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elizabeth_eden85

Vanity lighting help

last month

We are finally going ahead with a bath remodel and looking for help on lighting! We’re expanding our 60 inch vanity to an 88 floating walnut vanity which will have a wall on both ends. Soffit is coming out so we’ll have 8 feet of height to work with (the wall to the left in the pic is coming out)We don’t have enough room for sconces on the outside of the mirrors since the sinks are sitting on the ends with a drawer stack in the center. We’re happy with the performance of our recessed lights now - will I be unhappy with recessed lights alone over each sink? Do I have to do over mirror lighting? Thanks for your thoughts!

Comments (40)

  • last month
    last modified: last month

    for me, more lighting rather than depending on just the overhead recessed cans.

    Mount the sconces on the mirror.

    Or on the side walls


  • last month

    Cool idea- we will have two separate mirrors so I think we wouldn’t be able mount on the mirror. Side wall maybe though! Is that better than the over mirror light fixture?

  • last month

    Is there a reason for the 2 mirrors? - the wall to wall mirror is such a clean look

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    How wide is niche/vanity, and what are your sink centers from each wall, left and right side? Are your ceiling 8' ? or 9'?

    Do you need that soffit? No.....it has lights within, and NO plumbing in it

    Please don't use screen shots, they can't be blown up on a computer. Use Jpegs

    Come back with all inches and jpegs: )

  • last month

    I'd add overhead and side sconces.





    sinks are sitting on the ends with a drawer stack in the center.


    How much distance from each sink edge to the wall? Remember you want enough room to lift your arms and brush your teeth! It can look really off to have the sinks too far to the edges.

  • last month

    This picture attached is a bit old - but it will be all drawers, floating. 89 inch total length, 33.5 inch sink base on each end with sinks centered, 20 inch drawer stack in between. 8 foot ceilings. Vanity 36 inches hung. Soffit coming out. Debated the one vs two mirror question for a looong time but consensus was that it was a lot of mirror so we went with two. Even considered the center tower but thought it would be heavy. Sinks pretty close to the wall- but can’t change that now - we already have the vanity!

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    I;m a NO..... toooo cluttered. and you will have achieved awkward ?

    this, and tape it off in your walls, Trim or no trim . Through the mirror : )

    Template mirror to fit, no matter what

    More and better and more even lighting, clean and simple,



    3 sconces, two four inch recessed in ceiling, sconce box about 60" from floor, depending style


  • last month

    Thank you for this- I thought these big full surround mirrors were “builder grade”. Are they back in style? I like the brightness of a big mirror but worry it might be a lot for the space. The bath is about 11 feet long in total. Also wondering whether sconces at eye level could be hard to look at since the sinks are spaced more to the sides. Thank you!

  • last month

    Also seems like everyone is out on over mirror globe lights or bath bars! Guess that simplifies things

  • PRO
    last month

    ^^^

    Basic builder grade, slapped on a wall is COMPLETELY different than trimmed, templated, taken right to the ceiling, with lighting placed on and through the mirror.

    I don't understand " A lot for the space" ? : ) in an 11 foot bath.

    How does chopping the space to an awkward or forced "combobulation" of two or three enhance what is a perfectly normal length of vanity , floating!!

    Eye level sconces, enhance the even quality of lighting, a face frame so to speak,


    Good grief, I am doing one right now in a remodel.....Brightening a bath, the sparkle of mirror, is never a bad idea,,,,,no matter the style







  • PRO
    last month

    Whatever you do, don't place the recessed cans directly over your head. Not at all flattering.

  • PRO
    last month

    ^^

    Recessed is ambient lighting, sconces in this scenario? Consider them both task at hand and decorative accent.

    Put recessed behind you entirely if you prefer! At my age.....the softer the effect, the better I look, but It all bears a close up before I exit. WITH my glasses on - just in case some spec of who knows what: )

  • last month

    With respect to lighting, overhead recessed cans still work for a vanity. For a nearly 8' long vanity you'll probably want more than 2 fixtures, and at 8' height probably more of a spotlight throw (you will inherently achieve that with smaller fixtures, like 3" or 2").

