What is five bars? is that the equivalent of five bulbs? what wattage (or lumens) bulbs?

I like the equivalent of 150-200 W of incandescent light over each sink/mirror in a master. Hopefully you can translate that into something helpful.

I have a 60" vanity with a 5 bulb light fixture above it plus a ceiling light. I use 5 75 watt equivalents in the fixture + another in the ceiling fixture. I do not find it too bright, but I like a lot of light and most of the rest of my home gets flooded with sunlight.

This is one of my favorite bathroom lights it take a 150 watt halogen bulb and I put one over each sink no need for more lighting usually this is a larger one but I usually use the smaller with 2 sinks It is called Oxygen and Wayfair used to carry it.

Overhead lighting in the bathroom is not flattering to the face. It casts shadows and has a harsh look. My 70" vanity (double sink) had drop down ceiling pendants on each end of the vanity...100w bulbs. You could do surgery in there! That was 1981. Side lighting is much better if you can do it...

Consider Side-Mounted Sconces

Side-mounted sconces, like this one, are one of the best lighting options for a bathroom. Whether one is used on either side of a mirror or mounted onto a mirror directly with shades placed at eye-level, there are a few factors to take into account:

- Mount the backplate of a vertical, tube-shaped fixture at eye-level.

- The shade opening of glass down-lights should sit slightly below eye-

Task Lighting

Vanity lighting gets top consideration because these fixtures work the hardest to illuminate the head and face for grooming. The most common mistake people make is putting recessed ceiling fixtures directly over the mirror. These cast shadows on the face, making daily grooming rituals more difficult.

Vertical fixtures or sconces mounted on either side of the mirror are best for casting an even light across the face.

But given the size and positioning of some vanity mirrors, sidelights can be impractical (mounting them directly to the mirror is always an option, but at greater planning and cost). Only then do I suggest a fixture for over the mirror. It should be placed 75 to 80 inches above the floor and, like all vanity lighting, contain at least 150 watts — ideally spread over a fixture that's at least 24 inches long so that the light will wash evenly over the hair and face.

You should avoid light pointing directly down on your head because it will be harsh and unflattering.

Lastly, clear bulbs with filaments are popular these days, but they cast a shadow on everything. Go for something opaque or frosted instead.

The best possible lighting for activities in front of the bathroom mirror comes from fixtures mounted on either side roughly at the user’s eye level. This leaves no part of the face in shadow, as happens with an overhead fixture. If the mirror wall isn’t an option, move the light fixtures to the side walls, or hang pendants from the ceiling; just try to get the light to either side where it will do the most good.

And even though they still sell “Hollywood” light bars in the big-box stores, try to refrain from using them, especially with clear bulbs, as they produce glare and leave shadows under the brow, nose, and chin. If the space doesn’t allow fixtures on the sides, it’s OK to place one over the mirror. Just try to select a linear model with a continuous band of bright light.

Downlights are perhaps the worst type to use for task lighting in the bath, although they are fine for ambient or accent lighting.