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Lighting Design Dilemma Bathrooms

Placing sconces asymetrical (small bathroom)

6 years ago

We are re-doing a small powder room and the mirror above the vanity is too close to one wall to add matching scones to each side of the mirror so we wondered if we could put one sconce on the left side of the mirror and the other on the side wall to the right? Most of the photos we see have the sconces on either side of the mirror but we don't see how we can do that. We like sconces so would prefer to use them rather than a fixture above the mirror or a pendant light. Thanks for your advice.

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Comments (4)

artsyphartsy_home_maker
6 years ago
Hi, Could you add some photos of the powder room with the mirror and vanity? That would help others to see what you are working with. Sometimes unconventional & outside of the box ideas can work out, and rules can sometimes be broken but it depends entirely on the situation and it's hard to tell that without seeing.
suezbell
6 years ago
It would look ... odd. Such a setup would quickly irritate my innate need for symmetry. Perhaps you could use the sconces elsewhere and choose an over the mirror light for this room.
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I like the second one with the faucet, but the vanity is very cottage-y to me. Personally, if I had my heart set on that vanity I would choose a different faucet, and then a different sconce. I like the look of the first one but I agree that Edison bulbs are not going to be your friend for bathroom lighting.
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So, update. My dad came over and gave his professional opinion on the situation. I agreed to give up my pocket door (very sadly) in order to have two sconces. It was going to be easier to put two sconces and change the swing of the door (thanks Kitch4me!) instead of a pendant light and putting in a pocket door due to the way the support beams run in the ceiling, and also due to the basement being finished and not being able to access some electrical wiring without really ripping into the drywall. Probably if I was hiring this out, I would say "Oh well.." but since we're doing it ourselves... I have to make some concessions!!! :D So, I got my original sconces and gave up my pocket door. Next steps include ordering the new medicine cabinet, finding sconces, and finding out where we want to place them. Then knocking holes in the wall! Wish me luck :D
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Thank you for your answer. Follow up question: We are planning on buying a medicine cabinet that is 52" high (it has two doors, basically two cabinets stacked on each other - we need the extra storage). It would like like the first pic above with the open door with a 2nd one on top. Like in the pic, we'll have a backsplash and the cabinet would start just like in the pic. Where would you place the lights? Face level, or higher?
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Instead of trying to find a light that will fit a square peg in a round hole, why not just have the electrician come out and lower the boxes. When the light comes at you, it's much more flattering than from above you. I joke all the time that I'm bald in the closet (overhead light only) but gorgeous at the vanity. LOL If you get the right sconces and placement, I'd bet you won't even turn on those overhead cans except to clean. Good luck!
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jim_jeanie
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks to both of you for your comments. We are just in the process of making a plan so it might be hard to visualize with an existing bathroom photo. However, we also saw a number of examples on houzz where the mirror was just slightly wider than the sink (we plan to use a vessel sink) so if we go with a much narrower mirror then we believe we can fit a sconce on either side of the mirror. Thanks again for quick replies!
katinparadise
6 years ago
Another option is to go wall to wall with the mirror and add the sconces on top of the glass.
jim_jeanie thanked katinparadise

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