Are the recessed lights the only lights in the bathroom or are there also vanity lights above the sinks? If they're the only lights, how are they placed in relation to the sinks?

I have 4 inch ones in my kitchen -- the contractor suggested them. I was concerned about spotlighting, but that didn't happen. We did 6 - 3 on each side spaced along 10-12 feet (the sides are a little different). We have a fixture over the island in the center for task lighting - we don't always need it. We had to pull down sheetrock to run a vent and get rid of a horrible drop down box of fluorescent tubes (the contractors said it looked like a coffin -- but it was bigger), so for us it was new sheetrock. I don't think I would have done it if we were covering space with rings, but we weren't looking at the lighting option you are. Sounds interesting.

Thanks so much for the replies!

@lascatx, which lighting brand did you use?

@wdccruise, I attached the lighting diagram. Interested to see what you think about the recessed behind the sink. A recessed light is currently directly over the offset sink, which will be centered in the reno. Since we are moving it, the electrician suggested moving it closer to the door.

@Nicole, this is a total bath reno so no problem patching the holes. Some reviews talked about the goof rings being an easy fix so I am curious. Glad to hear 2 60w equivalent LED are bright. My 20 year old incandescent recessed don't do that room any favors.

I'll be working on a kitchen reno in the near future, and it has a high barrel ceiling marred with 8 @6" recessed lights. I'm doing a deep dive on the guest bath lighting as an education of sorts for the kitchen. From what I've read, a windowless room is the perfect application for Circadian sun to dim. The lighting is different from standard dimmers because it auto dims a cool light to a warm light.

Thanks for getting the conversation started. I like the look of the 3 and 4" recessed with no or very slim flange, but at this point I still don't know what I don't know.

@3onthetree Sorry, I didn't see your post before my response.

Lots of white in this bath, so I'm ok with it going creamier in the evening. Do you have experience with sun to dim? Brands? Aperture size? I'd love to learn more. I'm all in on getting more thoughtful lighting than the original builder install.

@Nicole I believe wdccruise is asking the OP about her bathroom, it is her thread.

@gardener123, with other lights in the bathroom it doesn't make sense to use only select circadium rhythm lighting. The other lights will be fixed color temperature. So walking through it, let's say you have 3000K in the other lights. When the recessed are at 5000K for the longest time you are in the bathroom, let's say a 45 minute shower at noon, will that make a difference to your sleep schedule when the other lights are 3000K? Let's say you shower at 10pm, and all lights are at 3000K, does it matter during the day the recessed are at 5000K (while competing with the other lights at 3000K)? Or, if the other lights are 5000K, that conflicts with the nightime circadium rhythm.

So my opinion in this bathroom is you make all lights the same color temperature and static at the temperature you prefer, based on the predominantly white color palette with hard/shiny surfaces.

Also, I'm not sure what a pendant over the toilet/shower entrance will be, I have never seen that location for a pendant before. And goof rings are pretty jerry-rigged looking, defeating the concept of recessed lighting to begin with (hiding lighting within the plane of the ceiling, not calling attention to themselves).

3onthetree: "it doesn't make sense to use only select circadium rhythm lighting."

Agree.

Before ripping out the cans and redoing the ceiling, I'd consider 6" LED retrofit such as this Commercial Electric Integrated LED 6-inch Retro Fit Ultra Slim Selectable Color Recessed Light which would fit into the existing can. I'd use damp-rated lights such as this Maxxima 2 in. Slim Round Recessed Anti-Glare LED Downlight over the shower. Be sure that you don't mount the shower light over a rain shower head.

I couldn't tell you now -- it's been a while and there were a lot of other things in the kitchen that were bigger decisions.

What did you decide for tile?

Replace Old Recessed Can Lights With Modern Retrofit LED Lights

Replacing old cans with sealed LED units is something I would say should have already been done - for looks, energy efficiency, less heat buildup..

Thanks so much everyone. Just emerged from the rabbit hole!

ETA: Can I use @wdccruise's Maxxima 2" for the ceiling too? The recessed over the sink is off-center so it's being moved as shown in the plan. Maybe a 4" Maxxima there?

@wdccruise and @3onthetree you raised a point that didn't occur to me. My thought process was that the recessed are on their own dimmer, as are the sconces and pendant., but I didn't give much thought to when they are all on at the same time. Hopefully you'll play along when I get to the kitchen barrel ceiling. Thanks for weighing in.

@wdccruise the video was very helpful, as are the recommendations. Appreciate the anti-glare aspect, and 2" for 2 @ shower is perfect.

@Eileen You remembered lol. Yes, tile is ordered. I took your advice, kept looking, and found a very neutral travertine with faint, subtle white veining running through it. @Flo Mangan suggested it and it works beautifully. In her words, I dodged a bullet. I appreciate your encouragement to keep looking. I was ready to settle (this was supposed to be a quick remodel) and I slowed down to do it right. Merci!

@lascatx Agree. I replaced a few rooms a years ago (including the kitchen) with 6" Cree and Lutron (supposedly) compatible dimmers. The flickering is maddening. Some lights get replaced every few months, even though I replaced them all at one time in a failed proactive effort. 10' ceilings so it's annoying. The other rooms don't seem to flicker as often, or maybe I don't notice as much because those rooms also have lamps and chandys. Hence this post, looking for something more stable with a pleasing light output.

You might have the lights checked to make sure they are istalled securely. Or if you only have flickering with the lights dimmed, a different dimmer might resolve that. I have one fixture in my sewing room that I put in for better task lighting in that one spot. My LED replaced cans (Cree) don't flicker, but the larger disc (not sure of the maker, but not Cree) flickers if they lights are dimmed at all. We put the dimmer iin when the room was a guest room - I may just remove it.

"Can I use @wdccruise's Maxxima 2" for the ceiling too?"

Sure, but I don't see a reason to cut up the ceiling. Just replace the 6" can with 6" LED.

"the recessed are on their own dimmer, as are the sconces and pendant"

I'd put the sconces on one circuit and the other lights on a second, both circuits controlled with dimmer switches.

lascatx: "but the larger disc (not sure of the maker, but not Cree) flickers if they lights are dimmed at all."

Not all LED lights are dimmable. Flickering can also result from dimmer incompability or when a light's wattage is too low. Best and most compatible dimmers are Lutron LED+ Diva and Maestro dimmers.

Yes, I know - but this fixture is supposed to be dimmable and we replaced dimmers with Lutron ones for LED when we made the switch tot he LEDs. I don't need that one to be dimmable. The dimmer was set up for a circuit that has three fixtures that cover the corners of a T-shaped room. I put in in to give more task lighting right over my sewing machine in part of that T. The sewing machine has now moved and will move again. LOL Hadn't thought about that until just now - I may be changing out the fixture once I move furniture. At any rate, I do hope you will post if you try the new lights and let us know what you think.