Recessed light over bathroom sink in addition to side sconces

last year

Working on our master bath new build. We will have side sconces by our bathroom mirrors. We will also have recessed lighting and/or flush light in the center of the room (undecided) Our designer is suggesting putting recessed lights directly over the sink. I've never seen this before so wanted to see if this is something the lighting experts on here typically see?

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PRO

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

last year

I don't think you need it. There's plenty of recessed light elsewhere in the bathroom. For grooming, I think it's best to have the light in front of you to light up your face in the mirror, which the sconces will do just fine. Now, if the sconces your designer is choosing are mostly decorative and don't throw off a lot of light, then maybe an overhead recessed can would be helpful.

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Comments (26)

Sammie J
last year
last modified: last year
We have it and love it. Ours are on their own dimmer switches.
cpartist
last year
I have it in my master bath. It helps tremendously.

You can't see the recessed lights but you can see how they're even lighting up the wall above the mirror. The lights are over each sink.
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I always say "you're going to spend a lot of money remodeling this room, so you might as well do it right." Too often I see folks live with something that is poorly designed (like your sink arrangement) or awkward to use just because that's the way it is. So let's talk about what it would take to "do it right." I think you already know this, so let me confirm that the right-hand sink is too close to the wall. I'm sure somebody is always hitting their arm on that wall -- but we get used to living with situations like this as I mentioned -- or we think it's impossible or way too expensive to change. Moving that sink just a few inches away from the wall could make a huge difference. If you can stop the cabinet-maker, and give yourself permission to replan the vanity with a new sink arrangement, and new countertop, this will allow you to lay out the wall sconces in the right way and get rid of those horizontal strip lights above. (see photo below) You may need to include some additional plumbing and electrical work in your budget, and I realize these costs add up. If you do this, though, I think you will come to believe in time that this was the best decision you made -- and a wise investment -- since your bathroom will function better, feel better and look so much better. Enjoy. ps. If you're planning to strip the tile off that wing wall, I'd close up that recessed medicine cabinet area, too, then add a pullout cabinet with shelves like photos below to hold smaller items. It looks like you have sufficient space to add "his and hers" pullouts -- and the cabinetry could "float" above floor.
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A bathroom needs a GFCI receptacle that is easily accessible by the vanity, but any additional receptacles in the room are optional. I usually use only one GFCI receptacle circuit, but always make sure there is one wall receptacle on the circuit near the entry door (for a vacuum cleaner, etc.). Based on the current popularity of fancy commodes (with bidet, etc.) I may start putting a receptacle near the commode. The counter height GFCI receptacle on the vanity side wall meets the basic requirement for a bathroom. I would probably just move the double GFCI receptacle on the long wall down to standard height and leave it there. That might also be a good location for a heated towel bar. Where to put the sconce is a combination of esthetics and electrical requirements. Most fixtures can be located as close an an inch from a side wall, but might look funny that close. You also need to work around the placement of the medicine cabinet and the swing of its door. The attached picture will give you an idea of what you might need to consider with sconce and medicine cabinet placement. If you look closely you will see that the medicine cabinets are slightly off from the sink bowl center, since that is the only easy way to make them fit with the three sconce lights. The placement of the sink bowls is determined by the vanity (cannot be changed), but lining up with that sink centerline would have cut into the space needed for sconces on each side. The sconces could not be moved farther out because they got too close to the window on the left and the wall on the right. Bruce
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The recessed lights are fine. They are for general lighting. The sconces are the more specific task lighting and will eliminate any shadowing. That’s quite a lot of light, actually. You may want to tweak the wattage of the bulbs later, depending on how it feels after you get it all together. I would also put a dimmer on one or both light switches for late night visits. Tip: address appliance outlets in the vanity while you can - if you haven’t already. If you’re right handed, having the cord strung across the sink is a pain. I had an outlet installed down the right side of the vanity and have my hair dryer on a hook there. You may have a better solution for storage inside, but either way it’s a good time to take care of it.
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PRO
MIRODEMI
last year
Recessed lighting is the best idea! It will perfectly illuminate the sink, so it will be easy to wash.
User
last year
Yes on recessed lights! I didn’t want them at first and just assumed we’d do a flush light in the center. Ours are LED and have 5 different color temps. We have 7 and have them on a dimmer. Mine is centered over my vanity but hubby’s isn’t because we wanted them evenly spaced in the room. Doesn’t bother him a bit tho lol.
everdebz
last year
Great old song called "Windy" -- we won't always be young, so add dimmable lighting now! ;)
chispa
last year
Way too many lights daisy chained together! I would separate each set of sconces. I would also separate the fan and the light in the shower. I would want to be able to dim the light in the shower, specially if showering late at night and don't want that jolt of light.
palimpsest
last year
I would probably forego the central fixture, but keep the recessed lighting over the vanity. But I agree, I would switch the vanity sconces separately and the shower separately and put things on dimmers.

