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.
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.
Hang the mirror a few inches above the highest part of the faucet. Center the mirror in between the vanity lighting and the sink.
Vanity Lighting Fixtures
The most common mistake people make is putting recessed ceiling fixtures directly over the mirror. These cast shadows on the face, making daily grooming rituals more difficult. Vertical fixtures or sconces mounted on either side of the mirror are best for casting an even light across the face.
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.
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.
If you're installing fixtures for the first time over your sink, make sure they hang 30 to 40 inches above the counter. Even with small sinks, you should follow the same rule. You'll also want to use water-safe lights given their proximity to water.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Mirror Lighting Goals:
Placing lights on the wall all around the mirror will give you the best possible outcome, however wall mounted lighting from above or the sides will give good even lighting for when going about your daily rituals of shaving, applying make-up and going about skin care regimes.
Vanity lights should be placed 65 to 70 inches above the floor, and usually on either side of the vanity mirror to allow for proper lighting for makeup and the sink area.
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.
For double vanities with two mirrors, use three lights total with one in between. You can even use hanging pendant lights in place of the sconces if wall mounting presents a problem. Place your sconces or pendant lights between 65 and 70 inches above the floor, or at about eye level.
Allow 4 inches of space on either side of the mirror that you want to flank with sconces. That 4 inches provides the space for the sconce's electrical panel. Here are some visual examples of great bathroom lighting with sconces.
As a general guideline, vanity lights should be at least 75% of the width of the vanity or wider to ensure adequate illumination. For example, if your vanity is 36 inches wide, your vanity lights should be at least 27 inches wide.
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.
We've heard so much about the strain blue light from indoor lighting and screens can place on our eyes, but I'm here to tell you that it also has an effect on the aging process! That's right- too much screen time could be making you look older.
4 Bathroom Light
A 4 light fixture is simply a step up from the 3 light fixture. Typically, a four-light vanity fixture will be installed over a vanity sink that ranges from 48 to 72 inches.
As a general rule, a mirror (or combination of mirrors) should be an inch or two smaller than the width of the vanity counter.
Calculate Lighting Placement
A good general rule for placement is to divide the height of the ceiling by two. The result is the amount of space to leave between each light. For example, recessed lighting spacing for a room with an 8-foot-high ceiling would be 4 feet between each light.
Sconces and Shades
Sconces create a punctuating light statement at any point in the bathroom. Be sure to use them in pairs around the vanity, one on either side for balance. Single installations can be placed in other areas as supplemental light.
The Lowest Recommended Elevation
If no very tall individuals will use your kitchen sink, allow at least 30 inches between the bottom of your light fixture and the counter surface. If the base cabinets in your kitchen stand less than 36 inches tall, you'll want more clearance.
Many designers agree that centering a kitchen sink under a window is the optimum placement, it often looks tailored and well-planned, however, this is not always practical. If you have a small kitchen with very little room for large reconfigurations, you may have more limited options in terms of optimum sink placement.