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Lighting Design Dilemma Bathrooms

Need Help With Bathroom Sconce Lighting Question

5 years ago

We're planning the reno of a small bathroom which will have a new mirrored medicine cabinet that is 5" deep (it'll be surface mounted). We want to put sconces on either side of it.

Do the sconces have to extend out past the mirror so that light will shine on the mirror (to better view yourself in the mirror)? Most sconces don't seem to extend out that far.

These will be the only lights in the bathroom except for 1-2 pot lights above the tub.

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Comments (5)

PRO
RL Relocation LLC
5 years ago
first the door will open up into the fixture if they extend out too far. I would consider going over the mirror.
inabunker
5 years ago
I don't have a pic or drawings of where the door opens to. I would say your best bet (I've done many bathrooms) is to put the sconces on either side of your mirror about 2/3 to 3/4 up the sides of the mirror. You get better light than putting the sconces up above the mirror. It's just a better look.
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zzmac
Original Author
5 years ago
I'll be putting them on the sides for sure. I just need an answer to my original question. Thanks for the replies!
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
the answer is yes they need to project beyond the cabinet to eliminate shadow, at least flush with. The light will still radiate if they dont placement is key so the light is not in your eye. but the door on your cabinet will not open all the way.
zzmac
Original Author
5 years ago
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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