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Help with lighting over my vanity

9 years ago

I am nearing the end of my bathroom remodel and I am stuck on what to do about the lighting over my vanity. It is a 72 inch, double sink vanity. My mirror goes all the way to the ceiling/molding and there is no place that I can do sconces on the sides of the vanity. I will have to either hang pendants or semi flush mount lights from the ceiling. This is a really small bathroom, and is decorated in a cross between retro and traditional styling. I have looked at millions of lighting options. I would like to do school house pendants (1 over each sink), but I've been told that it won't give me enough light for makeup/shaving etc due to the white shade diffusing so much of the light and the most wattage bulb you can use is 100 watts. I found this Schoolhouse Semi-Flush light that can take 150w bulb but it would hang 18in and is 14in in diameter. Would that be enough light? and is that too big for 72 in vanity? (my ceilings are only 8ft). Help!

I will try to post a link to the light that I am considering.

Here is a link that might be useful: Schoolhouse semi flush ceiling light

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Comments (3)

Babka NorCal 9b
9 years ago
Can you cut holes in the mirror on the sides and top? Overhead pendants may give you shadows you don't want while shaving and applying makeup. As you get older it makes a BIG difference. We have recently traveled, staying in motels withe low lights in the bathrooms.

I have discovered that having a higher toilet, a higher countertop, and brighter lights makes a HUGE difference in my quality of life. This might not mean much to you if you are younger, but wait until those knees an eyes begin to fade....

-Babka
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twilcox
Original Author
9 years ago
Well I think I'm already at that "age"...lol. I don't really want to cut holes in the mirror (more of a personal choice than I can't do it). I do have the higher toilet, countertop, etc. I should mention that this is not the master bath, but it is a bath that will get use from guests and my husband uses it as well. So you DO think the shaded light from a schoolhouse light is NOT bright enough? That's what I hear you saying. If so, I guess its back to trying to find a pendant light that is open on the bottom? Any other ideas?
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sjhockeyfan325
9 years ago
I think it's the fact that it's a hanging pendant that is not right for vanity use. There's a reason you never see them!
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