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ronnyb

Dual mirrors over bathroom vanity.

7 years ago

I have 10 foot ceilings in my masterbath and would really like to change my one standard size - builder grade mirror over the double vanity to 2 - 5 foot mirrors and have the light fixture hang from the ceiling instead of above the mirror. The mirrors are trimmed out in mirror as well. My question is before I hire an electrician - are the tall mirrors too much? My bathroom is not huge but not small either. Thanks for your help!

Comments (18)

  • 7 years ago

    It would feel very strange to me to have narrow mirrors continue seveal feet beyond the height where I could possibly want to look into them. What would they be reflecting in that instance?

  • 7 years ago

    Thank you! It would be reflecting a stain glass window with a crystal chandelier above a soaking tub. Currently with the basic mirror it looks odd because the light fixture is just above the mirror and I have a lot of blank wall space above the lights.

  • 7 years ago

    Thank you! I will take your suggestion in to consideration.

  • 7 years ago

    Hanging fixtures near your head are a bad idea in a bathroom, where you might reach up to take off sweatshirts, etc. Not a fan. I prefer sconces. Low profile sconces. Not to mention you don't get the shadows that a hanging fixture causes, as the sconce directly lights your face.

    Sharon Harris thanked midcenturymodernlove
  • 7 years ago

    Thank you! Here is a picture of what my bathroom currently looks like (this is a model home pic.) Same layout. The mirrors I currently have probably will not allow for sconces on each side. So I guess I am out of luck with my redo.


  • PRO
    7 years ago

    I think it sounds like a real statement and I would do it!

    Sharon Harris thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    Thank you!!!!! I have seen other pics on houzz and other sights where they having chandeliers or pendants hanging from the ceiling. I have these two mirrors and thought that would be a great place for them. This is a similar picture of the mirror but not exact and the two chandeliers I purchased to hang from the ceiling. If I hang the chandeliers at the same height the current vanity light do you think it would still create a shadow? Thanks again!




  • PRO
    7 years ago

    I've seen the style around too and think it's striking! It probably will cast a shadow but do you have other lighting in your bathroom? Generally, there is an overhead light that is used in conjunction with the pendant or sconce, or in your case chandelier lights. You could experiment with your lighting by getting an extension cord and placing a bulb in the approximate location of where you are wanting the chandelier to hang and see how you like it.

  • 7 years ago

    Thanks again! Do you think it will cast more of a shadow than the current vanity lights? I have a chandelier (sort of) over the bathtub and a recess light in the glass shower. Only other lighting I have would be the two - 2 light vanity lights (builder grade) over the sinks. I will definitely try out your suggestion. I really wanted to do this to my bathroom but certainly do not want to make a major mistake. After all, I am having the electrician move the lights from the wall and placing them in the ceiling. I attached a picture of my tub area with the light which is an extremely bright LED light. Thank you again!


  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Honestly, I would have a conversation with your electrician or a lighting designer. Aesthetically, I think it's amazing, but I don't have the expertise beyond that to direct on how to eliminate any unwanted shadows and allow for sufficient lighting. With a good plan, I'm sure you'll be able to get the look you want and have it function. I just think your game plan here should focus mainly on pre-planning, which will be well worth it. Good luck!


    Sharon Harris thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    Since you are looking to hang the pendants high, I doubt you will have trouble running into them. I do have a couple of concerns about those particular pendants, though. First, if you are worries about casting shadows, I would look into whether the light from these little chandeliers will have the effect of casting many round "blobs" of light around the area, as the bulb is behind the glass balls. My second concern is the style of the new chandeliers with your existing one that is above the tub. Do they relate to each other well enough? I am not so sure that they do. Do you have a close-up of the existing chandelier?


    If you do use the two mirrors and pendants, I would think about getting three pendants, and placing them so that the outer two are to the outside of the mirrors and the third is between the two mirrors. This will give you the best lighting for your face for shaving and make-up application. Placing a single pendant above each mirror would light the tops of your heads very well, but that is not what you are trying to see!

    Sharon Harris thanked Nancy in Mich
  • 7 years ago

    Sconces can be mounted directly on your existing mirror.

    Sharon Harris thanked Sammy
  • 7 years ago

    The chandelier I currently own have the same round crystals, that is why I chose those 2 small chandeliers. Once I put up the two mirrors I will have about 1 inch or so on each side and about 14 inches in between the two mirrors. There are walls on each side of the vanity. I may have to look into purchasing smaller actual pendant lights instead of the two chandeliers I purchased which are 12 inches wide. I don't think the 12 inches will give me the adequate amount of spacing. The room is naturally bright due to the sun during the day. Plan to paint to walls aubergine on top and greige on bottom so I am expecting it to be a little darker. Also, I may consider putting the sconces on each side wall and one in the middle. Not sure how that would look at the moment. Worried that would take too much room as well. Attached is a picture of the current light over tub. Not the exact one but real close. Thank you all for your help!


  • 7 years ago

    It is not so much the materials that make up the two different lights, but the style of the fixtures that makes me say that they do not go together. I may be wrong, but to me, the spiral above the tub is very modern, while the grape-like clusters of the new ones look more traditional.

    Sharon Harris thanked Nancy in Mich
  • 7 years ago

    Thanks! I do like mixing styles together so I am happy with the lights but maybe they are not the correct ones for this type of install.

  • 7 years ago

    Sharon, are you in the U.S.? If so, your electrician will hopefully tell you that a chandelier above a free-standing tub in a bathroom with a 10-foot ceiling does not meet 2011 U.S. electrical safety code: "Any part of the chandelier, including crystals hanging down, must be at least 8 ft above the top rim of the tub. The no-chandelier zone extends out 3 ft from the tub." Consider centering the chandelier in the room, instead of above the tub, especially if the room is square.


    The rule of thumb for the mirror over a vanity is that the top of the mirror should be 4-6" below the ceiling (if not framed and no light fixture above it). Assuming that your vanity is about 33" high and that you have a backsplash of 4-6", it sounds like a 5 ft tall mirror would be perfect for the space.

  • 7 years ago

    Thank you, Plan2remodel.