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Lighting Bathrooms

Finding vanity lights that take LED vs LED integrated lights.

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

I have spent three days Googling vanity lights and LED bulbs. It seems that on BUILD, Lamps Plus, Bellacor, HOUZZ, and many other sites, lights are listed as Incandescent, Xenon, Halogen, LED, etc.

I do not want an LED integrated light. So, how do I find a light that I can replace the bulb with an LED Bulb? I have been looking for Incandescent, but the websites have very few of them. When I looked at LED, it was difficult to separate lights with integrated LED bulbs, and lights that can TAKE LED bulbs. I could not find any that said the bulb was NOT included. I assume those are integrated.

I think most of the lights look alike. How do I ensure I am not buying cheap, Chinese lights?

Should I choose 4000 kelvins or 5000 kelvins for the windowless bathroom?

Where do you find your lights? Thanks.

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Comments (4)

Paul NY 5b-6a
3 years ago
Almost any fixture that can take plain old incandescent bulbs can accept LED bulbs that are about the same size and shape. I don't want integrated LEDs, either, but I've bookmarked several that would work with LED bulbs.

Quoizel Taylor 30" Wide Polished Chrome Bathroom Light - #4M627 | Lamps Plus · More Info

Here's one: https://www.lampsplus.com/products/quoizel-taylor-30-inch-wide-polished-chrome-bathroom-light__4m627.html#productDetailsSection

I'd install it facing down to keep dust and dead insects from accumulating in it.
Peke thanked Paul NY 5b-6a
Brad Smith
3 years ago
When researching lights for our rebuild, I'd read in a few places that people who apply makeup prefer lighting that's as close as possible to "daylight", thus closer simulating what the result will look like when outdoors. So that's defined as "5000K to 6500K". The higher K will definitely look a little harsh to some, so I compromised and the overhead bathroom light is "warm" (3500K I think) and for the vanity light (actually a backlit mirror) I went for 5500K.

It is indeed getting harder and harder to find fixtures that take separate bulbs. And when we were looking, it was a nightmare trying to choose based on online info (or mis-info in many cases) so we broke down and visited a local lighting speciality store. In the end it wasn't *that* much more expensive, and we had the advantage of being able to pick far in advance and catch sales, and they stored our fixtures in their warehouse until we were ready to collect.
Peke thanked Brad Smith
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Peke
Original Author
3 years ago
Paul NY, I agree. I hate removing the single glass bowls that cover my ceiling fans' lights. It is amazing how much sheetrock dust can get inside. What a pain! That is a pretty light, but I need a traditional light.

Brad, That is what I read, too. Then, others say you would look like a corpse! LOL

I wasn't sure if I could mix a 3500 K with a 5000 K and what the yellow and white mix would look like. 3500 isn't yellow, but it is compared to the 5000 K.

I live two hours from a lighting showroom, so it is an all day trip, but that is what I will have to do. You are right about the misinformation, but it would be a lot easier to order online for me.

So I will keep looking for lights that take incandescent bulbs, until I can get to a lighting store.

Thanks.
Peke
Original Author
3 years ago
I round a few online today. I have no idea if they are good lights or crappy ones.

Two almost identical lights but with different center chrome looks.

B10 candle, 60 watts, E12 candelabra base, 2 per light.

18" long, horizontally or vertically.

Light with two different shades. Opal white or seeded glass.

Standard bulb, E19, 60 watts, E26 base

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