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Lighting Design Dilemma Bathrooms

Maximum number of bathroom switches?

last year

Hello,

I'm having a small bathroom built (about 6' x 8') and want to put 2 wall sconces on the sides of the vanity mirror, one ceiling light over the sink for when I need better lighting (there are no windows in the room), one light over the shower and a bathroom fan. I'd like each item to have its own switch. For example, I don't necessarily want the overhead light on when the shower light is on. I'd like to be able to have only the sconces on at night. The fan needs its own switch I think (it's in the center of the bathroom). Do you know if there would be any reason not to have 4 switches put in (i.e. building codes, cost)? Thank you.

Featured Answer

artemis78

last year

No reason not to switch them separately, and in our state we're actually required to switch the fan and fan light separately, if they are a combo unit. But aesthetically, I might consider multifunction switches that combine switches into a single box--so you get the functionality of switching them separately but not four different boxes on the wall. For that you'd want to consider where you might want to turn each on (e.g., our fan and overhead light are in the same box in between the shower and entry door since we turn them both on for a shower, and our sconces are switched at the vanity). Also consider whether your local code requires things like vacancy sensors or humidity sensors, which might influence which switches you choose.

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Comments (8)

PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
In my bathroom, I've got one switch for the vanity lights, one for the recessed lights (including the shower) and one for the fan. Seems like overkill to have the shower light have it's own switch, but there's nothing preventing you from doing it code-wise.
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WestCoast Hopeful
last year
Same as Sabrina.
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chispa
last year
last modified: last year
Not overkill at all. I like having more options and flexibility to control the lighting. We have done exactly that when we have remodeled or built bathroom. My secondary bathrooms have 4 switches (sconces, recessed, shower and fan).

Can you separate them? I have the shower light and fan ganged next to the shower door. The sconces and recessed lights are ganged next to the vanity and bathroom door. Don't forget to put all the lights on dimmers too.

I have 8 switches in my master bathroom, but they are in 4 different groups/locations.
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cpartist
last year
My secondary bath has a switch for vanity and overhead light, a switch for the shower light and a switch for the fan.
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palimpsest
last year
I have five switches in each bathroom and one bathroom is 4x7. Both bathrooms have a gang of four and a single.

Ceiling light(s)

Fan

Shower light

Vanity sconces

Towel warmer.

The guest bathroom has a wall switch inside the door for the ceiling lights and the others are all next to the toilet and labeled. In the ensuite, the towel warmer is separate and they are ranked from closest to the door: Ceiling/sconces/shower/exhaust.
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ccav thanked palimpsest
Helen
last year
On the topic of bathroom lights, I have one set of overhead lights that go on and off automatically based on motion detection, These are required in bathrooms in California and I really love this feature - They can be turned on with the wall switch as well.

I have a lot of switches for my master bath - sconces, fan, two sets of canned lights plus one can light in the shower. I almost never use any of the switches except when I take a shower

Also my ceiling fan is also automatic and turns on and off based on ambient moisture levels. It is another great feature and can be turned on manually but I never have - only accidentally when I was learning which switch operated which thing.
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PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
last modified: last year
Just as important is to have enough outlets and circuits for all the electrical small personal appliances kept in the bathroom these days.

Don't simply assume the electrician knows what to install because he likely uses no electrical appliances in the bathroom.

I have a
- electric makeup mirror
- hair dryer
- electric toothbrush
- electric waterpik
- electric curlers
- electric curling iron
- electric air brush
- electric shaver
- numerous other items that have to be recharged using a USB outlet
All these items except the two items have oversized plugs that do not allow me to plug in two items at the same time.

Consider recessed medicine cabinets on side walls if you have them.

I have 5 times the amount of product for my face that I had 30 years ago so storage is a necessity.
0
ccav thanked BeverlyFLADeziner

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