{"id":3505,"date":"2026-10-21T10:24:42","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T02:24:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nawabbrothers.com\/blog\/?p=3505"},"modified":"2026-10-21T10:24:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T02:24:42","slug":"are-there-any-lighting-fixtures-that-can-be-used-in-a-laundry-room-46b9-a70b9c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.nawabbrothers.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/21\/are-there-any-lighting-fixtures-that-can-be-used-in-a-laundry-room-46b9-a70b9c\/","title":{"rendered":"Are there any lighting fixtures that can be used in a laundry room?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever spent an afternoon sorting socks, pre-treating stains, and folding piles of linens, you know the laundry room is more than just a utility space\u2014it\u2019s a high-traffic zone where attention to detail matters. As a lighting fixtures supplier who\u2019s worked with hundreds of homeowners, remodelers, and commercial facility managers over the past decade, I\u2019m often asked one question: Are there lighting fixtures that can actually stand up to the demands of a laundry room, while also making the space functional and comfortable? The short answer is yes, but not every fixture works. Laundry rooms have unique challenges: moisture from washing machines and dryers, harsh stains that need bright, accurate light to spot, and often awkward layouts with cabinets, sinks, and stacked appliances that block light. Let\u2019s break down the best options, why they work, and what to avoid. Lighting Fixtures<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, let\u2019s talk about the core needs of a laundry room, because lighting here isn\u2019t just about illumination\u2014it\u2019s about performance. Most laundry tasks require color accuracy: spotting a grass stain on a white tee, matching sheets to pillowcases, or checking that a load of darks didn\u2019t bleed into whites all depend on light that renders colors true. That means we\u2019re looking for fixtures with a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 90 or higher, not the 80 or lower that\u2019s common in basic overhead lights. You also need moisture resistance: any fixture near a washer, dryer, or utility sink needs an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of at least IP44, which means it can handle splashes of water and resist dust. If a fixture isn\u2019t rated for moisture, it can corrode, short, or even become a fire hazard over time\u2014something we\u2019ve warned customers about countless times in our 12 years in the lighting industry.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s get into the fixtures that check all these boxes, starting with overhead options, since that\u2019s the foundation of most laundry room lighting. Flush mount and semi-flush mount LED fixtures are the workhorses of laundry rooms, and for good reason. They sit close to the ceiling, so they don\u2019t get in the way of stacked dryers or hanging racks, and LEDs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs, so you\u2019ll save on utility bills long after installation. The best models for laundry rooms are those with wide beams\u2014at least 120 degrees\u2014so they spread light evenly across the entire room, not just a small circle directly below. I recently worked with a family in Ohio who swapped their old incandescent flush mount, which cast dim, yellow light, for a 24W LED flush mount with a CRI of 92 and IP44 rating. They told me they finally stopped missing subtle stains on dark jeans, and their energy bill went down by $18 a month on average. It\u2019s a simple upgrade, but it makes a huge difference. Just make sure to avoid decorative flush mounts with exposed glass or metal parts that can trap moisture; stick to sealed, moisture-resistant housing for areas near wet appliances.<\/p>\n

Next, task lighting is non-negotiable for laundry rooms, and under-cabinet LED strip lights are the most popular choice here. Most laundry rooms have upper cabinets above sinks, folding tables, or laundry sorters, and the space under those cabinets is often dark\u2014perfect for pre-treating stains or folding tiny items like baby clothes. LED strips are thin, flexible, and can be cut to fit any cabinet length, which makes them ideal for awkward laundry room layouts. Look for strips with a CRI of 90+, a high lumen output (around 1,500 lumens per meter), and an IP rating of IP65 if they\u2019re near a sink or washer, since those will get splashed regularly. We also recommend pairing under-cabinet strips with a dimming switch, so you can adjust the light for folding at night when the rest of the house is quiet. One of our commercial clients, a Laundromat in Denver, added under-cabinet strips to each folding station last year, and they reported a 15% drop in lost items because employees could now clearly tag and sort clothes without misplacing socks or small accessories.<\/p>\n

If your laundry room doesn\u2019t have upper cabinets, or you need extra light above a utility sink or folding table, pendant lights are a great option\u2014if you choose the right type. Look for pendant lights with a moisture-resistant shade, like frosted glass or sealed metal, and an IP44 rating. We often suggest mini-pendants, since they\u2019re small enough for laundry rooms without taking up too much headroom. Hang them 30 to 36 inches above a folding table or sink, which is the perfect height to illuminate your work surface without glare. A common mistake people make with pendants in laundry rooms is choosing ones with exposed bulbs or open shades, which can catch lint from dryers over time. That lint buildup is a fire risk, so always go with a sealed shade that hides the bulb and traps lint away from the light source. Last year, a homeowner in Texas reached out to us because his old laundry pendant had caught lint and started smoking; replacing it with a sealed, IP44-rated pendant fixed the issue and gave him the bright task light he needed for sorting clothes.<\/p>\n

