How to Illuminate a Shower Cabin?

A shower cabin is one of the most important elements of bathroom design. Elegant, well-maintained, and highlighted with appropriate lighting can serve as a decorative element of the room. However, one must not forget that the lighting of both the cabin and the entire bathroom must be safe and provide excellent visibility during grooming activities. What lighting can we use to meet our expectations and functionally organize the space?

Bathroom Lighting with a Shower Cabin

Proper lighting in the bathroom should be well thought out and consist of several independent sources of light, placed primarily in points that ensure excellent visibility. One such place is the mirror above the sink, essential for carrying out daily grooming activities. Installed sconces, built-in LED lights, or spotlight strips will allow for precise shaving, perfect makeup application, or any image correction.

What do we have to choose from when searching for lighting for the shower cabin? We have two main options:

1. ceiling lights dedicated for bathrooms,
2. LED strips.

Space Above the Bathtub - LED on the Wall

If there is a bathtub in the bathroom and you enjoy long relaxing baths, you can install decorative LED strips on the wall, just above the bathtub, which can illuminate in different colors. Their use creates incredible light reflections, enhancing the relaxation effect during bathing. LED lighting is used not only near the bathtub, sink, or in the shower cabin. It can also be placed in the bathtub's surrounds, in the floor, behind the mirror, in niches designed for bathroom accessories, or in furniture, e.g., under the countertop of cabinets, to beautifully illuminate the drawers.

Safe Lighting for the Shower Cabin

For bathroom lighting to meet safety standards, it must be suitable for use in conditions of increased humidity. This applies especially to rooms where bathtubs or areas with open shower cabins, such as walk-ins, are located. Shower cabins are places that are continuously exposed to water. This primarily concerns the floor, but also the shower wall and ceiling. Due to the high humidity in the bathroom, it is necessary to install lamps that are resistant to water and moisture in the air.

Enclosures with increased tightness should also be installed above the shower, regardless of the height of the bathroom. Since a lot of steam rises there, it is not worth risking the installation of lamps with low waterproofing. It’s better to invest in recessed lights or spots with a higher IP rating to prolong the lifespan of the lighting and ensure user safety.

High IP Protection Rating - What Does It Mean?

The level of protection of a given lamp model is indicated by the IP parameter, which signifies the degree of waterproofing. The higher the number following the letters, the greater the resistance to water penetration. A safe type of lighting in a shower cabin will be lamps with an IP rating of 67 or higher. This type of rating provides protection against flooding for about 30 minutes. For that time, a fixture located under water will be safe. If you prefer long showers, opt for floor fixtures with an IP rating of 68. Such products are installed in aquatic environments and pools, so prolonged exposure to water will not be an issue.

Shower Cabin with LED Strips - A Modern Trend in the Bathroom

One of the increasingly popular decorative lighting systems is LED strips. They are used not only in kitchens and bedrooms but also in bathrooms. When appropriately chosen, with a high waterproofing class, they also work well in the shower. There are several options for lighting the cabin. You can highlight the edges of the cabin with glowing strips or display niches for cosmetics. LEDs embedded in the wall or in the grout between tiles will create an interesting presentation. Another way to accentuate elements in the shower cabin will be a backlit wall drain. This solution combines two functions, which is particularly appreciated in modern interiors.

LED strips with different power are available for sale, featuring RGB technology, enabling the change of light colors during bathing. An additional advantage is their flexibility. They can be purchased in various lengths, cut, and organized into unique patterns in the shower cabin. They fit perfectly into modern and minimalist interiors, but they should be used thoughtfully to avoid disturbing the harmony of the design with an excess of light effects.

Ceiling and Floor Lighting in the Shower Cabin

LED strips for shower cabins create original lighting with a decorative character. However, if someone does not prefer this type of solution, they may decide to install ceiling or floor lighting. Recessed lights placed on the floor should have high waterproofing and should not protrude beyond the surface of the tiles. Such lighting is very practical as it does not take up much space and does not interfere during bathing.

However, it is worth remembering and considering that the light from lamps installed in the floor or lower parts of the wall does not adequately illuminate the entire interior. Therefore, one should consider lighting the shower cabin with spots or recessed lights in the ceiling. The bulbs used in overhead lighting should have a higher wattage, as water vapor rises above the shower cabin and condensing on the casings reduces the passage of light.