Can I have a chandelier in my bathroom???

[kitsmummy]

We're just about to re-do our bathroom (loooong overdue!) and we're having a freestanding bath, frameless shower, probably white brick tiles (white grout) and I'm picturing v dark grey, nearly black, walls. I'm aiming for an elegant and dramatic look (rather than dungeon, fingers crossed).

I'd love to put a chandelier in there, perhaps something like this.

I know you're not generally supposed to have non-bathroom lights in a bathroom but is there anyway around this? It wouldn't actually be directly over the bath or shower, but obviously wouldn't be too far away from them.

thanks

[DystopianReality]

How lovely. I think there are ways round this but the chandelier has to be a certain distance from water. So if it;s a big bathroom it should be OK.

[MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic]

Here you go

(Don't use a non-bathroom light in a bathroom unless it's huge - there are zones around the wet areas which indicate which sorts of lights you can use. Given how badly electricity and water mix, I wouldn't take any chances, plus a reputable electrician wouldn't fit it anyway)

[MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic]

Bathroom lighting regulations and zones

[AllPastYears]

When I was a teenager I would help my long hair to dry by flicking it around. One day some water from my hair splashed onto the light bulb and it exploded, leaving me in a pitch dark room with glass on the floor.

Just saying...

[Flatbread]

I love the idea of a chandelier in the bathroom! Really like the one in the first link.

Our electrician insisted on bathroom specific lighting, but our spaces are small so water/ moisture probably does matter.

[noddyholder]

It is to do with building regs and steam etc. It isn't safe although I think in the US the electrical regs are different and you can! You can buy a special one though gustavian do one that is suitable for a bathroom but you can't just choose any old one. Lights in bathrooms are supposed to be enclosed iirc.The gustavian ones are quite expensive

[VerityClinch]

I think You could have a chandelier in the bathroom, you need an electrician who would install a protective 6amp MCBO to protect your lighting circuit, that should comply with regulations.

[noddyholder]

Yes verity you can isolate the bathroom supply I think but my electrician still doesn't like them! I tried once . I think if its a certain height eg v high ceiling 8ft plus you may get round it but condensation settling would fuse some lights

[PigletJohn]

an 8ft ceiling is 2400mm, but remember that a chandelier hangs some way below the ceiling, so in most houses might be in a zone and could be touched without a ladder.

All electrical work in a bathroom must now be protected by an RCD. this can include an RCBO if the lighting circuits are not already protected, depending on age and brand of your consumer unit.

[kitsmummy]

Thanks for the advice everyone. The ceiling is at least 8ft so it sounds like a conversation with our electrician is in order

[Karbea]

How about these

[kitsmummy]

thank you Karbea, I've seen those but unfortunately any I like are way out of budget!

[MisForMumNotMaid]

What about recessed lighting and a dramatic candelabra? For that Candle lit long soak with a glass of wine.

[SmileItsSunny]

I was coming here to ask just that very question!
MrsDimitri I love it. It's over my budget... but I love it.

[PigletJohn]

there is an error in the zones diagram from that lighting company, it shows zone 2 around a washbasin.

bathroom zones are determined by their distance from a fixed bath or shower, not from other objects in the room. A better diagram can be found here