We're still mulling over ideas for the lighting in the refurbished bathroom at our flat.
The basic plan is now fairly well defined, six downlighters in a false ceiling which we will put up. The existing ceiling is quite high and is concrete or similar so making holes in that for downlighters is out.
How much light should one need in a 2.5 metre by 1.5 metre bathroom with virtually no outside light (it just has a narrow window onto a stairwell)? I guess the choices are 6 x 20 watt, 6 x 35 watt or 6 x
50 watt.We're thinking of using MDF for the ceiling rather than plasterboard on the basis that it will be easier to work with and it might be more practical to make one or two panels removable for access. Does this sound like a good idea or not?
What's the minimum depth that downlighters need? I'm a bit worried about the heat in the (small) void between the downlighters and the real ceiling. I've no worries about the real ceiling being flammable as it's cement or something similar but what about the MDF and the battens used to hold it etc.?
Any comments on whether mains or low voltage downlighters would be better? A couple of them need to be IPx4 and I can't find many downlighters that quote the IP rating. In addition we'd like two matching (or at least similar) eyeball (i.e. swivelling) downlighters for above the washbasin.