IMO a really good over the mirror light works better than sconces and you need to also add some overhead lighting if this is a large bathroom.

Thank you! The bathroom is only 55 SF. I will. have an overhead light/fan in the shower. I like the look of side sconces, but I'm not 100% yet on which way to go.

Funny I always prefer the light coming from the sides versus from above- less shadows. That said my master bath didn’t really allow for that so we did fixtures above and it’s fine, guest bath has a pair of sconces at eye level. Both have 4” cans as well.

I had the same dilemma- ended up with sconces on either side of the mirror and cans above, on separate switches. I like options! Our bathroom is also small- about 7 x 10.

I have a bit of everything in my not particularly large master bath.

I have overhead lights in the bathroom and shower ceiling which really light up the whole room. I especially like that some of them are on automatic so they light and turn off when I enter the room. Most of the time those are all I need but I can manually turn on all of them if I want.

That would be all I need to light anything but I also have decorative sconces as well as lighting over the portion of the vanity counter I use for grooming which are multiple bulbs like an old fashioned dressing table except that are on the mirror.. Since my mirrors run counter to ceiling the lighting is in the mirrors. FWIW, I also have a Simple Human magnifying mirror which lights up which I use for makeup application which requires close-in work. Mirrors above the counter are too far to be effective for that anyway.

My guest bath has overhead lights on auto as well and a more traditional arrangement of a hanging mirror with sconces on either side. The sconces are really there for atmosphere and design (they are vintage) since the overhead lights are all anyone needs for illumination. My best friend likes to turn them on for "atmosphere" as a joke.

The cons of overhead lighting are shadows as Hallett & Co points out. A huge drawback when doing one's makeup, for example. A vanity mirror should be lit in the most flattering way, imo, and benefits from side facing lighting.

Sconces if you have the room. Consider a mirror with integral lighting if you don’t have room for sconces. Whatever you do, don’t rely on a centered bathroom overhead light. Back lighting is horrible.

thank you for all your comments today! I also like the lighted mirrors, but thought that it would not 1) be enough light, and 2) be a little plain Jane. Some of the sconces I have seen look lovely and would add a bit of "jewelry" to the room.

As for an integrated mirror with lights, and no fogging, and all that stuff... Are they really worth $1000 and more? I will be posting pictures to this post when we get moving.

I have a lit mirror in our hall bath. It’s a nice ambient light that we leave on for guests (like a night light) but I don’t think it really does much more than that. Ours has the lights at the edges, the one where the lights is in a few inches from the glass would put more on your face but look funny to me.

Yes, that was my thinking... Paying that much for the mirror, and still needing an overhead or side sconces doesn't make sense, If I will still need a light fixture, why not spend the money on a really nice pair of sconces or a light over the mirror? Right?

This is our current situation. We have busted into the adjoining bedroom for a “Closet” . We will be reconfiguring the existing bathroom and bedroom into a master bath and walk in closet

It depends a lot on the color of your walls. A single light bar over the mirror or sconces would be plenty in a 55sf bathroom if the walls are white. If they are dark, you would want to add a ceiling fixture.

Sconces alone are better than a recessed fixture alone. The combination is best. If you do a recessed fixture make sure it is sufficiently close to the mirror so that you don’t see the light from it in the mirror.

I have made a decision. yay! I’m goi g to have side lights and will run the mirror to the ceiling over a 36” vanity. It will most likely be a very narrowly framed 24” mirror with a black trim. Here is the lights I have chosen. They are 18” tall and have a 3000 led heat. My advice today came from Trig in Raleigh NC

Jetta- are you happy with the side lights vs above mirror? And is the frosted glass just as good as a clear glass? Did you also do recessed in the ceiling with the side lights? Did you center them with the mirror?