    Adding in another layer of lighting for the face will remove some of the overhead shadowing, where "sconces" (wall mounted at head height) aren't the only choice, they can be lighted mirrors or wall mounted (above mirror). The choice should depend on the style of bathroom, space proportions, and style of fixture. Whichever choice should be coordinated with placement of the recessed locations.

    With respect to the mirror size, and vanity lighting to an extent, the design style and proportions of the entire space do play in that. For instance, if you look at "Pinterest" (meaning just money shots that may be AI or physically impossible, but are beautiful) examples, they will show a large bathroom with lots of space in front of the vanity. But if your space only has a skinny aisle in front of the vanity, or say lots of windows across from it, that is also taking up 8' of the 11' length, then an entire wall of mirror may not be an appropriate choice. Or, if you have a Louis XIV style vanity, individual mirrors may be appropriate.

  • last month

    It might be nice to do large minimal medicine cabs for storage - I think i remember @chispa having lovely ones in one of her baths

  • last month

    Just having overhead lights will shadow your face when putting on makeup or shaving.

  • PRO
    last month

    Not totally true, DMPNW. Depends on exactly where the overhead lights are placed. If they are directly over your head, you'll get shadows. If they are placed further back, they just provide more ambient light.

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    Canned lights 18" from mirror wall will give the most flattering lighting.

    "thought these big full surround mirrors were “builder grade”.

    This is builder grade





    This is not







    They key is to have the mirror set in moulding on all sides. Here are some sketches of a current bathroom my Design studio is working on to give you an idea of what we have done with the moulding and the sconces being set directly on the mirror



    and the renderings of his and her vanities for the space



    There is nothing builder grade about this. In fact this is a very custom application.

  • last month

    ^We did this in a recent lake build and love all the mirror and sparkle, there is no window in the bath so it really helps bounce all the light around - it's a bit tedious to have coordinated, electricians plus custom miror folks but def worth imo

  • last month

    Thank you all! My current recessed lights for my smaller vanity are right over the sink and we really don’t have a lot of shadow. The big mirror with moulding does look much better than classic builder grade but not sure it fits with the more modern minimal aesthetic we’re trying to build. Maybe a mirror with lighting is the best solution there but it’s a little out of our price range for one that size. Appreciate all of these examples

  • PRO
    last month

    The lights and moulding you choose will determine how modern and minimalist it will be .





  • last month

    Ooh I can get behind that! 😃

  • last month

    First, lighting:

    - I don't care for canned /pot lights. Looks like ceiling acne. Since you're tearing out the soffit, this is an opportunity to get rid of those personality-free lights.

    - I like the look of the side lights shared above, but lights on the side alone won't be "enough" for an 8' vanity. You need something in the middle as well.

    - Personally, I'd go with pendant lights. They will throw light exactly where you need it -- at face level -- and they're easy to install /inexpensive to change out later if you want a different look.

    - Whatever you do, put these lights on a dimmer. Since they'll be in front of /so near the mirror, the light'll be doubled, and you don't always want that.

    Other thoughts:

    - Looking at your original picture, the #1 thing I'd want to add is drawers at the vanity. Drawers will be so much more useful than the standard cabinets you have now.

    - The existing sink is kinda "recessed" into an alcove? This doesn't seem to serve any purpose, and it sort of throws the vanity into shadows. Can you bring it forward about a foot so it's "flat with the wall"? Will this still give you enough space?

    - I'd downsize to a single sink (centered). Duplicate sinks serve zero purpose, and a single sink will allow each spouse a nice bank of drawers -- storage, especially if your vanity isn't going to the floor, will always be more important than a second sink. This also gives you more countertop.

    - Think about a wall-mounted faucet. You won't have to "clean around" its stem -- you'll just be able to swipe a cloth around the edge of the sink.

    - I'm with the poster above who says, Stick to a single wall-to-wall mirror. It's a clean, simple look -- it bounces back lots of light, and everyone likes a bright room. And it gives you a better view of not only your face but your outfit. Though the two mirrors and a truckload of lights is trendy, it's much "too much". Much "too busy".

