Height for lights over bathroom mirror?

12 years ago

ok, at 5' I'm wondering if the light fixture that is in my bathroom will be too high. I don't want to have to have an electrician move the wiring down tho. besides, it's mirror from just below it on down to the counter top. I want to change that this coming winter maybe. I might put another medicine cab there IF it sticking out doesn't mess up the light coming down from above. i think it might. I've also looked at an oval mirror with etching around the edge - it was at Lowe's I think.

but, the light there now has to go. the bulbs just stick straight out. I'm getting a 3 bulb fixture that will hang down - a bit.

this is the mirror and the light over it.

this is what I want to replace it with - the globes will be a bit different tho. they'll be part frosted and part clear.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

Shades_of_idaho
12 years ago
Steph we have a 42 inch tall mirror on the bathroom wall. there is no way I am going to try to take it down. So I am stuck with the light that is already there. It is similar to your light only we have the open part of the globes facing upwards. I know EEEWWWW on the dirt factor getting into them but it is not nearly as bad as I had feared it would be.
desertsteph
Original Author
12 years ago
shades - I've have considered having it 'framed' with a wider band of wood (natural, not painted) to cover more of the mirror. that might be easier. I'd have to hire someone to take it out. I might be able to do it myself if I frame it. the other bath is the same way. ugh.

how about just having dh turn the light fixture around. usually they can aim up or down.

and the 'eeeewwww' keeps me from putting up lights that are open at the top. well, except the laundry room fixture will be like that - but it's rather easy to take the glass part off and clean and replace. I have the same type in my bedroom in here. it's just a cheap old fashion type fixture.
Related Discussions
Hanging a wood framed mirror over a wall to wall bathroom mirror
Q
Comments (33)
ThatÂs what I was afraid of. I didnÂt want to put ideas in peopleÂs headsÂbut that is the reservation I have. I think having to use it on one side of the wall, asymmetrically, doesnÂt work. I was SO sure it would look great, and be really like the finishing touch in this room. Darn! The thickness, bulkiness, of it bothers me too, in that place. Too much mass. I thought, before I tried it, that it would balance the weight of the solid looking vanity. Instead it just makes it look like too much weight on the left side of the room and nothing on the right. Having to one side bothers me with the light fixture too, and I love that light. It doesnÂt show well in the photos, but is a stained glass repro I ordered from a craftsman lighting company, in a custom size. The mirror is discontinued, so I canÂt get another to balance it better. It doesnÂt look right centered on the big mirror either. Too odd when you are standing in front of the vanity. Sigh. I love this mirror. Buying this one when it went on clearance was what made me decide to have a craftsman bathroom in the first place! (Well, that and it opens off a craftsman family room.) I have one open wall on that room, where I used to have a framed picture. IÂll try propping it up there. The craftsman family room already has a mirror.
...See More
See my bathroom choices over at Bathroom forum
Q
Comments (16)
Hi everybody! I have been waiting all summer for it to cool off. It seems that the heat makes my dizziness and nausea worse. I have lost about 15 lbs with being too sick to eat throughout the summer. I just this week got my helper here to help me clean the garage and then I moved the vanity out there and sanded it a bit in the easy places, and got it up on a table. I got the brass floor protectors pried off the bottom of the legs and was pleased to find no holes have been drilled in them. That means that I can drill holes for the feet I bought. I have adjustable feet that will give the vanity an extra 1/2" of height, and that can be screwed up to give another 1/2" if we want. That would make the legs appear to float way too high in the air, so I don't think it will work. the extra 1/2" will have to suffice, with the ability to make the vanity level so that the sink will drain properly. I have also decided that the bail-type handles that came with it are not going to work for us. I can't see us fumbling around trying to grab the bail that has recessed back into the grooves of the handle around it, standing there with water or soap in our eyes. A knob is much easier to use. I had Hubby try using the bail and he vetoed it on the first try and said, "replace 'em!" I am using these on doors of a set of shallow cupboards that will be recessed into the closet of the the neighboring bedroom. I figured they were a sure bet for the six drawers, too. I am not going to use the center drawer anymore, what with all the plumbing going on above it, so I will just fill in those holes. I need to cut away the bottom of the drawer space, then move the drawer support piece to the left or right. It is at dead center right now, and the sink's drain will need to go there. I just have to sand down the fluted areas of the vanity table, then it will be ready to be primed and painted. I am still leaning toward painting it the violet Peace and Happiness. I have purchased more components for the plumbing. I have all of the shower controls and the rain shower head and regular shower head. Still need to get the hand-held and some safety hand-hold bars for the shower area. I still have not finalized a wall tile (looking at fake Cararra tile for the room's walls) or floor tile or the surface for the top of the vanity. We HAVE concluded, though, that we cannot get this job done until Toby, our ever-more-confused beagle/golden retriever mix, dies. He will be 16 at the end of this month. He has spinal arthritis and began vomiting every time he was given his Tramadol or his glucosamine/chondroitin pills, then quit taking them. He had to go on prednisone to control the pain. He is peeing a lot in the house, always on a rug or quilted mattress pad put down for him. The bathroom is his main place to pee. I will not have my new floor grout saturated with dog pee. I don't think the poor guy would cope well with the construction, either. He is now blind in one eye and somewhat deaf. It would be too confusing for him to do all that construction. So even though I can't get Jim over here to do the work, if I could, I would not be able to do it until Toby passes on. So, instead, we are getting new gutters and trim, and getting our four remaining windows replaced. We did the other three windows when we remodeled the kitchen and made the living room into the library/music room. I am in the process of cleaning and decluttering so the window guys can get in to measure!
...See More
Where to place bathroom lighting on mirror over vanity?
Q
Comments (5)
I always say "you're going to spend a lot of money remodeling this room, so you might as well do it right." Too often I see folks live with something that is poorly designed (like your sink arrangement) or awkward to use just because that's the way it is. So let's talk about what it would take to "do it right." I think you already know this, so let me confirm that the right-hand sink is too close to the wall. I'm sure somebody is always hitting their arm on that wall -- but we get used to living with situations like this as I mentioned -- or we think it's impossible or way too expensive to change. Moving that sink just a few inches away from the wall could make a huge difference. If you can stop the cabinet-maker, and give yourself permission to replan the vanity with a new sink arrangement, and new countertop, this will allow you to lay out the wall sconces in the right way and get rid of those horizontal strip lights above. (see photo below) You may need to include some additional plumbing and electrical work in your budget, and I realize these costs add up. If you do this, though, I think you will come to believe in time that this was the best decision you made -- and a wise investment -- since your bathroom will function better, feel better and look so much better. Enjoy. ps. If you're planning to strip the tile off that wing wall, I'd close up that recessed medicine cabinet area, too, then add a pullout cabinet with shelves like photos below to hold smaller items. It looks like you have sufficient space to add "his and hers" pullouts -- and the cabinetry could "float" above floor.
...See More
how many light fixtures over large vanity mirror in bathroom?
Q
Comments (6)
A double light over each sink should be sufficient with a window and assuming the shower is directly across from the vanity and that is the extent of the room. Other options are three single sconces mounted on the mirror and an over head light to give more light to the shower. I have a four-light over a 60" vanity in a 5x11 windowless room. The vanity area is well-lit. The shower at the end of the room is a little more shadowed but not enough to make showering and cleaning an issue.
...See More
mama goose_gw zn6OH
12 years ago
The new light fixture will look so much better! We don't have lights mounted over the mirrors in our bathrooms--just ceiling lights, so I think the height is OK.

