Buying guide to bathroom lighting

You'll mainly use bathroom lighting to provide plenty of functionality but it can also give your bathroom real visual sparkle. The main types of lighting are ambient, task and accent - and in a large bathroom you can combine all three to create an effective, eye-catching scheme. Here's what they'll do for you:

Ambient

General lighting that takes the place of daylight.

Task

Lighting for specific jobs such as putting on make-up or shaving.

Accent

Lends texture, focus and shape to a room's special features or adds interest to specific areas.

Water and electricity don't mix of course so it's safety first for bathroom lighting. To make it simple to choose the correct and safest type for you, lighting for bathrooms or wet areas is sorted into these categories:

A central ceiling fixture gives you a good dose of ambient light. For safety's sake, bathroom light fittings must be well away from water and shielded. That's why close-mounted ceiling lights, either enclosed or flush, are used instead of pendant fittings.

You'll see flush light fittings in a range of traditional or modern designs, in clear or frosted glass with chrome, brushed chrome and antique-effect trims. And light switches, of course, must be out of the reach of anyone using a bath or shower.

Discreet, unobtrusive, and affordable, recessed halogen lighting offers high levels of illumination. And you can get special bathroom down lights for above your shower and bath. These are sealed and can withstand condensation. Otherwise, you can use ordinary down lights elsewhere in the bathroom.
Whatever your taste, there's a down light style to suit you. Choose from white, polished chrome, brushed chrome and brass finishes. You usually buy them in packs of three or five.
Need to illuminate a special spot in your room? Use eyeball and tilting models that direct light where you most need it. Just so you know, they're slightly more expensive than true down lights, which are fixed in a downward position. And while some down lights can be wired straight into the mains, others need transformers. Homebase down lights come complete with bulbs, which is handy.

This versatile lighting really boosts the mood in a bathroom. Protected by shades or covers, wall lights gently pour in soft, atmospheric illumination and add intriguing variety to your lighting scheme. Use with a central ceiling light or down lights to create a mellow ambiance.

Wall lights look good too. Use to decorative effect in alcoves, on either side of a mirror or above a bath. You operate them in two ways. They're either wired into the mains and come on when you pull the main light switch, or they're wired independently and you turn them on with an individual pull cord.

Ideal for task and accent lighting. Bars with a pair of spotlights give you the benefit of having a single fitting that holds a number of light sources. They also offer you useful task lighting when fitted over a mirror.

These light fittings feature a shaver socket in one end, and they often have a pull cord so you switch them on only when you need them. Long and slim, they give bright task lighting.

For advice on buying the right bulb for your light fittings, see our buying guide to light bulbs.

Many Homebase light fittings now come fitted with bulbs, and replacements for every type of fitting we stock are available in store.