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Ratio of Vanity, mirror and light fixture?

9 years ago

We have no option to change the location of the bathroom lighting so we are installing a light fixture above the vanity. I have a 3 light fixture in mind that is 22". Currently we have a 20 year old 24" mirror with 4 lights attached. The more I look at it the more I want a smaller light fixture since the current 24" mirror overwhelms the room. We have enough light with just 3 of the 4 bulbs installed although we keep all 4 installed. Two bulbs is not quite enough light.

Is the general rule a pyramid, for example 20" sink, 16 inch mirror/medicine cabinet, 12 inch light fixture?

This came up as I was searching for rotating mirrors. The mirror that I prefer is less than 12" W meaning the light fixture would be only 8" (and the only light in the entire room).

http://www.homecomforts.com/empire-waldorf-swivel-mirror-with-shelves-ei-bm536.htm

Would it look strange to have a 20" wall mounted sink, 12" mirror and 22" light fixture?

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Comments (4)

Katrina Tate
Original Author
9 years ago
We aren't going with the 12" swivel mirror/cabinet. I mapped it out with card board and it just looks odd.
melle_sacto is hot and dry in CA Zone 9/
9 years ago
That was a smart idea. I wanted to reply to your post, earlier, that I thought the mirror seemed kind of small. However, I didn't know if there was any sort of "ratio rule" or not. I don't know that I ever thought about the overall shape being a pyramid, either. I like set-ups where the light is about 2/3 or greater of the mirror width (not to exceed the mirror width) and the mirror being nearly as wide, or as wide, as the vanity.

Hopefully you can find a wider mirror to balance the light and vanity -- I looked online for a while before finding something that would work for us!
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Comments (10)
Palimpsest, thanks for the sconce idea! I already decided to nix the sconce idea, largely because the drywall went up before a friend mentioned sconces. I sort of regret it and can't believe I didn't think of it considering I've done some photography; side lighting is very attractive. catkin-- I think we're both on the same page as your decisions are very close to my current thoughts. Due to the backsplash area and where the fixture will be located, our mirror can be no more than 36" in height. I originally was leaning toward a mirror that equaled the width of the vanity, and a fixture that nearly equaled. I now think that will be overwhelming in the space. I think if I have a mirror between 30"-36" tall and 30-40" wide, with a fixture 24"-36" wide it'll look good. cangelmd--what about mirrors (including molding) that span the length of the vanities? It's a statement, for sure, but it might look really nice if the picture in the link is any indication of your style.
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I am so sorry I never came back to post this inspiration picture. I saw on your newer thread that you found two great modern fixtures to center over your two mirrors that have a stain to match the vanity stain. Now I go back and see this pic I see the lights are sconces between the mirrors. But I like what you are doing better. Here's one with the light over but one mirror Here's mine and my fixture looks wider than my mirror.
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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.
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Comments (1)
Post pics of the space and the fixtures
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Katrina Tate
Original Author
9 years ago
melle_sacto Yes, although I love the idea of the rotating medicine cabinet, it's just too small to work for us and buying two would be too big. We are getting a mirror only, no cabinet.
homepro01
9 years ago
Katrina,

Can you fit a normal medicine cabinet in your space? It will give you a lot of storage if you can. Even a wall mounted medicine cabinet could give you a lot of storage.

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