Whether you are building new, or renovating, lighting is one of the most important decisions you will make. It has both functional and decorative value. It is one of the easiest upgrades to make.

Bathrooms have very specific lighting needs. For example, you might want some relaxing light on a dimmer switch for a soak in a tub.

You, or your significant other, might need decent reading light for the toilet…for some reason, this is a thing…I prefer to do my reading in a comfy chair, but on the throne is certainly a multitasking option…

And you definitely need decent vanity light at the mirror.  This is where you need to be able to see to shave, or apply makeup, for example.  Bad lighting here can risk mishaps of all sorts!

The best way to light your face is with a light source placed, obviously, at face height.

There are several options for vanity light fixtures. Here are the pros and cons of each:

LED lighting built into the mirror

This is a relative newcomer to the bathroom fixture lineup.  It involves a vanity mirror with lights hidden in the mirror OR around the back edge of the mirror, creating a glow from behind the mirror.  The light source is invisible when the fixture is off.

Pros:

This gives nice even light to view yourself and some even have color temperature and brightness controls built in. Color temperatures range from 3500K warm bright to 6000K interrogation levels.  I generally don’t recommend anything over 3500K for home use unless you are planning to perform surgery there?! (Helpful LED bulb chart HERE)

Cons:

There are a limited number of mirrors with this feature built in and they tend to be very plain so add little if any decorative value to the room - a missed opportunity, as every element in the room should contribute to the design goals for the mood of the room.  Unless your mood is minimalist, this is probably not the best option unless you supplement it with some more decorative fixtures or elements.

Over the mirror sconces (or over counter recessed ceiling fixtures)

This is almost always the standard issue builder solution in spec houses. The fixture above the mirror should not exceed the width of the mirror, and it should compliment the shape of the mirror. Generally, unless this is lighting the whole bathroom and a large mirror is mounted over the vanity, I like to keep decorative lights to approximately the width of the sink or less (~18”)

For an era of time in the 70’s into the 80’s, every builder was slapping up a “Hollywood bulb strip light” across the top of the bathroom mirror/medicine cabinet regardless of the design style of the house.  And, for the record, to be really Hollywood, bulbs should surround the mirror on all sides…you know to light your whole face so you can check your makeup and be camera-ready!

Now builders are putting in ubiquitous brushed nickel double sconces from a big box store…a slight improvement, but you can do WAAAAAAY better!

Pros:

Most ceilings are high enough to accommodate decorative fixtures over a mirror and still not interfere with viewing space. Recessed ceiling fixtures over the counter light the counter beautifully.

These come in a variety of widths and with one, two, three, or more bulbs on the fixture.  For alcove vanities with tight spacing beside a mirror, these don’t interfere with precious mirror space.

In renovations, this is most commonly where the existing light is, so an easy upgrade is just replacing the fixture.

Cons:

The downside, and this is a big one, is that while light from above, especially recessed ceiling lights, light the counter nicely, they also can create shadows on your face making it hard to see accurately.

Sconces flanking the mirror

This is, by far, our favorite choice if the space allows for it.  There are an endless variety of options from streamlined contemporary to fun and funky to very traditional - and every style and mood in between.  These offer a great opportunity to add to the style of the room.

The business end of the fixture should fall just about eye level - 60-65” from the floor is a good average height.  For taller or larger spaces, make sure to up the scale of the fixture too so it is in proportion and doesn’t look lost and lonely!

Also, the point here is to light your face, so this is not the place for an opaque shade over the bulb that restricts light to down, no matter how charming or chic it might be .  A translucent white(ish) fabric or glass shade is ideal.

In the bathroom renovation below, plenty of space allowed us to switch from an over the mirror fixture to a pair of sconces flanking the mirror.

Pros:

These lights on either side of a mirror light your image evenly and perfectly for grooming tasks. They are also decorative and the options are endless for style and finish to really add personality to the room.

Cons:

The do take up some width beyond the mirror and there isn’t always room for them, especially if the sink is close to a side wall.

Other make-it-work solutions

For an alcove vanity where space is too tight for a mirror AND side sconces, sconces could be mounted on the side walls.

Wall to wall plate mirror could be added above the vanity (or on the whole vanity wall) and the sconces mounted through the mirror.  This effectively doubles the light too!

Pendant lights hanging from the ceiling on either side of the sink are another option.  Just be sure they are not in a place where you are going to knock your brains out on them reaching for the toothpaste - safety first!

Light fixture finishes and shades

There are usually a variety of options to choose. For the shades, a frosted glass or fabric shade will create a nice diffuse light without glare. Seeded or ribbed glass has a nice vintage character, and clear glass shows the bulb so you will want to keep that in mind when purchasing the bulbs.

The metal finish could be black, bronze, brushed or polished nickel, chrome, or gold, or even a fun color. Please avoid the shiny greeny-yellow fake brass of the 80’s. Gold is surging in popularity again but in natural brass or soft brushed finishes, or gilded iron.

You can either match your lighting finish to your faucet finish (many of the above finishes are available for faucets too!), or you can mix metal finishes and do a different finish on the lights that matches some other element in the room - like cabinet hardware and a mirror frame.

Wishing you a bright day!

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Farmhouse bathroom update

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