What kind of lighting for a small windowless bathroom?

[cathbath76]

We are (finally!) having our small main bathroom done - it is only 1.3 x 2.5m so is really tiny, and has no window.

It is the main family bathroom so we need to get the lighting right. The question is... what kind, and how bright to go?

We're having flat white glossy tiles from floor to ceiling - so they will reflect a fair bit of light. We want to make the room feel bigger and less claustrophobic - but I'm also worried that it might end up being dazzling?

We are considering a dimmer switch, so we can change the mood (e.g. for at night), but they don't seem to be compatible with the energy saver ceiling lights we have seen.

Has anyone had success at lighting a tiny windowless bathroom?

lots of bright spots.

is it upstairs? you can install a tunnel style window that goes up from your bathroom ceiling to the roof - i dont know what they are called but my DH is proposing to install one

can i please ask - do you have any problems with a windowless bathroom? we are creating one by splitting a bedroom in half but i am still dubious about it

get a specialist blue light bulb ,the one that dressmakers use as it gives a natural light and natural colour

SOlatube is the light tybe thing
www.solatube.co.uk/

How about LED light fittings? They are energy efficient and give off a bright, clean light.
Check with your electrician if you can get these in dimmable format.

dont think they are dimmable

Hi chuffinell,

I'd love to have a light tube, but I don't think it could work as our converted loft is directly above the bathroom.

We haven't had any problems with our windowless bathroom, though we haven't tried having showers in it yet so I am slightly concerned about condensation. Although we used to have a bathroom with a window, and we hardly ever bothered to open the window so I guess it's no different really. Also we've decided (thanks to previous advice on here) to tile the whole room to protect against condensation.

We have bought a powerful extractor fan, but our plumber is still trying to work out how to put in the ducting so we can vent it outside (not easy as the bathroom is sandwiched between two bedrooms and our neighbours' house). It's possible we could go into the chimney breast.

Anyway I'd rather have a small bathroom than lose a bedroom. Now we just have to get the lighting right as I think that will make a big difference to the room.

Thanks Pannacotta - I will look into LED lighting.

Just to throw in my views on ventilation. We're obsessed by this as our house is timber framed with a damp problem, and DH can smell damp a mile away.

We're very concerned about the condensation / damp smells in our windowless bathrom - but we know that the extractor fan we have isn't up to the job, so this must be half the problem. This is the main bathroom, so we're hoping to rearrange the house to get a window. At the moment, after anyone uses the room, we open the hall window and prop the door open.

We're planning to create a new ensuite windowless bathroom ourselves, and this one will have a super-duper extractor fan in it. One tip we were given was to pick an extractor fan with a top rate substantially higher than you need, so that you run it on a much lower rate and its much quieter. This was for our kitchen, but may well apply to bathrooms too.

Can you put in a half glazed door with frosted glass to stop it feeling claustrophobic.I have done this to great effect in a development.Then place a mirror where it can pick up some of teh borrowed light

Ooh, yes, we have that in our bathroom, and a mirror facing back at the frosted glass.

Now I need Noddy's help on another thread.

thanks for the kind advice - all in all -good extractor needed, along with a frosted glazed door and a well placed mirror!

isnt mumsnet great?

My electrician recommends Manrose extractors, you can get one with a humidistat which comes on automatically when it senses moisture in the air.

Have had a quick look on line and you can get dimmable LED fittings, maybe easier to ask your electrician to source them for you.