Light Over Bathtub

I spied this little thumbnail of a chandelier over a bathtub on Houzz, and while it’s inviting and stylish, I had to take a closer look to see if it’s actually code.

White bathrooms are still enormously popular, and always look so fresh and clean for a perfect ‘after’ photo. While the image is aspirational, and the oversized plant and armchair seem out-of-place to me (a matter of taste), there is one detail could violate your local codes.

According to the National Electric Code (NEC) from 2020, there is a restriction for the placement of lighting around the wet area of a bathtub. The code is 406.9(C).

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The reason for the restriction is that you shouldn’t be able to change a lightbulb or grab the light fixture while inside the bathtub: standing, sitting, or otherwise.

So they require that any part of a light fixture, even the non-lightbulb embellishments, must be at least 8 feet above the highest portion of the bathtub’s walls.

Traditional Home includes this image on their Pinterest page. It looks like the chandelier is hung in a NEC approved place, and the look is still romantically glamourous.

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If you want to hang a chandelier abovea bathtub, you’ll need a taller than average ceiling. You’ll also need a light fixture that is rated for wet or damp locations.

And yes, local codes can be different. Always check with the local code office to find out which restrictions for a chandelier over a bathtub have been adopted in your town. They could be more stringent or less so.

I found these images of chandeliers in the ‘no-light-zone’ on Pinterest boards posted by Lowe’s, Better Homes & Gardens, HGTV magazine, and Traditional Home magazine.

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Theresa is a handy designer and writer. She shares DIY projects, tool how-to, and home makeovers as a book author, home show speaker, DIY workshop coach, and radio host. Plus, she has a degree in journalism with a minor in architecture, and is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPs) and certified color consultant. She’s created fast-paced makeovers for TV shows, and shares home trends and DIY tips as a freelance writer and guest on news shows and satellite media tours for TV and radio.

Theresa is a handy designer and writer. She shares DIY projects, tool how-to, and home makeovers as a book author, home show speaker, DIY workshop coach, and radio host. Plus, she has a degree in journalism with a minor in architecture, and is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPs) and certified color consultant. She’s created fast-paced makeovers for TV shows, and shares home trends and DIY tips as a freelance writer and guest on news shows and satellite media tours for TV and radio.