Another often-overlooked option for laundry rooms is recessed lighting, but only if you install it correctly. Recessed lights are great for low ceilings, since they sit flush with the ceiling and don\u2019t take up vertical space, which is perfect for small laundry rooms. But here\u2019s the catch: standard recessed lights aren\u2019t rated for moisture, so you need wet-rated recessed fixtures specifically designed for utility spaces. Wet-rated recessed lights have a sealed housing that prevents water from getting inside, so they\u2019re safe to install near washers, dryers, or sinks. We always tell customers to avoid buying cheap unrated recessed lights from big box stores, because they\u2019re not built to handle the humidity and splashes common in laundry rooms. A word of warning: if your laundry room has a drop ceiling, recessed lights can work too, but make sure they\u2019re rated for drop ceilings and that you seal any gaps around the fixture to prevent lint from getting into the ceiling cavity\u2014lint buildup is a leading cause of residential electrical fires, something we take very seriously as a lighting supplier.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about what to skip in laundry room lighting, because not all fixtures are worth the investment. First, avoid incandescent or halogen bulbs entirely. They use way more energy, produce excess heat that can damage lint buildup over time, and have a low CRI that makes colors look dull and distorted. You\u2019ll end up missing stains, and your electric bill will be higher\u2014two problems we don\u2019t want our customers to deal with. Second, skip decorative fixtures with intricate designs or exposed parts if they\u2019re near wet areas. While a chandelier might look elegant, it\u2019s not practical for a laundry room, where splashes, lint, and regular cleaning can damage it. We\u2019ve had multiple customers return fixtures like that because they rusted, broke, or stopped working after just a few months. Third, don\u2019t forget to consider dimmer switches. Even if you have all the right fixtures, adding dimmers lets you adjust the light for different tasks: bright and cool for stain-spotting, softer and warmer for folding at night. It\u2019s a small addition that makes the space much more versatile.<\/p>\n

As a lighting fixtures supplier, we also want to share a few installation tips that will make your laundry room lighting last longer. First, always hire a licensed electrician to install any fixtures near water, to make sure they\u2019re properly wired and grounded\u2014this is non-negotiable for safety. Second, clean your fixtures every three to six months to remove lint and dust buildup. Lint is flammable, and it can also block light, so wiping down sealed shades and changing LED bulbs on schedule will keep your laundry room bright and safe. Third, if you\u2019re remodeling a laundry room, consider adding a small motion-sensor light near the door or utility area. It\u2019s perfect for those early mornings when you\u2019re loading the washer and don\u2019t want to fumble for a light switch, and it uses less energy by only turning on when someone\u2019s in the space.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve helped thousands of customers upgrade their laundry room lighting over the years, and the feedback is always the same: it turns a chore into a more manageable task. A bright, well-lit laundry room doesn\u2019t just look better\u2014it reduces frustration, saves money on utilities, and even improves safety by reducing the risk of fire from lint buildup on old, outdated fixtures. If you\u2019re planning to upgrade your laundry room lighting, or if you have questions about which fixtures are right for your space, we\u2019re here to help. We\u2019ve worked with every type of laundry room, from tiny closet conversions to full-size utility suites, and we can guide you through choosing fixtures that fit your layout, budget, and needs.<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t let dim, unreliable lighting make your laundry day harder than it needs to be. Reach out to our team to discuss your project, and we\u2019ll help you find the perfect fixtures to make your laundry room functional, safe, and bright.<\/p>\n

Lighting Fixtures<\/a> References<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. International Residential Code. (2021). Chapter 3: Utility Rooms. International Code Council.<\/li>\n
  2. Illuminating Engineering Society. (2020). Lighting Guide for Residential Spaces. IESNA.<\/li>\n
  3. National Fire Protection Association. (2022). Electrical Fire Hazards in Residential Laundry Rooms. NFPA 70.<\/li>\n
  4. U.S. Department of Energy. (2021). Energy Savings Potential of LED Lighting in Utility Spaces. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    Ruiting Lighting<\/a>
    As one of the most professional lighting fixtures manufacturers and suppliers in China, we’re featured by quality products and good service. Please rest assured to wholesale customized lighting fixtures at competitive price from our factory. Contact us for quotation.
    Address: 3rd Floor, Building A, Guansheng Industrial Park, No. 6 Hengxing Road, Guzhen Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province
    E-mail: ruitinglighting@126.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.ruitinglighting.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    If you\u2019ve ever spent an afternoon sorting socks, pre-treating stains, and folding piles of linens, you … Are there any lighting fixtures that can be used in a laundry room?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":319,"featured_media":3505,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3468],"class_list":["post-3505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-lighting-fixtures-4c0b-a74702"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nawabbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nawabbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nawabbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nawabbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/319"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nawabbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3505"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.nawabbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3505\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nawabbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nawabbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nawabbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nawabbrothers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}