BTW, if it works out for you to borrow a miter saw, you can cut your mirror frames while you have the saw. Are you planning to put shelves in the open space to the right of the mirror? You could even have them wrap the corner on the right wall. Forgive me if you've already discussed shelf options.
User
12 years ago
In Mobile, I have lights on the side of the mirror over the lavatory. They do face UP. I have a ceiling light in the vent-fan. Plus, I have the chandelier over the tub on a separate switch with a dimmer. The chandelier is swagged not hanging straight down. Code does not like chandeliers over tubs it seems, so the wiring for this is NOT over the tub, and that's why I swagged it.

Now up north, the light in one bathroom is the 3-light fixture that you wish to get. It gives a lot of light. My DH installed it turned down, but he has high watt bulbs in it, and it makes the fixture (and the wiring I'm afraid), much too hot for my liking. I am thinking about unscrewing the thing and turning it UP to allow the heat to dissipate, and the light itself to bounce off the low ceiling. It is a very small bathroom, and except in the dead of winter, the room is comfortably warm.

The other bath up north has an ugly florescent commercial fixture over the really wide surface mounted med cabinet. The light fixture and the med cab go wall to wall, and I just hate it. However, I doubt that DH plans to remove it as he is plans to get this bath remodelled as cheaply as he can. I have had to wash my hands of the whole project because he is so hostile about it. I remind myself that it is after all HIS HOUSE, and so it is on HIS HEAD if it sells or does not. But he is being very short sighted IMHO.
desertsteph
Original Author
12 years ago
mama g- that fixture should also spread the light out better across the counter top - it's 66" across! I couldn't put side lights up if I wanted to because of the window on the left.

I figured that since I planned to do the baseboards the mirror frame wouldn't be much more difficult. and I'd get my 'miter' practice on baseboard - the corners that will be hidden behind furniture...

I won't put open shelves there but might put a cabinet - probably a flush mount medicine cab if I don't put one over the sink. If I do I'll cover the mirror with a photo - most likely a photo collage of my furbabies. no need for another mirror there...

I do have art work I planned to put there - but can put on another wall.

I also have a ceiling light and a skylight. I won't need the bulb lights during the day - unless one of our unusual dark stormy days.

ML - I think letting dh do the bathroom up there w/o input is very wise!

This bath is about 7 x 13 so it can take more light. I made sure it could take up to 100 w each bulb. I don't necessarily have to use the 100 w in each - I'll just see how it goes.

I did the same in the smaller bath - maybe 5 x 8 or 10. a 2 bulb fixture but each can be up to 100 w if needed.

I'll post the ceiling with the skylight and light plus the proposed fixture later. I need to get out to the store before the heat of the day hits. that'll only give me about 2 hrs.

Height for lights over bathroom mirror?

Comments (5)

Shades_of_idaho

desertsteph
Original Author

Related Discussions

mama goose_gw zn6OH

User

desertsteph
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Height for lights over bathroom mirror?

Comments (5)

Shades_of_idaho

desertstephOriginal Author

Related Discussions

mama goose_gw zn6OH

User

desertstephOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

desertsteph
Original Author

desertsteph
Original Author