Installation. Most vanity lights can be mounted with lights pointed up or down. Remember to mount the fixture with the lights pointed up for ambient lighting and pointed down for task lighting.
Both sides of the bathroom mirror.
The American Lighting Association's general rule is to mount them 65 to 70 inches from the floor, at about eye level. This allows light to fully illuminate your entire face without casting shadows.
Whenever possible, vanity fixtures mounted above the mirror should be positioned roughly 78" from the floor, while vanity fixtures mounted to the sides of the mirror should be positioned at about 60" from the floor - or roughly eye-level. Lights in this style should be hung about 28" apart.
If you're looking to light a very large room, upwards-facing lights will be more effective for diffusing light further, whereas downwards-facing lights would be sufficient if you're only lighting a small space. This would, however, also be subject to the primary use of the room.
Vanity lighting tips to make your bathroom shine
Vanity mirror lighting should never overhang the mirror. Make sure the fixture isn't extended past the mirror to avoid down lighting, which will cast shadows on the face. Take advantage of accent lighting to create a warm glow.
Vanity lights should be hung over the mirror and centered on the plumbing. The centerline of the vanity light should be hung 72” above the floor. For taller ceilings, or taller people, that height can increase to 80” but should never exceed that distance.
Many people choose vanity lights that are about 75 percent the width of the mirror and center the light above the mirror. For example: If your mirror is 36 inches wide, 75 percent of that is 27 inches, so a bath bar light of about 26 to 28 inches would work.
For a 60-inch bathroom vanity, the ideal light fixture size is one that is proportional to the size of the vanity. You should aim for a light fixture that is approximately 30-36 inches wide; this is usually two bulb fixtures, such as two wall sconces, two bathroom pendant lights, or a bathroom vanity bar light.
The right bathroom sconce height is between 60 inches to 70 inches from the floor. Choose a height near eye-level to minimize shadows around the face. It's important to make sure the light is evenly placed on each side of the vanity mirror to keep the space looking bright and clear.
For single filament bulbs, the diodes (LED chips) should always be in a side to side orientation, meaning, you should have one set of LED's facing at 3 o'clock and the other set facing at 9 o'clock.
Sconces are the most common form of vanity task lighting. For the most light without any unflattering shadows, we recommend two sconces at or right above eye level to the side of your mirror (or, roughly 60 inches off the ground).
Maximize natural light.
“It's the way people see you in the world.” So make sure window treatments let the light pour in. If you're designing a new home or renovating, the best place to put a bathroom is facing north: light from a northern exposure is indirect, creating a soft, diffused light. Another great trick?
For best results, adjust the position of the mirror light according to your height: one light above the mirror is ideally about 10 cm above your hairline. If you use two lamps on the side, it looks particularly good if the centre of the lamps is at the same height as your eyes.
An easy rule to remember is to pick a lighting fixture that's around three-quarters of your vanity's width. You'll want to center the light above the mirror. The first step is to measure your vanity. How many inches it is will determine the limit of your vanity light's width.
For double-sink vanities or those with wider countertops, a multi-light vanity fixture above mirror can be a good solution—choose a configuration of two, three or four lights—and ensure the light is about three-quarters the width of the mirror or no wider than the cabinet, regardless of how the mirrors are installed.
LED lights are the best choice for a bathroom vanity as they are damp-rated and work well in a high-humidity environment. The bulbs are highly energy efficient and produce a warm light ideal for makeup application.
Height for Bathroom Vanity Lighting
A light fixture that is too high can make the space feel claustrophobic, while a light that is too low can make it difficult to apply makeup or shave.
Rectangular and square mirrors should be centered vertically above the faucet, but each shape may have a different horizontal center. Whichever way you choose to hang them — portrait, landscape or square — try to make sure that you have the same amount of space above the mirror as below.
Choosing the right size
While you want to ensure you have plenty of light, be sure to choose one that is no wider than your vanity or cabinet width, which may be wider than your mirror. Most people choose vanity bar lights that are about 75 percent of the mirror's total width.
In general, aim for a fixture that is 4 inches smaller than the total size of your vanity – essentially 2 inches shorter on each side. Lighting double vanities isn't twice as hard—the key is to match lighting on both vanities for a balanced look. You can: Install matching bar lights over each vanity.
The types of glass available for your lighting with a small budget are clear, white, and milky glass. You also need to take the size of your vanity or sink into account when working with a small budget to ensure that you purchase the correct light fixture(s). A 36-inch vanity will typically take three light fixture.
If you're working with an average-size medicine cabinet or mirror, place two lights on either side of the mirror at eye level, about 65 inches from the floor and a couple inches from the edge of your mirror. For a single light above the mirror, place it around 80 inches from the floor for an ideal height.
The standard width for the mirror to hang over the 60-inch bathroom vanity is 56 inches. By hanging this size mirror above the 60-inch vanity, you will be free to leave two inches of space on either side of the mirror.
Standard spacing for a vanity mirror(s) is 5-10 inches from the vanity sink to the bottom of the mirror. That range of spacing allows for height considerations for who the bathroom is intended for so the mirror can be set eye level for the viewer, as well considering the overall size and shape of the mirror itself.