Bathroom LED Lights

As an electrical wholesaler, we get asked a lot of questions both via our trade counter in Archway, North London and via email, phone, website, etc. When it comes to lighting, it used to be that people preferred halogen lights; nowadays, however, everyone loves LED lights. As to bathroom lighting, many people have either standalone ceiling light fittings together with some wall lamps, shaver lights, or mirror lights, or they couple the ceiling lights with the bathroom fan. One of the questions we were asked recently is, Can I dim my bathroom lights? We don't have the complete answer to that, but as of today 13 February 2015, there are a few ways of dimming your bathroom lights. Note: due to the constant development and research in the realm of lighting, dimming, LED lighting, and technology, things can change in a year or so; however, up until today, these are the solutions that we can offer for dimming your bathroom lights. How to: Dim the Bathroom Lights First of all, before we even talk about how to dim the bathroom lights, we need to make sure that these lights are dimmable. This means that the light fitting has to allow you to dim - increase or decrease the light intensity - the light bulb and the light bulb also have to be dimmable.Dimmable Lights for Bathroom If the light fitting is dimmable, you can dim your bathroom lights. And when we speak of bathroom lights we speak mainly of the ceiling lights. Here are some solutions to dimming your bathroom lights: 1. Replace your wall switch with a dimmer switch. Because of the Building Regulations and the IP protection in the bathrooms, it is not possible to have a wall switch inside the bathroom; however, the wall light switch outside the bathroom can be replaced with a dimmer switch. Again, you will need to make sure that the bathroom lights are dimmable, and then you can set the bathroom light level as needed via a rotary dimmer switch. For example: you can use the Varilight HQ9W on/off rotary dimmer switch (in plastic white) or the intelligent single switch Varilight IQP401W (which takes up to 400W) with any of the dimmable bathroom ceiling lights. 2. Use a dimming pull cord switch: one of the few switching devices allowed in the bathroom is a pull cord switch. It is easy to turn the lights ON or OFF via the pull cord switch, and if the ventilation fan is also connected via this switch, the fan will be ON as standard. However, if you install the DIMPULL dimming pull cord switch you can not only turn your lights ON or OFF but, with a prolonged pull of the pull cord, you can dim the light level until you obtain the lighting you desire. Note: you cannot use this dimming pull cord switch with any fluorescent fittings (they are not dimmable), and the max. incandescent load is 250W. Also, you need to make sure you install this dimming pull cord switch outside zones 0 and 1; it can be installed only in the safe zone outside of the reach of water. For example: you can use the DIMPULL dimming pull cord switch with the popular bathroom ceiling lights, making sure the lamp used by this fitting is dimmable. If you use downlights, make sure you get dimmable light bulbs with it and, with the pull of a switch, you can dim them! Please note: when it comes to dimming the LED lights, things get a bit tricky. The DIMPULL doesn't work with LED lamps, and the wall dimmer has to be an LED dimmer in order to work with the dimmable LED lamps. Also, please note: it is recommended to use a registered qualified electrician to do the work of replacing switches and light fittings in the bathroom.

Everyone loves SALE prices! We at Sparks Direct are happy to inform everyone that, depending on the stock, we have two bathroom mirror lights on SALE! One is rectangular (with a spotlight above it) and one is round with a fluorescent strip on its rim. Both are very stylish, they are brand new, and they come with lamps included - ready to be installed and used in your bathroom at home!Clearance Lights at Sparks Bathroom Mirror with Light and Shaver Socket as low as £40! The Astro Lighting 0785 rectangular single bathroom mirror comes with a pull cord switch underneath it and with a spotlight to light up the mirror (as needed). Also, it has a shaver socket incorporated, which operates independently of the light being ON or OFF. Read more about the 0785 Novara Bathroom Mirror light. Now it is on SALE at Sparks - as low as £40 + VAT! Round Illuminated Bathroom Mirror as low as £50! This fitting is a 55cm diameter round mirror with a pull cord switch in the lower part, ideal for mounting in a modern bathroom. The Astro Lighting made 0744 Pico Bathroom Mirror Light uses an energy-saving fluorescent lamp and is suitable for above-the-sink mounting, being IP44 rated against dust and moisture ingress. Excellent for those who love round mirror lights! Read more about the Pico Bathroom Illuminated Mirror. Now on SALE at Sparks for as low as £50 + VAT! Please note: these light fittings are sold out; the current Astro Lighting sales can be found here. 

