Bathroom lights for Irish homes, from an independent Irish electrical supplier. IP rated downlights and ceiling fittings, plus LED mirrors with demister. A bathroom is the one room where the rating on the fitting matters as much as the look of it, so this page explains how to choose. Free delivery applies to every order from the first euro, with no minimum spend. For how IP ratings and bathroom zones work in any room, see our guide to what IP rating you need.
What IP rating does a bathroom light need?
It depends on how close the fitting is to water. As a general guide, IP65 directly over a bath or shower, IP44 elsewhere in the room, and any rating outside the splash area.
IP is two digits. The first is protection against solids, the second against water, and in a bathroom the second is the one that matters. IP44 resists splashing from any direction. IP65 adds protection against low pressure jets, which is what you want where the fitting will take direct spray or sustained steam. Check the stated IP rating of every fitting before you choose it for a position, because in a bathroom an unrated fitting is not a cheaper option, it is the wrong option.
What are bathroom zones and why do they matter?
The wiring rules divide a bathroom into zones by distance from the bath and shower. Each zone sets a minimum IP rating, and the closer to water, the higher the requirement.
In broad terms, the inside of the bath or shower enclosure is the most restricted and typically requires low voltage fittings. The area directly above it, up to roughly 2.25 metres, comes next. A band extending about 600mm beyond that is less restricted again, and beyond that the ordinary rules apply. The exact requirements are set by the National Rules for Electrical Installations, so treat this as orientation rather than specification, and have a registered electrician confirm the zone before you buy for a specific position.
Can I fit a bathroom light myself?
No. Electrical work in a bathroom should be carried out by a registered electrician. It is the highest risk room in the house for electrical work and the zone rules apply to the installation, not just the fitting.
That is true whether you are replacing like for like or installing something new. Buying the correct IP rated fitting is only half of it. The circuit, the isolation and the position all have to be right, and a bathroom is the one room where getting it wrong is genuinely dangerous rather than merely untidy.
What colour temperature suits a bathroom?
4000K neutral white is the safest choice. It is bright enough for shaving and makeup without the blue cast of 6500K, and it renders skin tone honestly.
3000K warm white is more relaxing for a bath at the end of the day but makes it harder to judge colour at the mirror. Several fittings in this range are CCT switchable, so you set the temperature at installation rather than committing at purchase. If you have one light in a small bathroom, 4000K is the one to pick.
Do I need a demister on a bathroom mirror?
If the mirror is in the main line of sight from the shower, yes. A demister is a heated pad behind the glass that keeps a clear patch while the room steams up.
Without one, the mirror fogs within a minute of a hot shower and stays fogged for several more, which is exactly when most people want to use it. Every LED mirror in this range includes anti fog heating as standard. In a bathroom with strong extraction and the mirror well away from the shower, you can live without it, but it is the feature people most often wish they had specified.
Can you put a downlight above a shower?
Yes, with the right rating. It needs to be IP65 rated and, if the ceiling separates two floors, fire rated as well. Both together, not one or the other.
This catches people out, because a fitting can be fire rated without being IP rated, or sealed without being fire rated. Over a shower in a two storey house you need both properties in the same fitting. The LIMA IP65 fire rated downlight in this collection is specified for exactly that position.
What are the best bathroom ceiling lights?
A sealed IP65 LED ceiling light for general light, plus IP65 fire rated downlights over the bath or shower. Both cope with steam and splashes.
The Evolec 18/25W bathroom LED light is IP65, switches between 18W and 25W for 1900 or 2600 lumens, lets you choose 3000K, 4000K or 5700K, and dims on a compatible LED dimmer. The LIMA downlight is IP65 and fire rated for 30, 60 or 90 minutes, with selectable 4W, 6W or 8W output and colour temperatures from 2700K to 6000K. For a traditional look, the Evolec bathroom globe light is IP44 with a B22 lamp holder, which suits a position away from the bath and shower.
Can I use spotlights in a bathroom ceiling?
Yes, if each spotlight is IP65 where it can take spray and fire rated where there is a room above. The LIMA downlight is both.
Bathroom spotlights are usually recessed downlights, and the zone each one sits in decides the rating it needs. Over a shower or bath, treat IP65 as the working minimum. The Chameleon fire rated downlight in this collection is also IP65 from the room side and IP20 above the ceiling, according to its box, so it suits bathroom ceiling positions where IP65 is specified. Our plain guide to what IP rating you need explains the digits and how bathrooms differ from the rest of the house.
Can I put a wall light in a bathroom?
Yes, if it is rated for its zone, which usually means IP44 or better. At the mirror, an LED bathroom mirror often works better.
A wall light beside a mirror sits close to the basin, so splashes are likely and the rating matters. The M600/CCT circular and M700/CCT rectangular LED bathroom mirrors put dimmable light exactly where you need it and include anti fog heating, and the smart LED mirror cabinet adds storage. If you need a specific bathroom wall light for a position, call 01 401 9907 or email sales@shamrockelectrical.ie and we will check what suits the zone.
Where can I buy bathroom lights in Ireland?
Shamrock Electrical supplies bathroom lighting across the Republic of Ireland, online with free delivery on every order, or over the counter in Rathcoole, County Dublin.
We are an independent Irish electrical business at Unit 22, Block 613, Jordanstown Road, Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin, D24 TX98, just off the N7 and well positioned for the M50. The counter is open Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. If you are fitting out a bathroom and want to check a rating against a specific position before ordering, call 01 401 9907 or email sales@shamrockelectrical.ie. The bathroom mirrors with lights range is worth a look alongside the ceiling fittings.
