Things to Consider When Choosing a Shower Light
Things to Consider When Choosing a Shower Light
Blog Article
Size
The size of your shower light will depend on the size of the shower. Too big or too small will look unbalanced. The most common recessed light sizes are 4-inch, 5-inch, 6-inch, and 7-inch.
Wattage
For bathrooms in general, 60-watt incandescent bulbs or 7 to 9-watt LED bulbs provide the most brightness while still being flattering, though you can use 75-watt bulbs for larger or even brighter spaces. If 60 watts is too bright for a shower, choose a lower wattage or use dimmers to adjust the light level. Watts indicate how much energy you’ll use to power your lights, not the actual light level, but we often think of brightness in terms of the number of incandescent watts. LED light packaging often shows incandescent watt equivalents on packaging as a guide.
Color Temperature
Determine if you want the color temperature of your shower to be cool or warm. Cool, bright light works well in bathrooms, especially for tasks like applying makeup and shaving, but warm, yellow light can be more relaxing for bathing and less harsh for late-night bathroom trips. If opting for cool light—with bulbs labeled as daylight, cool white, or bright white—consider adding dimmer switches for the shower fixture to temper some of the brightness.
Style
Since most shower lights are located on the ceiling, to minimize water exposure, recessed lights and surface-mount lights are the most typical styles, but sconces or recessed lighting in shower niches are other creative options.
Trim
Shower light fixtures use shower trim that is water-resistant. Shower trim comes in a range of finishes—from white to bronze, from nickel to black—that can match the other light fixtures in the bathroom.
Water Resistance
Shower light fixtures need to be water-resistant for safety. Make sure the fixture is either damp-rated, which can withstand moist environments, or wet-rated, which can be directly exposed to water. Since showers tend to be enclosed spaces with a lot of water splashing around, wet-rated fixtures are the more common option.