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Vanity lights -- sconces or over the mirror lighting

14 years ago

New construction master bath. The Bath is approximately 17x10 and the double sink vanity with linen cabinet in between is 10 1/2 feet long. We have a light in the tile shower and 2 or 3 can lights in the middle of the bath, basically in the area where you are standing at the vanity, between the vanity and the tub. These cans are on dimmers.

Electrician is discouraging sconce lighting at the vanity -- says it's not enough good light. I like the look of sconce lighting better and since each vanity is about 4 feet wide, I think even with sconce lighting, I could get a decent sized mirror there. And I think with the recessed lighting overhead, it would be sufficient light.

Opinions or experience? Does each 4 ft vanity have enough room for 2 sconces?

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Comments (4)

andreadeg
14 years ago
Sconce lighting is IDEAL as long as it is at face level. You want the light to reflect evenly on your face if at all possible. So, lights on either side of the mirror, or, mounted directly over the mirror are ideal as long as they are at eye level. Bathroom bar lighting is unflattering and doesn't provide an accurate lighting for your face.

Hope that makes sense. I'm not in anyway promoting RH sconces, this is just meant to give you an idea of the ideal type of sconce for the bathroom. You can also check out the National Kitchen and Bath association recommendations for lighting in a bathroom. A web search of "National Kitchen and Bath Association" will bring up their site.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sconce
shelly_k
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you. So as long as the sconces are at face level, they should be good for providing adequate light?
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andreadeg
14 years ago
Yes, the sconces will provide adequate light for your face, assuming they are at least 60 watts each or thereabouts. Whether they will provide adequate overall lighting for yoru bathroom I can't comment. There are lighting experts on this forum though and perhaps one of them will weigh in and provide guidance. You can also post on the decorating and lighting forum for more help.

having sconces on a dimmer is a nice touch as well.
lizbeth-gardener
14 years ago
We just added a new bath and put sconces on each side of medicine cabinets and one in between--no linen between. Our vanity is a double bowl 70" so you should be able to do the mirrors and two sconces in four feet as long as you don't go too wide on the mirrors.
The lighting is great--so much better than previous baths with lights over the mirrors. Our sconces are rated for up to 100 watt, but 75 is plenty. We also have shades that are frosted which softens the light, but doesn't make it dark. I did have to shop around to get sconces that weren't too wide.

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