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Lighting Design Dilemma Bathrooms

2-bulb or 3-bulb vanity light above 16" medicine chest and 20" sink?

6 years ago

I will be recessing a 16X20 medicine cabinet with a polished mirror [Robern RC1620D4] about 4 inches from a corner in a 7 ‘X 5’ bathroom. The center of the chest/mirror and the light’s junction box will be just 12 inches from the corner, thus a vanity light could be no more than 24 inches wide. My question is should I have a two-bulb or three-bulb vanity light above the chest. I initially thought a wider 3-bulb fixture would be better because I figured the lights on each end would at least throw a little light from the side [for particular reasons I can’t have sconce lights actually on each side]. On the other hand a wide 3-bulb fixture would put one of the globes an inch or two from the corner; I’m not sure how that would work out. Thus the question is: a wide 3-bulb fixture above a 16” wide medicine chest, and 20” wide sink below [Kohler Soho K-2084], or a narrower 2-bulb fixture? Any insights would be appreciated.

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Comments (6)

writersblock (9b/10a)
6 years ago
Will this be the only light source in the room?
Van Tschurin
Original Author
6 years ago
At night, yes. There is also a west-facing 2' by 3' window above the bathtub.
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i have a 30" vanity and the mirror above (actually a mirrored medicine cabinet) is 24wx30h. i went with a 24" vanity light with 3 bulb fixtures. i am using 40 watt bulbs in each (reveal) and it's good to go. if you are using a mirror 30" wide, imo, you would definitely go with 3 bulbs. if i had enough space on the sides of the mirror (which i dont)i would have considered sconces. hope this helps
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We currently have a 60" vanity with overhead lights. Our bathroom is 5' x 10', and I read that I need 300 watts of light for that size bathroom. I'm sold on sconces for our remodel because of our aging eyesight. We'll have two sconces with one sink. I've looked at all kinds of mirror configurations, but what makes the most sense is to set the sconces into a large mirror so that the light is bounced around the room. Did you say in another post that your ceiling is only 7 1/2' tall? I'm not sure a chandelier would look so good. I think they're better in powder rooms and in spacious bathrooms. Instead, I would use an exhaust fan/light combination to put light and ventilation over the toilet and shower area. I wouldn't count on the vanity lights, door, and a decorative chandy to supply enough light for the other side of the room. You need light for cleaning the toilet and shower and if anyone reads while on the can.
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DH has the same set up in his bathroom that we're remodeling. I have the 3-light fixture but not the mirror yet. It will be 32" wide. Vanity is 36" but against a wall on one side and we don't want the framed mirror butted up against the wall. I was a bit surprised that the globes were as large as they are. I think the 3 lights will look better. I just hope they aren't unproportionally too large. http://media.bellacor.com.edgesuite.net/images/500/29515021AZ3.jpg
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writersblock (9b/10a)
6 years ago
Then I would do a 2-bulb that takes 100-watt equivalents and put it on a dimmer. If you can have a central ceiling light you could reduce the wattage requirements of the sconce since it would be more for evening out the light.

But I think that with a three-bulb you may wind up with weird effects from the bounce from the light closest to the wall.
Van Tschurin
Original Author
6 years ago
I'm not fluent in lighting lingo...by suggesting a two-bulb sconce, I'm assuming you mean a sconce-style light that is installed horizontally above the medicine chest. I had been think of the vanity lights with individual globes, but I'm certainly willing to consider the sconce style.
writersblock (9b/10a)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Sconce just means a light that is attached to the wall rather than the ceiling, so any vanity light that is on the wall is a sconce. If that's not what you were thinking of, did you mean pendant lights?
Van Tschurin
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for your help and comments.

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