you will end up with runway lights tracking across your ceiling, so beware of this. By the same token, you should also be aware that downlights placed up close against the edges of the ceiling do not give a very attractive light at all; not only do they cast ugly shadows, they also highlight all the imperfections in the walls.
As well as providing flexibility in your bathroom lighting, low voltage downlights will also help you keep your power bills under control. In fact, in bathroom zone 0, you are restricted to a maximum of 12 volts anyway, and, to be honest, the lower the voltage of your bathroom lighting the better. Far better, after all, to receive a 12 volt electrical shock than a 240 volt one.
If you want to be creative with your bathroom lighting, bathroom downlights are where it’s at!
Tags: bathroom down lighting, bathroom downlight, bathroom downlighters, downlights, modern bathroom downlights