I have a bath that is 4 x slightly under 7 and the overhead light, the vanity lighting and the shower light are all on separate switches and all on dimmers.
3onthetree
last year
The recessed fixture over the sinks is a good addition.

Switching looks fine, it is drawn as such:

- door switch to vanities, linen, and tub recessed

- door switch to all vanity sconces

- toilet switches to fan and recessed

- shower switch to center and bench recessed

- no switch to center ceiling mount shown in middle of bathroom.

You need an exhaust fan for the shower - you can choose a recessed light/fan combo. If you want a fan without the light on then you would need 2 switches for the shower.

I would also forego a central ceiling mounted light in this case.
eclharn
last year
Hi jentstl or cpartist - or anyone else for that matter(!!). Are any of your LED lights on dual dimmer switches? If so, what brand/model did you use?
cpartist
last year
Mine are on dimmer switches but I couldn't tell you what brand.
User
last year
last modified: last year
@eclharn Our 7 lights are on 1 dimmer switch. I’m pretty sure this is the one we used.

Diva Single-Pole/3-Way LED Rocker Light Dimmer Switch, White https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lutron-Diva-LED-Dimmer/1002704132
windyejones
Original Author
last year
Thank you all for the comments! We will add recessed lighting over the vanities. And will work out the switching so that shower/fan is separate.

NEW QUESTION (but it was suggested I continue this thread rather than start a new one) -
1. 3 4” cans in the shower or is 2 enough?
2. Location/quantity of recessed lights in the rest of the bathroom - opinions? PLEASE ASSUME THERE ARE LIGJTS OVER EACH SINK AS WELL.
primary difference from original post is 3 shower lights and removed central light fixture and replaced with one over bathtub.
Anne Duke
last year
I’ve had Leviton for years without problem in the bathroom, kitchen and dining room.
User
last year
I think the lighting plan looks good. I don’t think you want the vanity lights centered on the vanity. Put them so they are slightly behind you when standing at the vanity. Or it causes shadows. Our shower is 5x5 and we have one light/fan combo and it is plenty bright.
cpartist
last year
I think the lighting plan looks good. I don’t think you want the vanity lights centered on the vanity. Put them so they are slightly behind you when standing at the vanity. Or it causes shadows.

Actually you have it backwards. You want the lights in front of you. If behind you, then you'll cast shadows. Mine are over the vanities and it's perfect.

How long is the shower? If it's only about 6' long, you only really need one light over the shower.

