Lighting

Bathroom lighting: ceiling, light above the mirror, niche, and IP rating

A well-lit bathroom has three layers of light: main ceiling light, light at the mirror that illuminates the face from the front or sides, and indirect light, such as an LED strip in a niche. Choose neutral to warm white 3000 to 4000 K with good colour rendering (CRI 90 or more) for the mirror. Lights near the bath and in the shower must have a rating according to the zone – in zones 1 and 2 at least IPX4, for example, IP44.

Pripravil: tím TGB Kúpeľne, kúpeľňové štúdio v Senci od roku 1991aktualizované 6. 11. 202611 min čítania

Illustrative image: bathroom in the evening with LED light above the mirror, spotlights, and backlit niche in the shower

Lighting in the bathroom determines whether you can see well while shaving or applying makeup in the morning and whether you can relax in the bath in the evening. One fixture in the middle of the ceiling is not enough – it casts shadows on the face from above and leaves darkness in the corners. We will go through how to layer lighting in the bathroom, what light to place above the mirror and on its sides, where spotlights belong, how to create an LED strip in a niche, what light temperature to choose, and what IP ratings the fixtures need in each zone.

Three layers of light in the bathroom

Each layer should be on a separate switch or circuit. In the morning, turn on the main light with the light by the mirror, in the evening just the indirect light in the recess and under the cabinet. If you want to change the brightness smoothly, choose dimmable lights and a compatible dimmer – for LED lights, this must be explicitly permitted by the manufacturer.

Light above the mirror

Light above the mirror is the most common solution for task lighting in the bathroom. It shines from above and slightly forward, so install it just above the mirror and as close to the face as possible. There are three types to choose from:

• Wall light above the mirror – an elongated LED strip that attaches to the wall above the mirror. It requires a cable outlet above the mirror.
• Lighting for the mirror – a smaller light that attaches to the top edge of the mirror or mirrored cabinet (gallery).
• LED mirror – the light is directly in the mirror, often around the entire perimeter, also with anti-fog heating. We describe the selection in the article Mirror for the bathroom.

Adjust the length of the light to the width of the mirror, generally it should not be wider than the mirror. For a 60 cm wide mirror, a light of 40 to 60 cm is suitable, for a mirror 80 to 120 cm a longer strip or two lights. When comparing LED lights, look at lumens (lm), not watts – lumens indicate how much light the light gives, watts only indicate consumption.

Prices including VAT from the e-shop vkupelni.sk, category Bathroom lighting, as of November 2026. Mereo lights have an IP44 rating and neutral white 4000 K, which is suitable for makeup and shaving.

Prepare the cable outlet for the light above the mirror a few centimetres above the planned top edge of the mirror. Therefore, definitely determine the height and width of the mirror before the electrician does the wiring and the tiler starts tiling – moving the outlet later is difficult.

Wall lights on either side of the mirror

The best way to illuminate the face is with light from both sides of the mirror at approximately eye level. It shines evenly on the entire face, so there are no shadows under the eyes, nose, or chin. This is why they are used in theatre dressing rooms and beauty salons. At home, they are especially useful where you often apply makeup, or at a double sink where each person has their own mirror.

• Placement: on both sides of the mirror, centre of the light approximately at eye level.
• Shade: matte or opal, which does not dazzle – a bare LED bulb near the face is blinding.
• Combination: wall lights on the sides and light above the mirror together provide the best light for the face.
• Rating: at the sink, which is further from the bath and shower, the area is usually outside the zones. A decorative light with a lower rating, such as SAPHO BARI with a ceramic shade and IP21 rating (€85.01 on vkupelni.sk, as of November 2026), belongs only outside zones 0, 1, and 2.

Whether the area by the sink is outside the zones is determined by the electrician based on the distance from the bath and shower. In a small bathroom, where the sink is right next to the bath, choose lights with at least an IP44 rating.

Ceiling and spotlights

The main light is provided by a ceiling light or spotlights in the ceiling. In a small bathroom, often a single flush-mounted ceiling light with an IP44 rating is sufficient, illuminating the entire room. In a larger bathroom or one with a drywall ceiling, spotlights are suitable – arrange them to shine into the corners, above the bath, and into the shower, not just in the middle of the room.

• Above the shower and bath must be a light designed for that zone, with at least an IPX4 rating. If the shower is cleaned with a water jet, at least IPX5. Therefore, spotlights with an IP65 rating are commonly chosen for the shower.
• Above the mirror do not place a spotlight directly above the head – it casts harsh shadows on the face from above. Complement it with light by the mirror.
• Glossy tiles and flooring reflect spotlights like a mirror. For glossy surfaces, choose lights with a matte cover or a wider beam angle to avoid glare.
• Fan is often turned on with the light and runs for a few minutes after it is turned off. We describe how to ventilate the bathroom in the chapter Ventilation.

Light temperature and colour rendering

The colour rendering – CRI (Ra) index is equally important by the mirror. At a value of 90 or above, you see skin tones and makeup accurately, while cheap LED lights with a CRI around 80 make skin appear greyer. Some LED mirrors and lights allow you to change the light temperature, for example, 4000 K in the morning and 3000 K in the evening. Keep lights in one room with the same or similar light temperature, otherwise the bathroom will feel disjointed.

