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Vanity sconces: is 60 watts enough?

12 years ago

I was looking at Restoration Hardware sconces today, and now I have a question: these RH single sconces take up to 60 watts only, while other lighting I've seen can take 100 watts. If I have one sconce on each side of the vanity, is that 120 combined wattage going to provide enough light? Or should I go for double sconces, for a total of 240 watts? There will be one other light - overhead - in a bathroom that's about 8x9'.

Also, the home design books say we should go for side-lighting at the vanity. I've always had overhead, but now that I'm starting from scratch, I'm inclined to follow the experts' advice. Do any of you have opinions on whether having lights on the side really is better? I've got somewhat limited room on the sides of twin medicine cabinets, so overhead might actually fit better. Please help!

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Comments (3)

David
12 years ago
A 60 watt incandescent bulb produces ~ 800 + lumens.

Assuming a 25 lumen per sq ft requirement 8 * 9 * 25 = 1800 lumens.
20 lumens per sq ft 8 * 9 * 20 = 1440 lumens.

Side lighting is preferable since it is less likely for shadows to be cast, but if you are space constrained, wall washing / overhead lighting in front of the mirror can be used. There are office washrooms where this is done and the lighting works quite nicely (imo).
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kmcg
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you, davidtay! Do you know if frosted glass covering a bulb will decrease the lumens rating you gave?

My vanity will be 54" long in a kind of alcove (short walls (24") on each side). I'm thinking maybe it would work to put sconces on the side walls to direct light toward the center of this space.
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Folks, budge1: Well, the glass on the sconces can't be replaced w/ clearer glass...it is all one piece. oruboris: The bulb is a 60W max....but maybe I could try a CF bulb for a bit more brightness...what brand do you recommend? teachbls/oruboris/everyone!!: Look at the link below...this is for a triple sconce to match my singles on each side of mirror. Do you think it would look OK to have this ABOVE the mirror whilst having the singles on either side? Would it be too crowded/busy?? They also make a double-sconce version??? I was also thinking of adding a can light just above each vanity??? Thanks, DRK Here is a link that might be useful: triple sconce
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Nice sconces! We have 4x40w bulbs, 2 each in two sconces, in our small master ensuite. It's adequate but barely, partly because I find the glass a little too thick and it dims the bulbs quite a bit. I'm waiting for them to die so I can put in slightly brighter LEDs. I would think it WOULD be adequate for a powder room -- guests don't need to see every pore and cat hair on the floor. In my 5x5 powder I have 2 60s in an overhead fixture and it's pretty darn bright. Especially since I replaced the charcoal grey fixtures with white ones. This post was edited by robotropolis on Tue, Nov 5, 13 at 11:03
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None of those will provide good light. You’ll look sickly and won’t be able to apply makeup. You need to reassess this design. It isn’t good. It’s truly terrible in fact. Cramming in two pedestal sinks with no storage and putting a giant dead body in between to block lighting is not a good plan. And neither are vanities in front of windows. It’s a dysfunctional to the max plan. You need a single sink vanity, in the center, with storage below. And 2 face height sconces on that wall. Plus additional general room lighting, and task lighting above the toilet, tub, and shower. All have to be damp rated to be used in a bathroom. Not kitchen lights.
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I only mean to joke-- but they do call it a "powder" room. ;) Some women still refer to the half bath as the powder room, where "powdering your nose" was a phrase used as a euphemism.
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David
12 years ago
Yes, the frosting will decrease the light output. To compensate, you could over budget by 10% for incandescent lighting.

On the other hand, using the Robern Candre CFL sconce as an example, the output from the 26W CFL is such that there might not be any need to compensate.

There are other ways to address the issue - such as
1. Using a combination of sconces and overhead lighting located between the mirror and vanity front edge.
2. Using lighted mirrors.
3. More sconces.
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