And the tub definitely only needs 1 light. Otherwise, it looks good.
everdebz
last year
last modified: last year
One example of putting shape onto the ceiling -

Durango 1-Light Brushed Nickel Interior Semi-Flush Mount · More Info

Dainolite DAY-71W-PC Dayana - One Light Wall Sconce · More Info
windyejones thanked everdebz
everdebz
last year
last modified: last year
Design option - 1 light in center of ceiling - more interesting than 2 recessed, of course Idk what sconces you've planned.....
Staiti 7-Light Semi-Flush Mount, White · More Info

Tanglewood 4-Light Wall Sconce in Satin Chrome with Frosted Glass · More Info

Halton 8 Light Staineless Steel Flushmount Ceiling Fixture · More Info

Acadia 1 Light Wall Sconce, Polished Nickel Finish, White Belgian Linen Shade · More Info
User
last year
@cpartist Yep, I have that backwards :) Ours are just inside the edge of the counter and I find they cause some shadowing when used alone. But I rarely have them on without the sconces on too.
stiley
last year
Another tip is to put your fans on timers so you can set it and forget it. We just did that. The timer for our WC controls the light and fan together, and I wish we had a separate switch for the light.
3onthetree
last year
last modified: last year
The revised lighting with (3) 4" cans in the shower is too much - 1 can is sufficient. Still no exhaust fan.

The revised lighting replaced the ceiling mount central room fixture with 2 recessed cans. Too much - the basic ambient lighting of the small room will be covered by the two vanity recessed, the bathtub light, and the Linen recessed which are all switched together.

The revised lighting replaced the 2 recessed over the bathtub with a single ceiling mount fixture (probably chandelier). This would have very specific code requirements - what you typically see in Pinterest photos is against code.
windyejones thanked 3onthetree
3onthetree
last year
last modified: last year
I peeked at your old threads - is the shower still steam? That could explain not having an exhaust fan. Be cognizant of taking regular showers though, and/or your necessity of having a fan outside the shower.
cpartist
last year
@cpartist Yep, I have that backwards :) Ours are just inside the edge of the counter and I find they cause some shadowing when used alone. But I rarely have them on without the sconces on too.

Same here. In fact I didn't bother putting the sconces on a separate switch from the overhead at the sink so wouldn't know if they cast shadows alone.
windyejones thanked cpartist
windyejones
Original Author
last year
@3onthetree

The revised lighting with (3) 4" cans in the shower is too much - 1 can is sufficient. Still no exhaust fan. Agree - shower is about 5'x5' - I could see maybe 2 lights - one over the bench and one in center - but not 3.

The revised lighting replaced the ceiling mount central room fixture with 2 recessed cans. Too much - the basic ambient lighting of the small room will be covered by the two vanity recessed, the bathtub light, and the Linen recessed which are all switched together. - Don't think they will all be switched together - I think vanity sconces and maybe the recessed over the vanity (based on cpartist comments) will be switched separately

The revised lighting replaced the 2 recessed over the bathtub with a single ceiling mount fixture (probably chandelier). This would have very specific code requirements - what you typically see in Pinterest photos is against code. Correct - according to electrician they do this all the time and just change it after inspection or something like that? Electrician suggested the chandelier/(or something flush likely because 8' ceilings) over the tub and DH and I thought that sounded nice.

Yes - re: steam shower - and there is a fan already in place in the main bathroom - it's just not noted on this plan. My designers aren't updating all of the plans exactly on their end, so they didn't note it on here. But it's already roughed in.
windyejones
Original Author
last year
@cpartist And the tub definitely only needs 1 light. Otherwise, it looks good. The tub light, FYI, is flush/semi flush fixture and not recessed light, FYI.
3onthetree
last year
"Agree - shower is about 5'x5' - I could see maybe 2 lights - one over the bench and one in center"

Originally I agreed with the two, if they are 3" or 2" fixtures without a fan. But for 4", I think if the bench is used for relaxation during a steam shower, then evaluate if it might be intrusive to have a bright light shining down directly on your head.

"Don't think they will all be switched together - I think vanity sconces and maybe the recessed over the vanity (based on cpartist comments) will be switched separately"

I like the 3 recessed lights all switched together, and 4 sconces with their own switch, because there are many times you are in the bathroom and not at the sink working on your face. Evaluate how many switches you will have if you also separate out the tub or linen on their own.

"according to electrician they do this all the time and just change it after inspection"

o . . kay. . . yes it's common but you won't hear a professional suggesting that on record.