Zones in the bathroom and IP rating

According to standard STN 33 2000-7-701, the bathroom is divided into zones based on distance from the bathtub and shower. Zone 0 is inside the bathtub or shower, zone 1 is the space above it up to a height of 225 cm, and zone 2 is a 60 cm strip around zone 1 by the bathtub. We describe them in detail in the chapter Electricity in the bathroom: zones 0, 1, 2 and IP rating.

The IP rating has two digits. The first indicates protection against dust and contact, the second indicates protection against water. An X instead of a digit means that the property has not been tested.

The standard requires at least IPX7 in zone 0 and at least IPX4 in zones 1 and 2, where cleaning by water jet requires at least IPX5. In zone 0, only devices powered by safe low voltage SELV of up to 12 V AC or 30 V DC are allowed, with the source located outside zones 0 and 1. All circuits in the bathroom must be protected by a residual current device of up to 30 mA. The electrical installation is designed and carried out by a qualified electrician – he will determine the exact boundaries of the zones in the specific bathroom.

LED strip in the niche and indirect light

Indirect light does not shine directly into the eyes but reflects off the wall, tiles or ceiling. The bathroom feels larger and more pleasant in the evening, and at night it serves as a dim orientation light. The most common locations are:

• niche in the shower or by the bathtub – LED strip at the top edge of the niche illuminates cosmetics and tiles in the niche,
• under the wall cabinet – light on the floor, ideal as a night light,
• behind the mirror – light halo around the mirror,
• in the ceiling – light cornice along the wall or above the bathtub.

Place the LED strip in an aluminium profile with a frosted diffuser – the light is even and individual points are not visible. For the shower and niche in the shower, a strip with an IP65 or IP67 rating and well-sealed ends is required. Position the power supply (12 V or 24 V) outside zones 0 and 1 and in a location that is accessible – for example, in a cabinet or in the ceiling with a service opening. The power supply is replaced more often than the strip itself over the years. Warm white light at 2700 to 3000 K is suitable for indirect lighting.

Plan the light in the niche before tiling: groove or strip for the profile, cable supply and space for the source. How to create a niche by the bathtub is described in the article Building a bathtub and niche, shelves and niches in the article Open shelves and niches in the bathroom.

Switches, dimming and sensors

• Switches should be located outside the zones, most often by the doors or in the hallway. Place the main light switch by the door, while the light by the mirror can have a switch directly on the mirror.
• Separate circuits – turn on the main light, the light by the mirror, and the indirect light separately.
• Dimming – dimmable fixtures with a dimmer recommended by the fixture manufacturer.
• Motion sensor – dimmed light under the cabinet that turns on automatically at night when you enter.
• LED mirror with a touch switch and heating that turns on with the light to prevent the mirror from fogging after a shower.

Lighting a small bathroom

In a small bathroom, the rule is not to have less light, but to have it better distributed. One ceiling light with an IP44 rating and an LED mirror or light above the mirror is usually the base. Indirect light in the niche or under the cabinet visually enlarges the space, and bright glossy tiles scatter the light even more. Dark corners are the most problematic in a small bathroom – also illuminate the shower. More ideas can be found in the article Small bathrooms: ideas and solutions.

How to plan bathroom lighting: steps

1. Draw a floor plan with the placement of the mirror, sink, bathtub, shower and doors.
2. Have the electrician determine zones 0, 1 and 2 and the corresponding lighting ratings.
3. Decide what layers of light you want and which will be on a separate switch.
4. Choose lights – main, mirror, and indirect – with appropriate protection for each zone.
5. Before tiling, prepare the outlets: above the mirror, in the ceiling, in the niche, and a place for the LED strip power source.
6. For the mirror, select a temperature around 4000 K and CRI 90 or higher, and for indirect light, 2700 to 3000 K.

You can try out how your bathroom will look with light and your tiles for free in the 3D bathroom planner.

How much does bathroom lighting cost?

You can buy lights above the mirror at vkupelni.sk starting from approximately €31 (Lotosan STAR) to €117 (Lotosan ASTER 120 cm), LED lights Mereo with IP44 protection for €48 (40 cm) and €60 (60 cm). The LED mirror with lighting and anti-fogging Mereo 60 × 70 cm costs €182 (as of November 2026). You can find LED mirrors in the LED mirrors category. Add the cost of the electrician's work, and for the ceiling, also consider drywall, and for the LED strip, the profile, diffuser, and power source.

Check out LED mirrors and lights in the studio in Senec.

We have LED mirrors, lights above the mirror, and fixtures on display at TGB Kúpeľne na Bratislavskej 71 v Senci (Mon–Fri 8:00–12:00 and 12:30–17:00, Sat 9:00–12:00). You can compare the light temperature and brightness, and we will advise you on how to match the lighting with the mirror and cabinet.

Related: Bathroom mirror · Electricity and zones · Bathroom ventilation · Bathroom furniture and mirrors · Small bathrooms · Bathroom equipment

Sources: STN 33 2000-7-701 (zones, IP protection, and safe low voltage, simplified – exact requirements in a specific bathroom will be determined by the electrician), e-shop vkupelni.sk, categories Bathroom lighting and LED mirrors (models, parameters, and prices, November 2026), our chapter Electricity and zones.