Can you move the switch to the outside of the bathroom wall/door?

Yeah it's weird. Could you instead beef up the wall with the pocket door so the switch can stay? I don't know how much depth it would require but I'd look into it.

Thanks for all your responses.

Olychick and risforremodel- that's an idea. But the spot where the pocket switch would go if I made the wall deeper on the other side is pretty close to the shower opening- a little too close to water for my comfort. And the shower opening won't have a door or curtain.

Fori- that was the idea in the original plans, but we were told switches on the outside of the doors isn't code in San Antonio (technically I'm not in SA, but we're following local codes to make sure things are safe). Though I think that code is more region specific. If it was just one light switch I might still think about doing it, but it's also the fan switch, heat, etc- things I'd want access to on the inside of the BR.

You've given some things to chew on- thanks

Lisa

I think I've got it. I could put the main light switch on the outside of the bathroom. The other switches I could put on the far wall near the vanity. Code is technically being met because one of the switches is a fan light inside the bathroom, but we can flip on a light as we walk in. Now I just have to convince the boyfriend :-)

You guys rock- thanks!

Lisa

One of my bathrooms has a very awkward light-switch placement. It is on the outside wall to the left, so it is behind the door when it's opened. Very awkward. But I can't change it, so I have a motion-detection light plugged into the outlet inside the bathroom so that a light goes on at night just by walking in there. Simple solution.

That is a good idea. The switch on the outside will be easily accessible, but something to keep in mind for future projects.

Lisa

Our current hall bath has the switch set almost an arm's length in, instead of just inside the door. It is very inconvenient and we are constantly knocking things over on the counter fumbling around in the dark. I would make sure there is a way to get a light turned on before you are walking into a dark room.

One item to check - your local electrical code may have some very specific ideas about location.

Someday you'll want to sell your house and poor switch location may become an issue.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

inside on the pony wall is not a problem, mine is configured as such

outside the room, I would hold off on that, IMO sounds like a great way to prank someone (teenagers here)

I don't have a WORKING light switch by the door (not by choice) and I HATE it. I have an overhead exhaust fan/light/night light/heater combination overhead and it went defective about two years ago. I have remodeling plans for that bathroom that keep getting moved out (you know how life can get in the way sometimes) which leaves me the light switch to the dated boob light strip over the vanity. Thank goodness there are 6 bulbs. I have to walk across a dark bathroom (day and night) to reach the switch to have light.

I will be retiring July 1 and that bathroom is at the TOP OF MY LIST!!

If you can't put it on the wall inside the door, try to put it on the wall outside the door.

I like risforremodel's suggestion to just put the switch next to the pocket door opening. 11' seems like a really large, long bathroom (to me, our bathrooms are small). In our main bath, where the switch is relatively close to the bath/shower combo (we do have a curtain) it's not even three feet away from the edge of the tub. How far away would the switch be if it's placed next to the entry?

It sounds like the shower is near the door, and the vanity is on the far side...is that what you're doing? Is it possible to rearrange things? I think putting the switch on the outside is unusual, and having it far from the entry into the room is inconvenient.

If you can post the layout, it might be easier to consider switch placement options.

We used to have the light switch for one of the bathrooms located just outside by the door, where you could turn it on as you went in. You would not think that anyone on the outside, seeing the door closed, would think that they should turn off that light switch, leaving the occupant in the dark. But you would be wrong. Moving that switch inside, to an "occupant-accessible" position, was the first thing on our list when we remodeled that bathroom.

How about a motion activated switch? I use this in my pantry: Lutron Maestro Occupancy Sensor

I have three lights and a fan; the general ceiling fixture is the only one at the door; the sconces switch is by the sink, and the 3" halogen can over the WC is proximal to it, in a double box w/fan sw..
Casey