LED Lighting Expert Written by Ben Teele | A Leader in LED Technology

Shower niche lighting is light in the recessed shelves or niches in your shower area, usually LED strip lights. This type of lighting not only enhances the aesthetics of your bathroom by highlighting the niche as a design element but also provides functional illumination, making it easier to see and access your shower essentials. Shower niche lighting can create a spa-like ambiance, adding a touch of luxury to your daily routine. Due to the wet environment of a shower, special considerations such as waterproofing, proper wire placement, and safety measures are essential to ensure a safe and successful installation.


Things to Consider When Installing Shower Niche Lighting

Waterproofing

Waterproof strip lights are essential for a shower niche installation. The entire setup needs to be thoroughly sealed to prevent water ingress. Use clear RTV silicone to seal all connections and ensure durability. Proper waterproofing will prolong the life of your lighting and prevent electrical issues.


Importance of Placement

The placement of your strip light is crucial for both aesthetics and functionality. Installing the strip light in the top of the shower niche avoids water pooling on the lights. For wiring, the point of entry for the strip light should be positioned behind the niche so it is not directly exposed to water. This will prevent water from infiltrating the light, maintaining both safety and longevity. For shower systems, like the Schluter shower system and Tile Redi, you should check compatibility to verify that the lights will work with the system.


Power Supply, Safety, and Accessibility Tips

  • Check Local Codes: It's important to check local electrical codes or consult with a licensed electrician to ensure proper installation of your power supply. A GFCI outlet is usually required in most locations and is highly recommended for additional safety. This will protect against electrical shocks in the moist environment of a bathroom.
  • Class 2 Power Supply: It is recommended not to use more than a class 2 power supply for your lights. A class 2 power supply means it does not exceed 96 watts of output. This is a safety measure to help prevent the risk of shock. The power supply and any controllers or switches must be located remotely, in a dry area. This likely means you will need to route wires from the lights to the controller or switch. This setup minimizes the risk of water contact with electrical components.
  • Wiring Connections: Soldering the wire connections is best and will ensure they are secure and reliable. All connections need to be thoroughly sealed which can be accomplished with silicone and heat shrink tubing to prevent water intrusion. Additionally, we advise incorporating a drip loop. A drip loop is a loop in the wire that directs any dripping water away from the electrical connections. The drip loop must be placed in a location where it won't result in mold growth.
  • Accessibility: When planning the installation, consider the placement of the lights for future maintenance. Ensure that the lights can be easily accessed for repairs or adjustments. This will save time and effort in the long run and ensure your lighting system remains functional and safe.

Best Color Temperature for Bathroom Lighting

When selecting niche lighting, it is important to keep in mind that it is accent lighting rather than general or main area lighting. Aim to match the color temperature of your niche lighting with the existing area lighting in your bathroom for a cohesive look. With light strips, the waterproof coating usually has a cooling effect on the appearance of the LED color temperature.

Adjusted color temperature for waterproof strip lights:

  • Soft White: 3500K
  • Warm White: 3800K
  • Cool White: 4900K
  • Day White: 7000K

Best LED Lights for Shower Niche Lighting

The types of strip light we would recommend for a shower niche, based on light color preference are:


What about Dimming Capabilities?

All our strip lights are dimmable. For dimming single color LED strip lights using a standard, in-wall dimmer switch, you will need a dimmable power supply. If using color-changing strip lights, or tunable white strip lights, use a non-dimmable power supply along with a controller as all the dimming will be done through the control unit.


App Based and Smart Lighting Options

Smart lighting control offers versatility to maximize both convenience and functionality. App based control, such as our Casambi Bluetooth 4 Channel PWM Controller, uses a mobile app that can be downloaded on phones and tablets. This type of control allows users to adjust light colors, dim the lights, configure presets, activate scenes, manage multiple zones, and utilize timer functions. The Casambi App can be used on multiple devices for shared control and is able to be paired with the Casambi Xpress Wireless Wall Controller. The Xpress is a wireless wall switch with buttons for dimming and 4 preset buttons that can be programmed in the app.


For smart home integration switches like the Lutron Caseta ELV+ PD-5NE Smart Home Dimmer Switch paired with the Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Bridge connect with smart home technology including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and more. The Lutron Caseta is only compatible with single color lights, it is not compatible with color changing, or tunable white lights.


Digital Multiplex (DMX) controllers are standalone systems ideal for precise color adjustments and individual zone control. DMX is particularly well suited for commercial settings such as theater, stadium, and concert lighting. These controllers require DMX-compatible decoders and specialized software for installation as well as programming by a skilled professional due to their complexity and steep learning curve.


Inspiration For Shower Lighting

strip lights in shower niche close up of shower niche lighting Top lit shower niche with strip lights illuminated shower niche at night

Final Thoughts On Shower Niche Lighting

Incorporating shower niche lighting into your bathroom not only elevates the aesthetic of the space but also enhances functionality providing a luxurious and practical solution for illuminating your shower essentials. When installing these lights, it's crucial to use waterproof lighting and consider factors such as wiring and location, ensuring the electrical components are safely positioned in a dry location. Smart lighting solutions can offer maximized convenience and control while ensuring electrical safety and ease of maintenance will keep your system functional and safe for years to come. By carefully planning and implementing these considerations, you can transform your shower niche into a striking feature of your bathroom.