Bathroom lighting guide: vanity lights, sconces and color

Bathroom lighting has one job most rooms do not: lighting a face evenly, without shadows, for shaving and makeup. That comes down to where the light sits, not just how bright it is.

Sconces or a bar light?

Sconces on either side of the mirror, at about face height (60" to 66"), light the face from both sides with almost no shadows: the best choice for grooming. A bar light above the mirror works when the wall is too narrow for sconces; mount it around 75" to 80" from the floor.

Size

A bar light should be about three quarters of the mirror width and never wider than the vanity. Sconces go roughly 36" to 40" apart. The vanity light calculator sizes both for your vanity.

How bright

Plan about 70 to 80 lumens per square foot around the vanity and put the main light on a dimmer for night use. The lumens calculator does the math for the whole room.

Color temperature and CRI

Pick 2700K to 3000K for warm, flattering light, or 3500K for a crisper look. Look for a CRI of 90 or higher so skin tones and makeup look true.

Damp and wet ratings

Bathroom fixtures should be damp-rated. Anything inside or over the shower needs a wet-rated fixture, usually a recessed shower trim.

Do not forget

• A light in or near the shower.
• A properly sized exhaust fan, ideally on a humidity sensor.
• A nightlight or low toe-kick light for night trips.

Swapping a fixture

Replacing a vanity light on the same box is a quick job. In New Hampshire our Keene crew does quick light fixture installs on fixtures you buy from us.

Common questions

How high should bathroom sconces be?

About 60" to 66" from the floor, near eye level, on either side of the mirror.

What color temperature is best for a bathroom?

2700K to 3000K with a CRI of 90 or higher for flattering, accurate light.

How wide should a vanity light be?

About three quarters of the mirror width, and never wider than the vanity.