How to illuminate a shower cabin?

The shower cabin is one of the most important elements of bathroom design. Elegant, well-maintained, and highlighted with appropriate lighting, it can be a decorative element of the room. However, it is important to remember that the lighting of both the cabin and the entire bathroom must be safe and provide excellent visibility during grooming procedures. What kind of lighting can we use to meet our expectations and functionally organize the space?

Bathroom lighting with a shower cabin

Proper bathroom lighting should be well thought out and consist of several independent light sources, placed mainly in points providing excellent visibility. Such a place is the mirror above the sink, essential during daily grooming procedures. Wall sconces, built-in LED lamps, or spotlight strips installed near the mirror will allow for precise shaving, perfect makeup, or any necessary appearance corrections.

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

1. bathroom-specific plafonds,
2. LED strips.

Space above the bathtub - LEDs on the wall

If there is a bathtub in the bathroom and you enjoy long relaxing baths, you can install decorative LED strips just above the bathtub on the wall, which can shine in different colors. Their use provides amazing light reflections, enhancing the relaxation effect during a bath. LED lighting is used not only near the bathtub, sink, or in the shower cabin. It can also be placed in the bathtub casing, on the floor, in the space behind the mirror, or in niches intended for bathroom accessories or in furniture, such as under the cabinet countertop, to nicely illuminate the drawers.

Safe shower cabin lighting

To ensure bathroom lighting meets safety standards, it must be suitable for high humidity conditions. This applies especially to rooms with bathtubs or areas with open shower cabins, such as walk-ins. Shower cabins are places exposed to constant water exposure, particularly affecting the floor as well as the shower walls and ceiling. Due to the high humidity in the bathroom, it is necessary to install lamps resistant to water and moisture in the air.

High-seal fittings should also be installed above the shower, regardless of the bathroom's height. Since a lot of steam rises there, it's not worth risking the installation of lamps with low water resistance. It's better to invest in ceiling spots or spotlights with a high IP parameter, to prolong the lighting's lifespan and ensure user safety.

High IP protection level - what does it mean?

The IP parameter, indicating water resistance, informs about the level of protection of a given lamp model. The higher the number after the letter symbols, the greater the resistance to water penetration. Safe lighting for the shower cabin will be lamps with an IP67 or higher seal class. This parameter provides protection against flooding for about 30 minutes. For this duration, a fixture submerged in water will be safe. If you prefer long showers, opt for floor fixtures with IP68 class. This type of product is installed in water ponds and pools, so prolonged water exposure will not be a problem.

Shower cabin with LED strips - a modern bathroom trend

One of the increasingly used decorative lighting systems are LED strips. They are used not only in kitchens and bedrooms but also in bathrooms. Properly chosen, with a high sealing class, they will also work in the shower. There are at least several possibilities for shower cabin lighting. You can highlight the edges of the cabin with glowing strips, or highlight niches for toiletries. LEDs embedded in the wall or between tile joints present interestingly. Another way to accentuate elements in the shower cabin space will be a backlit wall drain. This solution combines two functions, which is particularly appreciated in modern interiors.

Available in the market are LED strips of various power, with the applied RGB technology, allowing for color changes during the bath. Their flexibility is an additional advantage. They can be purchased in different lengths, trimmed, and create unique patterns in the shower cabin. They fit perfectly into modern and minimalist interiors, but they should be used thoughtfully to not disrupt the design harmony with an overabundance of light effects.

Ceiling and floor lighting in the shower cabin

LED strips for shower cabins create original decorative lighting. However, if someone does not prefer such solutions, they can opt for the installation of ceiling or floor lighting. Ceiling-type fixtures, placed on the floor, should be highly sealed and not protrude beyond the tile surface. Such lighting is very practical as it does not take up much space and does not interfere during a bath.

It is important to remember and consider that light from floor-mounted lamps or in the lower parts of the wall will not illuminate the entire interior well. It is, therefore, necessary to consider shower cabin lighting with ceiling spots or recessed fixtures. Bulbs used in upper lighting should have higher power because the steam rises above the shower cabin and, by settling on the fixtures, reduces light transmission.