Bathroom Lighting: Built into the brief

Bathroom lighting works best when planned with the wider scheme. SANIPEX GROUP brings together selected designs from Astro Lighting, J.Adams & Co., Heathfield & Co., and SANAURA for general illumination, mirror lighting and coordinated finishes.

The lighting plan should be in place before the sanitaryware, mirrors and finishes are finalised. In a hotel guest bathroom, it needs accurate mirror light, comfortable general illumination, a gentler setting for bathing and safe movement after dark. Positions, circuits and finishes should therefore be resolved as the complete specification takes shape.

Start with position and purpose

Define the bathroom zones and the purpose of each source before settling on fittings. The required IP rating depends on proximity to the bath, shower or basin and applicable regulations. Every fitting featured here is IP44-rated, but final selection, positioning and installation should be confirmed by a qualified electrical professional.

Once established, build the light in layers. Astro Lighting’s Aquina Ceiling 360 helps establish an even general layer, with a double-glass shade that softens the light and can be replaced if required – a useful servicing detail for hotels. The absence of visible fixings gives the ceiling a clean profile. At the mirror, the flush-fitting Zeppo Wall uses duplex glass to spread light softly without projecting far into the room.

Give the mirror its own lighting

At the vanity, light should reach the face evenly and minimise strong overhead shadows. Astro’s Atticus 900 can be fitted vertically beside a mirror or horizontally above it. The dimmable 2700K model delivers 976 lumens with a CRI of 90, while 3000K versions offer a slightly more neutral appearance. Colour temperature describes how warm or neutral the light appears, rather than its brightness; effective mirror lighting also depends on output, colour rendering, positioning and glare control.

Once task lighting is in place, a decorative layer can add material character. J. Adams & Co.’s Apex combines hand-crafted brass with kiln-formed textured glass and a dimmable 2700K source, bringing warmer light and depth to the wall. Orbit pairs an opal glass globe with a natural stone or brass surround. With a dimmable 2700K source, its shallow 125mm projection makes it a compact source of supplementary light.

Choose materials that shape the light

In a humid room, suitability depends on the complete fitting’s IP rating and the manufacturer’s guidance, not on material alone. Beyond these requirements, material influences maintenance, coordination and the lighting effect. Glass is straightforward to clean, while translucent treatments can soften glare and diffuse the light.

Heathfield & Co.’s Maeve demonstrates this through traditionally slumped, semi-translucent glass in Mist or Light Smoke, creating a gentler effect that works particularly well beside a bath. Dua uses two tones of alabaster to create a different effect; once illuminated, the stone produces a warm glow that reveals the natural variation in each piece. Metalwork can also be coordinated with the brassware and accessories, following the manufacturer’s care guidance for the selected finish.

Coordinate lighting with the bathroom specification

SANAURA’s Carlyle and Fonteyn wall lights were developed to complement the corresponding BAGNODESIGN bathroom collections. Carlyle combines White Gelsa Alabaster with an integrated 3000K LED, allowing the stone to contribute to the light effect. Fonteyn’s clear reeded glass relates to its mid-century-inspired bathroom range and comes in 300mm and 600mm sizes. With outputs of 620 and 1,250 lumens respectively, a CRI above 90 and a 2700K–3000K colour temperature, this collection provides practical mirror lighting as well as decorative detail.

Together, these qualities help designers balance useful light for the guest’s daily routine with a warmer setting for bathing. Alongside these practical benefits, carrying the collections’ material details through to the lighting creates visual continuity across the sanitaryware, brassware, furniture and accessories, helping designers develop a coherent bathroom specification.