When I say “bathroom lighting,” what image pops up in your head?
If it’s a beautiful vanity area accented with stylish wall sconces, or an illuminated mirror above the sink, you’re like most people. The vanity is important to light properly. It can be incredibly annoying to have inadequate light for makeup or shaving, so it’s typically what people (including us!) think of first.
This post is about the part of the bathroom that is frequently forgotten in terms of lighting: the shower. For some reason, recessed shower lights get left off the lighting plan often. The result is a shadowy, unwelcoming space – hardly the place you’d want to spend your first few groggy moments of the morning.
Whether you’re adding shower lights to your finished bathroom (an easy project with special remodel recessed housings), or choosing the shower trim you’d like to use in a new bathroom, this post should help you decide which product is right for you.
1. Find a Moisture-Resistant Trim:
The most important feature of your new shower light is a “wet location approved” trim. All of the shower lighting trims we sell include a glass diffuser and a rubber gasket – these work together to completely prevent water from getting into the light fixture.
2. Select Your Style:
Recessed lighting is often (mistakenly) thought of as an unobtrusive form of lighting that tends to all look the same. That’s far from true! You can find a number of traditionally styled recessed lights; but if you’re looking for a more unique trim, there are a variety of options. The lens of the trim can make a big difference – you can choose between frosted, opal glass, fresnel, or albalite. If you’re looking for a very uniform distribution of light (typically a good idea for the shower), check out the trims with domed glass diffusers – like this one.
3. Find a Compatible Light Bulb:
MR16 or PAR20 halogen lamps are common for shower recessed lighting, but new LED retrofit modules on the market enable you to incorporate energy-efficient LED lighting into your bathroom. “Module” denotes that the LED lamp is included in the product and not sold separately. For more information, check out the “Description” tab on any of our recessed shower lighting pages.
Questions? Ask them below!
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by Emily Widle
Emily was the E-Commerce Marketing Specialist at Pegasus Lighting until June 2012.
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Hi Emily:
I am trying to specify the right recessed lighting fixture inside a shower area. I am looking for good quality light, sharp, intense, maybe an MR16. What would you recommend and can you give me product numbers so I can review my options?
Thanks – Lynn
Lynn:
Emily is out of the office today so I will go ahead and reply to your question. You can visit our Recessed Shower Lighting page on our website to take a look at your options. We offer 22 shower trims with a variety of finishes. If you are looking specifically for an MR16 shower trim then once you visit the Recessed Shower Lighting page you can narrow your choices by 12 volts (low voltage). This will leave you with six low voltage shower trims to choose from in 3-inch and 4-inch options.
Our six low voltage MR16 shower trims are:
3in Shower Trim with Frosted Dome
4in Shower Trim with Albalite Lens
4in Shower Trim with Fresnel Lens
4in Shower Trim with Frosted Dome
4in Shower Trim with Frosted Lens
4in Shower Trim with Drop Opal Glass
The main differences between the 4-inch shower lights is style of glass lens covering the lamp to protect it from water.
Good luck and please let me know if you have any other questions.
i want a trim with glass which lets out as much light as possible (not frosted) fro a 4″ recessed shower light. can you please explain the difference between fresnel and albalite in this context?
A fresnel lens will focus the light and direct it father down than the frosted and albalite lenses. It is ideal if you have a high ceiling above the shower.
An albalite lens is pretty similar to a frosted lens. It’s going to diffuse the light but perhaps a little less than a traditional frosted lens.
If your main concern is brightness, then go with the fresnel lens. I personally would rather have diffuse light in the shower to avoid glare… for example, when washing your hair it can be uncomfortable to look straight up into a super bright recessed light.