    - You ask about single large mirrors being "dated". Don't spend a single moment thinking about "dated". Go with what fits into your house /its style /its time period and what you like. If you chase "trendy", you'll be unhappy in a few years. So strike the concept of "dated" from your mind.

    - Where's your trash can?

    - Where are your light switches?

    - Where will your hand towels hang?

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    A lot of hand wring here...............: )

    This?

    My sketch from above on left...the VISUAL you like on right

    Same thing...one . has the "ugly/art /inches, the visual does not: ) the visual has approximately same locale for recessed as well

    Look like "builder spec to you? Nope


  • last month

    This is what I had been planning - this is AI generated and the mirrors will be closer to the walls. And ultimately it comes down to what we like. I was also going to switch the lights to those light bars. But for those advising a full wall mirror, do you see this as a significantly inferior choice?

  • last month

    If you mount lights on mirror, look at the back of the lights to see what will be reflected. Some are finished nice, some are not. We did this and love it.

  • last month

    I think the two mirrors are totally fine - seems like you have enough space


    I like two sinks - my DH and I often get ready for bed at the same time and that’s when we whisper about our children :)


    If it were me I would have each medicine cab open toward the corresponding sink (not the same direction) for easier access

  • PRO
    last month

    Seem you already know what you want, so do it and be happy. Opinion of others, matters not: )

  • last month

    I was really wanting to do that! But thought the mirrors would end up being undersized. Biggest I can find are 24 inches wide which I thought would be too narrow for the 34 inch wide sink spaces on each side. Can you tell I’ve spent way too much time in these measurements? I do like having little bottles and such at eye level. Wishing my long custom vanity was a more standard size

  • last month

    I’ll add- as a non-designer I’m taking my best shot at these sizes. And despite my comments on large mirror vs two small I really want to make sure I have good sized mirrors and keep the space as functional as I can. Maybe I’m making more arguments for big mirror…I just need to get this project done and done right! Thanks all for your suggestions and work to make this look great so I never have to do it again!

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    ^^^^Post Jan's annoying diatribe just above, and with a little trace over on DIS great mock up

    Picture and explanation below, a clutter eliminator in the void/back

    "medicine" and lighting....



    Fully mirrored middle "Medicine Tower. It "floats" off the counter to a level with trim, just above the back splash, It isn't resting ON the counter

    It's 6" depth, cabinet on the drywall, or maybe you can recess it three inches, It is FULLY MIRRORED, trim at top is exactly as the rest.. Door swing to whomever most needs.

    It is 15 or 18 inches wide, need not match width of drawer base below,

    You keep the recessed as you know you like, have been happy having, and enhance and even out that overhead lighting with close/flush to the wall, lighting at the side walls,

    No clutter, and medicine solved. Or not, and without seeing all other Do I know? I don't, maybe......you DO!?

    Do I think your AI below is a solution? No, not really : )



  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    What is the pic of that you posted it certainly is not floating or 88" wide. I need to see the new vanity and the wall where it is going to even beging to advise about lighting. I happen to like a full wall of mirror when sinks are far apart so that both people using the vanity have a mirror no matter where they stand I also lobe bathbar lighting much more than sconces and you could easily do 2 long bath bars .Please get rid of those huge pots you only need 4" max to give good light in LED 4000K THere are great ways now to have excellent storage in drawers even where the plumbing is .

  • PRO
    last month

    running with Jans idea to give you a visual


    Jan had a crown in the mirrored cabinet that I couldnt achieve but......



    and for a more sleek look no framed mirror




  • last month

    That’s an old mockup (I can’t find the new pic) but the length is correct. The new one is floating and all drawers. But the vanity itself is sitting in a warehouse waiting for install. Having a company do all of this so I’m having to make these choices all up front without seeing things in my space. And as you can tell I’ve been really back and forth and delaying things.

  • last month

    This is the wall for the vanity- current vanity is 60 inches on the right- taking out this wall and extending vanity to 88

  • last month

    Attempt at getting the feel of two mirrors

  • last month

    Oh my. Love Visual Comfort designs but that one looks like a barber pole. Right idea, consider other fixtures.

  • PRO
    last month

    Good point Jan my personal vanity is 14' long :-/