The ever-helpful Apartment Therapy recently published a short, slightly intimate treatise on practical lighting. Highlighted are four common household areas that often need more light - and which are often overlooked in the overall renovation of a house's design or renovation. But these are the spots which, if properly lit, enhance the experience of daily life immeasurably. The one thing the post lacks is recommendations for good lights and links to, say, an independent British retailer - which we are glad to provide for our UK readers today. We've pulled quotes from Apartment Therapy, but the whole thing is worth a read, especially the comments thread, which as usual contains more than a few nuggets of wisdom.THE ENTRY (OR "LANDING STRIP") It's the first place your guests see when they enter your home, and the spot where you probably need the best organization as you dart out the door (hopefully with your easily accessible keys and phone). A warm light here sets a welcoming tone and makes your daily exit all the easier. The first room in the house - usually a hallway, but we remember a time we lived in a small flat with a room almost as big as the living room - is particularly tricky to light. You need to toe the line between functionality (being able to find everything on the way out) and atmosphere (welcoming you, your family, and/or your guests). Although your interior design tastes might differ, we think wall lights to complement the general light coming from the ceiling are a good all-around solution. You can go the recessed route or the surface route - both will look and feel great. The header image of this post comes from Apartment Therapy and features a pair of Parma 210 Uplight/Downlights, which are plaster and can thus be painted to match the hallway! Closets Sometimes it's the smallest spaces that need the best lighting. A good light in the closet will make even an undersized one more efficient.If you've ever rummaged around a closet or a wardrobe for an hour looking for that one mobile phone charger or that lucky sock, you'll understand this grievance. Luckily, we have a range of small, but powerful, wardrobe lights that transform a storage space.Buy Wardrobe Lights at Sparks Better yet, we can make that closet lighting efficient: instead of a manual switch, why not install a "push-to-break" surface contact that will turn out the light when the door is closed? Or if the closet door might be blown open by a draught, a discreet motion sensor will activate the lights when someone enters the closet. Under-Kitchen Shelving Save yourself the squint wrinkles and install a few under-shelf/cabinet lights. When I remember to turn mine on, I slice like a pro. Plus, turning these on and turning off the overhead lights creates a nice ambiance.Task lights in the kitchen are some of our favorite things. Not just atmospheric but also incredibly useful - not to mention very helpful when slicing vegetables! This pyramid cupboard light is stylish in silver and fulfills whatever task light needs you have. Cooking in a tiny kitchen? That's no problem - we have one for corners, too. Bathrooms Ideally, you should use a mix of diffused lights. I like halogen for vanity lights and incandescent for overhead. The light should be soft enough to be flattering, but not so dim that you can't apply makeup easily. We should mention that bathroom lights need to be considered carefully: electrical items for use in wet rooms are IP-rated against water ingress, and there are 3 different zones in the bathroom depending on how much water they will come in contact with. Our bathroom lighting section has a great deal of information, coupled with some very attractive and stylish lights. Do you think Apartment Therapy missed anything? Are there other areas at home in which darkness can drive you mad?Buy Bathroom Lights at Sparks

At times in the morning what can be more frustrating than your commute to work is getting ready to go to work and getting the kids ready for school! By the time you get around to having a wash the place probably looks as if dynamite exploded there – yet you don't have time to make it look respectable because it's likely you will miss your train to work! Although we can’t offer a solution to keeping your bathroom clean - other than getting everyone to clean up after themselves - we can offer some great tips on how to make your bathroom look a pleasant and inviting room to all guests and family members in your household. The Bathroom Lighting – Especially now that the summer is here, you should try your best to let in as much natural light in to your bathroom as possible. Not only does it look great, but it can save you money on your bills if you do not have to constantly flick the light switch every time you enter the bathroom. Also, look into having big double-glazed windows installed (If possible) and make sure the blinds are always drawn back (making sure you have frosted glass installed first!). For the evening, it is also important to get the right bathroom lights installed in your bathroom. One of the best ways to mimic natural daylight is to take out the central light fitting and replace it with halogen spot bathroom lights. Other great lighting options are mirror lights and spotlights. The Bathroom Flooring – Obviously the bathroom can be a dangerous place at times, and it is necessary to take all precautionary measures where possible. One cheap and easy way to stop yourself from slipping and falling in the shower is to get a mat for the bathroom. Other ways include underfloor heating, which is an economical way to heat up your bathroom, and it’s great for drying the floor when it is wet. This heating works great with wooden, laminate and concrete flooring. Select a focal point – This step here is to give your bathroom a bit of character and impress any guests who use your bathroom. This can be anything in your bathroom that you are willing to invest a little more money, and it can be anything, such as your sink, bath tub, a mirror, a shower head... it’s up to you really. The Bathroom Tiling – This is only a personal opinion, but I think most of you would agree that tiled walls in a bathroom looks a great deal better than any other form of wall decoration. Firstly they are easy to maintain and keep clean, they are a cost effective choice and they are very durable and easy to repair. The Bathroom Storage – Finally, the last thing to remember is to make your bathroom as spacious as possible, especially if you have a small bathroom, as you do not want to feel cramped and stressed out in it. This will include all items you would typically use, such as your toothbrush, towels, cosmetic products, etc. Look for all possible places to store such items, and if you feel like you're struggling with this, then do some research in to an alternative design you could implement to help free up some space. This is a brilliant article with some Top Tips for the Perfect Bathroom - at least Five Tips for improving the Bathroom at home.Buy Bathroom Lights at Sparks