Summarize
- Indirect and atmospheric lighting is preferred for sauna lighting
- Led profiles with protection and certain aluminium spots are suitable for the heat of sauna
- Bathroom needs water-resistant LED panels and spotlights
- Led strips are mounted on protective aluminium profiles with covers
- Dimmable and Kelvin adjustable lights increase comfort and ambiance
Sauna lights are usually not very bright; instead, the lighting emphasizes a soft and soothing ambiance that suits the mood of the steam session. Indirect lighting is preferable in the sauna. The right lighting for the sauna can be achieved with LED profiles and small, low-power spotlights made of full aluminum, designed to withstand the heat of the steam. Bathroom lighting requires suitable water-resistant LED panels and LED spotlights. The dimming feature provides additional comfort of use.
Sauna lighting
Sauna lighting must take into account heat and humidity. Usually, the sauna lights are a combination of both the sauna room itself and the bathroom. Today, there are many different styles of bathroom lighting available, as LED lights can easily be made waterproof on the room side, allowing them to be installed close to the water point. In a sauna, on the other hand, LED lights are not at their best, so there is less choice when it comes to lighting the sauna. Especially higher up, for example on the wall/ceiling intersection, where the sauna temperature rises above 60 degrees, it is advisable to keep light sources as small as possible and protected from heat. You can choose from our range of 1W spotlights for your sauna.
Led strip for sauna
In a sauna, LED lighting is usually a warm-toned 3 000 Kelvin LED strip of 7.2 W/m that matches the warm white wood tones. The led strip is always installed in a thermally conductive and watertproof aluminium profile (with a cover). In this case, the LED strip does not need to be waterproof, i.e. silicone-coated. Moisture protection will reduce the thermal performance of the tape to some extent, depending on the performance of the tape and the thickness of the silicone coating. Led strip is warm-resistant, but not heat-resistant. The right place to install the LED strip is at a level where the heat stays below 63 degrees Celsius. Higher temperatures affect the lifetime of the LED, which in the optimum situation, i.e. below 63°C, is around 60 000 hours, depending on the type of strip.
If you choose a sauna LED strip with a dimmable power supply, you will always get the right level of light. It is also a good idea to have dimmable lighting in the shower room, especially if the wall facing the bathroom is glass and you want the bathroom lighting to be moody and dim. Lighting in a small sauna can be very dim, especially if there is a glass-walled connection to the adjacent bathroom.
Led strip – options to choose from
There are several options for led strip lights, and we have put together packages for the sauna especially for 7,2 W/m and 3,6 W/m single colour and colour temperature adjustable products directly from our online shop, link to light sets, sauna light sets all start with the words “led strip for sauna”. The sets are conceived to be placed in LedStore’s own aluminium profiled covers in the sauna room at a maximum height of the backrest, from where they can be illuminated upwards or downwards. If the light is to be mounted at the ceiling line, we recommend our lowest wattage strip, and additional protection to ensure that the stove does not hit the led strip. Good methods include indirect mounting “concealed”, wooden strips and glass or acrylic covers in addition to the plastic cover of the aluminium profile.
The strip provides enough power depending on the type and tone of the steam room, making dimming an essential feature to include in the setup. In sauna LED strip sets, the LED strip is replaceable, meaning it changed if needed. When installing the led strip low-current cable is good e.g. installed in a pipe, so that maintenance work can also be carried out on the connecting cable.
Lighting a light coloured sauna
Light reflects well off light-coloured surfaces, so the lighting does not need to be so bright in a light sauna. The example below shows a waterproof aluminium profile embedded in a groove in the ceiling at the seating level of a glass-walled sauna, using a high-intensity LED strip. This solution provides lighting for the entire sauna, as well as dimmable lighting for the entire bathroom. By choosing a neutral colour temperature for the strip, the light surfaces of the sauna can be highlighted.
