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If you’re looking for a unique way to enhance your well-being at home, then bathroom chromotherapy could be the solution you've been searching for! 
Chromotherapy lighting, often used in wellness bathrooms, is a feature that incorporates coloured light to influence mood and promote relaxation. With the use of specific coloured lights, you can transform your everyday bathroom routine into a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. 
Here at The Bathroom Showroom, we explore the benefits of bathroom chromotherapy and show how you can easily incorporate it into your daily self-care routine.

What is Chromotherapy Lighting?

Chromotherapy, also known as colour light therapy or colourology, is a type of alternative wellness practice that uses the visible spectrum of colours to potentially restore balance to the body and mind.
The core idea is that each colour possesses a unique wavelength and frequency that can evoke specific psychological or physiological responses. While it's considered a form of alternative medicine and not fully supported by robust scientific clinical trials, the mood-altering effects of colour are well-established in psychology, design, and culture.
In a modern bathroom context, Chromotherapy lighting is achieved through integrated LED lighting systems in showerheads, bath enclosures, steam units, or general ambient lighting, allowing you to select a single colour or cycle through a range of hues.

How Using Chromotherapy in the Bathroom Can Help Well-Being

The bathroom is increasingly viewed as a personal retreat, a space where you actively focus on physical and mental self-care. Chromotherapy enhances this experience by allowing you to customise the atmosphere to suit a desired mood or wellness goal, getting creative with colour in and around this space. 
By simply changing the colour of the light, the bathroom transforms from a purely functional space into a powerful tool for mood management, turning a daily routine into a mindful, therapeutic ritual.

1. Dedicated Chromotherapy Systems

Many bathroom fixtures now come with integrated chromotherapy lighting:
  • Shower Heads and Panels: Some high-end shower heads or full shower panels include colour-changing LEDs.
  • Whirlpool Baths/Tubs: Lights are often installed underwater around the sides of the tub to illuminate the water with different colours, promoting a soothing bath time!
  • Steam Showers and Saunas: These are frequently equipped with chromotherapy lights to enhance the relaxation experience.

2. Installing Colour-Changing LED Fixtures

  • RGB LED Spotlights/Downlights: Look for RGB (Red, Green, Blue) LED spotlights or downlights that can be recessed into the ceiling. By mixing these three base colours, they can produce a wide spectrum of colours.
  • Control Unit: These systems require a control unit (or driver) to manage the colours. This is usually managed by a wall-mounted control station, a simple button, or a remote control. Some modern systems are "smart" and can be controlled via an app or voice assistant.
  • Safety Rating (IP Rating): This is crucial for bathrooms. Bathroom lighting installed inside the shower or wet area need a high IP rating (e.g. IP68) to ensure they're fully protected against water immersion. Ceiling lights outside of the shower area will need a sufficient rating as well (e.g. IP44 or higher, depending on the zone).
The Bathroom Showroom Recommends: The HiB Rhythm bathroom ceiling light is a multifunctional fixture that combines lighting with an integrated audio system, designed to enhance the bathroom experience. The main LED light is dimmable and has colour temperature changing capabilities, allowing you to switch between cool white (around 6000K) and warm white (around 3000K) task lighting. This light also offers 12 non-dimmable RGB colour options to create a specific ambience.

3. Alternative/Simple Options

For a simpler, non-permanent solution:
  • Colour-Changing Smart Bulbs: You can replace your regular bathroom bulbs with colour-changing smart LED bulbs (like Philips Hue) and set them to different hues. Note: Ensure the smart bulb itself is rated for use in a wet area fixture if you plan to use it in a shower or ceiling light with an IP rating.
  • Floating Spa Lights: Small, waterproof, battery-operated LED lights can float in your bathtub to create a temporary chromotherapy effect.

How to Use Colours for Enhancing Well-Being 

Chromotherapy suggests that different colours can affect your mood and well-being. So, in order to create the penultimate in relaxation in this space, it’s good practice to consider the benefits and uses of each colour for maximum effect. 
Blue
  • Calming, relaxing, soothing, tranquil, stress reduction, and promoting peace.
  • Ideal for unwinding, reducing stress, and regulating sleep patterns before bed (e.g. during an evening bath or shower). 
Green
  • Harmony, balance, soothing, renewal, and relieving tension.
  • Creates a serene, nature-inspired environment. Helps stabilse emotions, reduce anxiety, and promote mental clarity.
Red
  • Stimulating, energising, vitalising, and increasing circulation.
  • Excellent for an early morning shower to wake up and boost energy. Helps increase circulation, invigorates the senses, and can provide a motivational boost to start the day.
Yellow
  • Cheerful, optimism, clarity, concentration, and stimulating the mind.
  • Use to lift the spirits and help with mental focus. Helps brighten the mood, stimulate a feeling of cheerfulness, and may help with focus or combating feelings of low mood.
Orange
  • Warmth, stimulating, promotes creativity and cheerfulness.
  • Great for a pick-me-up and to feel alert. A blend of red and yellow; can be used to relieve fatigue, uplift spirits, and encourage a feeling of warmth and comfort.
Violet/Purple
  • Tranquility, spirituality, meditation, and purification.
  • Use for deep relaxation and mental repose.

Incorporate Chromotherapy Into Your Space With Ease

Integrating chromotherapy into your bathroom is more than just adding a splash of colour; it's about transforming a functional space into a personal wellness sanctuary. 
Whether you opt for a fully integrated system in a new shower or whirlpool bath, or choose the simple upgrade of colour-changing LED downlights or smart bulbs, your routine bath or shower can become a mindful, therapeutic ritual that can significantly enhance your overall well-being. 
For further help with choosing the best fixtures and fittings for your space, book an appointment with The Bathroom Showroom. Experts in all things bathrooms, we can help turn your dream bathroom into a reality.