Software
Houzz Logo Print
a_remodeler

Is a 36" Round Mirror over Bathroom Vanity Too Big?

5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

I love the look of a big round mirror over a bathroom vanity. We have a 60" wide vanity. It is 36" high and we have 8' ceilings. I created two drawing, one with a 36" round mirror and one with a 30" round mirror, I feel like the 30" round mirror looks too skimpy. However I'm concerned that the 36" mirror will be too close to the faucet and may eventually get ruined from splashing water. I'm also concerned that if I raise it up too close to the light that I will have too much light reflecting or that it will look awkward because I think it would look best centered between the light and the faucet. The light can be moved up or down as needed. In the drawing, the center of the light is 82" above the floor because that's the default for the program that I'm using. I could move it higher (84"?) but how high is too high? Any other thoughts or advice? Here's the mirror that I'm planning to order. I can get it beveled or with a smooth edge. Amazon.com: Better Bevel 36" x 36" Frameless Round Mirror | 1" Beveled Edge | Bathroom Wall Mirror: Home & Kitchen




Comments (18)

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    I would select the larger mirror but I might consider sconces instead









  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Thanks Beverly. I did seriously consider that but the wiring is already in place and while I can move the light up as high as I want/need by shortening the wire, I cannot make the wire any longer to reach where the sconces would go. I also thought it might look crowded with a GFCI receptacle on either side of the mirror and then adding the sconces on either side as well. What do you think? I can see what’s involved with replacing the wire to get sconces in there.


    Also, most of the photos that you attached seem to have ceilings higher than 8’ which seems to be the case on a lot the photos that I looked up as well. I’m wondering if having the sconces may make the ceiling feel lower since it’s so horizontal.

  • 5 years ago

    Thanks Beverly. I love the gold and I actually selected that finish for our dining room chandelier, but I've already committed to chrome for this bathroom with the tub faucet.

    I made the changes to the drawing and I like the way it looks. I placed the center of the sconces 5'6" from the floor in this drawing. I'm just wondering if there is enough room between the wall and the mirror. I have 12" on either side of the mirror and the light that I placed in the drawing is 8" wide. I think I prefer the light facing upwards, which is what we had in our old bathroom. It seems less harsh to me to have the light reflecting off the ceiling. Thoughts on all of this?



  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    If you select a sconce that sends like up, select something that doesn't appear so very dated and from the last century. If your plumbing is satin nickel, then why select a black finish for the sconces?


    As long as the top is open the light extends up. If you select a clear glass shade you will be subject to glare from the bulb on your face and strange shadows in the room. All these sconces are from Lowes.


    A thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
  • PRO
    5 years ago

    The larger mirror

  • 5 years ago

    Larger mirror and sconces! It’s going to be pretty - love a round mirror. I just found this place they have nice lighting and affordable prices.





    https://www.pearedcreation.com/collections/all-lighting/products/bathroom-wall-light-art-deco-lighting-vanity-lighting-mirror-lighting-modern-lighting-bathroom-lighting-art-deco-sconce

    A thanked elizabeth_eclectic
  • 5 years ago

    Thank you everybody for your help. I’ve made the decision to move the wiring and go shopping for new lights! Beverly, as far as the finish, for some reason on my drawing the finish looks dark but it is actually chrome. The program that I’m using has a limited selection of fixtures so that’s not necessarily the style I’m going for. I’m just trying to get the scale and proportions correct. I am committed to the chrome because I already have a chrome shower faucet. The only other lighting in the room is a flush mount ceiling fixture which has not yet been purchased. I am a little worried that I’m reducing the amount of light bulbs by one and lowering them down on the wall some. Because of the shape of the room, the light from the ceiling light will not reach the toilet and I’m counting on the sconces to light that area. Hopefully I’ll have enough light and hopefully I can find a ceiling light and sconces to either match or coordinate with one another.

  • 5 years ago

    Since I’m moving wiring, I have a question about placement of the new junction boxes. I’m thinking they should be placed at the widest point of the mirror. This will make the majority of the light higher than the center point of the mirror (If I’m looking at her examples above from Beverly.) Thoughts?

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Nope! Not too big. We just put one in for a 54" vanity. See below:



    Pandemic Playroom on the Peninsula · More Info


    A thanked Sabrina Alfin Interiors
  • 5 years ago

    Sabrina, that looks beautiful. It looks like the Junction boxes for the lights are placed exactly at the center point of the mirror, correct? And it looks like you have 8’ ceilings. Can I ask how you determined the height for the junction boxes and mirror? I was thinking of splitting the difference between the 36” high vanity and 96” high ceiling. That would put the junction boxes/center of the mirror at 5’6” I believe. I think that would give me 12” between the counter and bottom of the mirror and 12” between the top of the mirror and the ceiling. Once I move the wires and close up the wall there will be no turning back!

    And I see you chose narrow sconces so it doesn’t look too crowded next to the wall. My vanity is in an alcove so there are walls on both sides, and I was concerned about crowding but this looks good. I have 12” between the mirror and the wall so I was thinking of putting the junction boxes equidistant between the mirror and wall.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Thanks! Re: the junction boxes, much depends on the height of your light fixtures and whether they point up or down. If memory serves, the height of these are ~12", so it made sense to align the j-box with the center point of the mirror. If you go with smaller sconces or if the sconces point downward, I'd raise the j-boxes to align with the top third of the mirror.

    A thanked Sabrina Alfin Interiors
  • PRO
    5 years ago




    I built this mirror 6 years ago.

  • 5 years ago

    Debbie, that's beautiful! The scale is perfect! You have a 72" vanity and mine is only 60". I like the amount of wall space you have on either side of the sconces. It's not crowded and there's plenty of room for the medicine cabinet. One thing that I noticed is that most of the mirrors in the examples above are framed. I don't think I'll be able to match a frame to the vanity finish so I was planning on a frameless mirror and probably getting a bevel edge to make up for the lack of a frame. My cabinet company doesn't have any round mirror options to match the cabinets.

  • 5 years ago

    Wow Joseph! You're very talented! That mirror is reminiscent of a portal and goes great with the textured wall tile! The floor plan of the bathroom looks almost identical to mine with the partition wall separating the toilet and tub. I'm a little concerned about the lighting for the toilet area since I'll be relying on the sconces which will provide less light than the original vanity light over mirror that I was planning. The ceiling light is located to illuminate the tub/shower combo and the partition wall blocks the light from reaching the toilet area.

  • 4 years ago

    @BeverlyFLADeziner I love the photo you shared with the round mirror on top of a wall mirror with some sort of mirrored panels. Can you explain how this was done? Although I like round mirrors too, the look of a mirror that covers the full width of the vanity is gorgeous!