The best bathroom lights to buy, according to interior designers
When it comes to affordable decorating, there are some brilliant brands out there who provide all the trimmings you need at prices that will allow you to spend big on other items. We asked some interior designers to pick their favourite affordable bathroom lights that won't break the budget and they picked brilliantly.
What's an IP rating?
Before you choose your light, consider where you're putting it as you'll need a certain IP rating, depending on where it's going in relation to the waterworks. IP rating stands for "Ingress Protection" and relates to how waterproof a light is and what voltage it has. Lights that go inside a bath or shower need an IP rating of IP67, meaning they are immersion proof and they have a max voltage of 12v. IP44 is another standard in bathroom lights, and means they are splashproof and therefore safe within a certain distance of a sink, bath or shower. If the light is going nowhere near any water - for example a pendant light - then no requirement is needed. You can find out more via The Lighting Superstore.
Recommendations from the design world
‘I’m obsessed with these Pooky lights for bathrooms. They are so good! I have one by the bath, on the mantelpiece, because it enables you to have soft mood lighting without electrical sockets! I also adore Fritz Fryer and have used them a lot in my projects. I love the ethos of both of these brands because their designs are very decorative and interesting. In the past it was so hard to get any bathroom lighting that was interesting looking, now thankfully there are much better options!’
‘Pooky has a huge variety at very good prices. The Swan Neck light is one of my all-time go-tos when it comes to lighting a bathroom.'
The Swan Neck with an IP44 rating is currently sold out, but the standard is still available - just be careful where positioning it if you choose it for a bathroom.
‘We love the Flos Mini Glo-Ball, which we used to bring a gorgeous wash of light to the bathrooms at Lockets, a restaurant in St James that I did the interiors for.’
'Incredibly simple but also incredibly cheap, this is one of only a few fittings of Pooky's that are IP rated. A shade would completely transform this and it can be used overhead or as a pair either side of a basin (facing the other way up). The Mini L Bracket Wall Light is a very classic, well priced option (with or without a shade and you can funky them up with your own shade), and small so it fits into tight spaces, plus it comes in various finishes. The Lucia L Bracket Wall Light design comes in numerous colours to match your scheme, and is the right mix of traditional and modern.'
‘My most used and trusted bathroom wall light is the Flos Mini Glo-Ball. It is dimmable, makes your face look fab and you only need one on either side of the main mirror. I always have them on their own circuit, because when dimmed they create atmosphere in the bathroom/shower room. I use a more expensive mast light on the walls in showers - it's dimmable and totally waterproof as they really belong on ship masts. But they are stunning and create light that washes down the walls, making us look good when wearing no kit.'
More of the best bathroom lights to buy 2025
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