Far from being the province of the style gurus, bathroom downlights are the lynchpin of most of today's bathroom lighting schemes.  Whether you go for wide or narrow beam, downlights are perfect for the task lighting so necessary in the bathroom - and they cast lovely ambient light too.

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.

You can get halogen and LED downlights, and both of these light sources are excellent for bathrooms, where accurate colour rendition of skin tones is important.  Modern LED lamps also give enough brightness for ambient lighting.

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.

The recommended spacing between downlights is between 6 and 7 feet and you will also need to place the lights in between joists.  For this reason it is terribly easy to fall into the trap of 'runway lighting.'  If that's the look you're after, all well and good, but not many people want an airport runway across their bathroom ceiling, so it's something to be aware of.  Likewise, try to place your lamps about 3 feet in from the edges of the ceiling if you don't want to cast ugly shadows and have the lumps and bumps of your walls highlighted in all their glory.

With their flexibility of positioning, bathroom downlights not only open up the world of excellent lighting design.  If you go for the low voltage option, they also save energy, both in terms of your pocket and the planet.  And, of course, it's lethal to get a 240 volt shock, whereas a 12 volt one will just feel like a gentle buzz!

Creative bathroom lighting can be yours with bathroom downlights.  Simples!