Lighting of a dark sauna
The atmosphere in a dark sauna can be enhanced by warm-toned lights, which can be dimmed or brightened depending on the use. You should take into account that dark surfaces do not reflect light, so the darker the space, the more powerful the lights you should choose if you also need to get proper light into the space. A good option for a dark sauna is an LED strip in aluminium profile, as it offers a wide range of dimming possibilities. The sauna spotlights cannot be dimmed, so it is a good idea to think about the light level beforehand and choose the amount of spotlights you need. At a minimum, for example. the sauna stove manufacturer’s stove light is sufficient to light the sauna.
The amount of light in a dark sauna is a matter of taste, but our lighting designers can give you tips and recommendations on how to get the right amount of lighting.
A warm-toned LED strip gives a soft atmosphere to a dark sauna.
Lighting of a dark bathroom
In shower rooms, indirect lighting is suitable for backlighting a shower wall, for example, so that ceiling spots and an indirectly mounted LED light strip can be used separately. The indirect lighting on the ceiling is achieved in the picture below by leaving the ceiling paneling slightly short and installing a low batten in front to prevent glare. The shampoo shelves are also illuminated by LED profiles. A dark-toned washroom requires a lot of light, as dark surfaces reflect less light than light ones. A led spotlight for the bathroom is a good choice with a led strip or as a stand-alone light element. For the ceiling, black frame 9W spots can be selected, as shown in the picture below.
Sauna lights from behind, under or on the wall should be designed to withstand the heat thanks to their all-aluminium frame, and be low-powered enough to create the right atmosphere. Such as 1W sauna spotlights. We only sell these up to the ceiling, as the light source in this model is well protected from the heat.
Sauna and bathroom – lights for versatility
The most ideal solution for bathroom mirror lighting is to install lights on the sides and/or above the mirror, as the light will illuminate the face without creating a shadow from above and below. An over-the-mirror light, such as the high-quality BLADE 600-led lamp, is a great solution for illuminating the face to facilitate make-up or shaving, for example.
For steamy rooms, a mirror with a mirror heating function is suitable, which keeps the surface of the mirror clear by heating it a few degrees. The lighting comes from the sides or the front of these LED lights. For example, the MOON 600 and the rectangular HALO600 below. For mirrors with indirect light coming from behind the mirror, it is important to consider the effect of the darkness and gloss of the wall material on the reflection. The darker and more matte the surface, the less reflected light will be created in the space. Conversely, the lighter and glossier the surface, the more reflected light will be generated. To create the best makeup lighting, a spot or panel light installed on the ceiling above the sink is an excellent choice when used with a lighted mirror.
Atmospheric indirect lighting can also be achieved with LedStore products on mirrors of different shapes, such as square or round, by customizing the LED strip, as long as the mirror frame is made of aluminium or other highly heat conductive material. Led strips can be chosen from, for example, the Tunnelma led strip light for bathroom. It is a good choice if you want to adjust the colour temperature of the light between warm and cool white.
Sauna lighting with led strip and aluminium profile and driver with dimmers
We’ve put together lots more pictures to give you a good idea of what products that add light to your sauna look like. As mentioned above, the choice of LED strip should be made taking into account the shades of the room and the desired lighting directions. The installation of the LED strip in the sauna should be done at a height below 60 degrees. An LED strip on the sauna ceiling is not a durable solution unless it is properly protected. However, an LED light strip in bathroom areas is an excellent light source throughout the room, as long as proper moisture protection is in place.
Dimming and colour temperature adjustable lights add an extra dimension and versatility to sauna and bathroom lighting. If there is not enough light in the premises, retrofitting can also be done with LED lights, as long as the wiring and connections to the power supply can be made waterproof. For example, a bathroom-sauna with a shower often requires additional lighting, in which case retrofitting can be a suitable solution. Ask also about our installation service for sauna led lights.
From here you can go to the Led lights in sauna photo gallery. The photos include atmospheric lighting in the cottage sauna.
We have written several articles on sauna lighting. You can find other articles in category Sauna lighting.
Contact us and we will choose the right LED lighting for your sauna!
