That chain is sold by the foot in many hardware stores and lighting shops, so you can get some to match your new fixture if you're concerned about having just a cord swagged from the box to where you want the light.

why do you have to swag? just get the box moved to where you have the hook. then just do a semi flush mount pendant light.

while you're at it, scrape the ceiling and give it a new skim coat.

I agree with Beth - move the box and you have many more options!

I appreciate your suggesting the option. Do you have an idea of costs? Ballpark is fine. We just finished a pretty pricey kitchen reno complete with walls coming down and all.

I also have a bath with a corner light. It has always bothered me but this is a new idea that I need to visit. Also, being in the corner makes parts of the bathroom a little dim, no matter how bright the light. And to add to the oddities of this bathroom, there is a window over the vanity! Facing the street! That I solved by adding a mirror on the side wall and shuttering the window. Not ideal but ok. I like lots of light when bathing so I need to see about moving that light to the center. This bathroom got very little usage until my DH got ill, and we had to move to a downstairs bedroom. Thanks.

Just move the box. Easy.

You can't just cover over an electrical box. The Electrical Code is probably going to require you to cap it. WAG cost to do it? $500.

I agree-just move the old box over and patch the ceiling. An electrician will charge you $100 where I live (S Jersey). There are a million youtube videos to teach you to fix drywall. This is not a big deal. I have the same thing in my powder room that I need to do-except I am going to plank the ceiling instead.

they do sell texture in a can if you want to keep the texture, otherwise use this opportunity to get rid of the popcorn. (If it is popcorn-my old house had some kind of stucco ceiling-no scraping that).

Yes, if you move the electrical box you have to cap the old one so people can SEE that it is there. To totally remove redoing the entire ceiling and that means an electrician and an inspection before you put the ceiling back in place, Bathroom ceiling is usually FLAT and this technique takes SKILL if you want a mirror finish. For the amount of space and end result, it will be a very expensive, time consuming and MESSY. That powder room is obviously not used much with the shadows the fixture throws. Is it really worth THAT? We moved a box, the cap was irritating. I have a similar issue in my kitchen. Years later when we did a total gut of the bathroom I was allowed to have the issue truly fixed so I know your pain and I have lived the fixes, ALL OF THEM.

If the electrician can move all the wires a foot over, then the old box is empty and can be removed. Of course, if there are still electrical junctions in there, then it would need a simple cover plate. Still not a big deal.

An electrical box can be eliminated, but you'd have to make the connections for the new box at the source of the eliminated box which is more work/money than installing a cover plate.

ok, let me reiterate,,,,if you move that box, with all it's wires and junctions, 2 feet to the left, then what is left behind is nothing. you don't have put a cover over it or disclose it (!) And for the record, you cannot close up a live junction behind any wall or ceiling. That's not what I suggested. I said, if there were enough play in the wires, you could transplant that box to the new hole. that's best and cheapest scenario.

However, if that couldn't be done,(if the wires were too short to move) then a new box would have to be installed, the old box wires would have to be connected to the new box, and that's where you'd get your cover plate.

If this ceiling is beneath an attic, it makes moving this so much easier. You would junction the new box w/the old box wires and put the box in the attic. But, if this ceiling is beneath another floor, where you are working between joists, then unless you can trace the original electrical source to this old box, disconnect it and run a new line, then yes, you will be stuck w/the cover.

Thanks Beth! I called an electrician (we are far from handy) who will attempt to mount a vanity light above the mirror. If that doesn’t work we’ll go to plan B (your idea). Anything will be better than what I have in there now. Measurements in this powder room are for a hobbit sized person....less than 7’ ceiling and 48” of wall space from ceiling to top of vanity. Ridiculous!

marni,,,is there attic space above this room?

No there isn’t. Why do you ask?

because moving the box/wires is so much easier when there is space above as opposed to trying to squeeze this in between floor joists.

imagine this is your ceiling w/the drywall removed. here's the junction box...now you want to move it over 2 feet (but he will be doing with while the ceiling is still in place. it there was an attic, he could just go up into the attic where this would all be exposed and easy to work with

I got ya. Thanks for being so thorough in your explanation.