Guide For Bathroom Lights: Vanity and Wall Sconce Ideas
Discover bathroom lighting ideas with vanity lights and wall sconces. Tips on size, placement, dimmers, and color temperature for a bright, flattering, and stylish space.
If you’re planning a bathroom makeover, one thing that can make or break your room design is getting the right light. Today I’m sharing my favorite bathroom vanity lighting and wall sconce ideas to inspire you!
This bathroom lighting guide contains affiliate links, but nothing that I wouldn’t recommend wholeheartedly. Read my full disclosure here.
Bathroom lighting matters more than you think
When we’re talking about lighting fixtures in bathroom spaces, there’s a lot that can be said. Let me start by saying, your choice of a bathroom light fixture is not something to be overlooked. Let’s be honest. You do a lot in the bathroom… besides the obvious.
You need the bathroom to be well-lit, more so than other rooms in your home. If the bathroom isn’t lit well, you’ll have trouble showering, applying makeup or doing your hair. But, you also don’t want your bathroom to feel like a hospital operating room with harsh lights that don’t feel in the least bit cozy.
Bathroom lighting basics
When you’re planning your bathroom lights, it is important to have layers of light. You’ll need both ambient lighting AND task lighting.
Yes, you need both an overhead light (think recessed lights or flush-mount light with a fan) and you also need your bathroom mirror to have proper lighting (with a vanity light above the mirror and/or wall sconces on the sides of the mirror).
In this guide, I’m giving you ideas for both bathroom wall sconces and vanity lights (over the mirror). I’m not covering the bathroom ceiling lights because usually they are simple recessed lights or some flush mount lights that are very style-neutral.
Color temperature of light bulbs: why it is important
It’s not just the light fixture that you need to choose in your bathroom. You also need to choose the right type of light bulb to put in the fixture. It’s all part of a good lighting plan.
I could talk about light sources and color temperature and how it matters in interior design all day…but I’ll spare you. Here’s a quick summary so you can make a good decision when shopping for your bathroom lights.
Warm White (2700–3000K)
- Soft, yellow glow
- Cozy, not super bright
- Not great for makeup or shaving
- Best for a small powder room or guest baths
Soft White (3000–3500K)
- Clean and natural
- The sweet spot
- Most flattering for faces
- Bright enough for bathrooms without feeling harsh
- Best choice for everyday bathrooms
Daylight (4000–5000K)
- Bright and blue-toned
- Great for task lighting
- Can feel harsh fast
- Could be used in a bathroom with zero natural light… (but I’d still probably go with soft white and just make sure we have more lights so it gets adequately lit)
Dimmers: necessary or extra?
When you’re planning a bathroom renovation or build, you may not think that it is worth the extra hassle or expense to add dimmers to your bathroom lights. But dimmers are always a good idea.
With dimmers, you can future-proof your bathroom lights… here’s what I mean. Adding additional lights at the beginning is always easier than adding a light fixture to a room later. I’d much rather have too many bathroom lights that can be dimmed down rather than ending up with a bathroom that is too dark with not enough lights.
But here’s the thing about dimmers. You need to make sure that the bathroom lights you are buying are dimmable, and it is recommended that you get the correct/matching dimmer for that light so that all the electrical is not a problem. Most important thing here is that the total wattage of your lights matches your dimmer, so it doesn’t buzz or flicker. When in doubt, most lighting brands list compatible dimmers right on the product page.
- Choose dimmable fixtures and bulbs whenever possible.
- More lights now = fewer headaches later. It’s easier to dim extra lights than to add a new fixture later.
- Dimmers let you adjust brightness for morning routines, relaxing baths, or late-night trips.
- Pro tip: Even a single dimmer can make your bathroom feel custom and high-end without spending a fortune.
Bathroom vanity lighting ideas
One option for your bathroom lights is to add a vanity light over the mirror. This is usually the route that I go with because it doesn’t require a lot of extra wall space, so you can make it work in small bathrooms. It is also very budget-friendly to use a vanity light.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Easy swap
- A lot of options out there in a variety of styles, so you can find what you need
- Good for smaller bathrooms
Cons:
- Shadows if placed too high
- Shouldn’t be the only light in the room
Vanity light size + placement tips
Width matters
- Choose a fixture about 70–80% of your mirror width
- Never wider than the vanity
Height sweet spot
- Mount 75–80 inches from the floor
- Or about 3–5 inches above the mirror
Bulb direction
- Clear bulbs facing down or outward
- Avoid straight-up light (shadows are worse)
Double vanity rule
- One light per mirror looks best
- Or go with sconces if wall space allows
Vanity light ideas: source list
- Gable 3 Light Frosted Shades, Birch Lane
- Black Farmhouse Vanity Light, Walmart
- Green Glass Globe Light, Amazon
- Meredith Black Vanity Light, Lowe’s
- Goldson Brushed Gold Light, Lowe’s
- Depner Ribbed Glass Light, Birch Lane
- Damiana Bath Vanity Light, Birch Lane
- Mystic Gold Vanity Light, Birch Lane
- Attamore Black and Gold Light, Birch Lane
- Zadie Midcentury Bathroom Light, Lowe’s
- Gold Brass Light with Flower Shades, Amazon
- Nolan Black Light, Lowe’s
Bathroom sconce lighting ideas
Wall sconces on each side of a mirror are a great idea in a bathroom when space allows. They give the most even, flattering light and instantly make a bathroom feel more custom and high-end. They do need a little more planning, but the payoff is usually worth it.
Pros:
- Best lighting for faces
- Fewer shadows
- Great way to make the bathroom look high-end
- Great for double vanities
Cons:
- Requires more wall space
- Usually costs more than one vanity light (because you need more of them)
- Harder to add after the fact
Wall sconce size + placement tips
Best placement
- Install one sconce on each side of the mirror
- This balances light and avoids harsh shadows
- For a double vanity with two bathroom mirrors, use three… one in the middle and one on each end
Height matters
- Center of the sconce 60–65 inches from the floor
- Or roughly eye level
Size of sconce
- You want the goldilocks… Not too big, but not too small
- For a standard mirror, pick sconces that are about 1/3–1/2 the mirror’s width
Distance from the mirror
- Place sconces 3–6 inches from the mirror edge
- Close enough to light your face, not the wall
Wall sconce ideas: source list
- Gold Vintage Glass Sconce, Amazon
- Tavernier Wall Sconce, Birch Lane
- Brass Wall Lantern, Amazon
- Claxy 2-Light Modern Light, Amazon
- Moon Brushed Gold Wall Light, Lowe’s
- Berlant Black Wall Sconce, Lowe’s
- Lindholm Armed Wall Sconce, Birch Lane
- Textured Glass Wall Light, Amazon
- Newham Black Transitional Light, Lowe’s
- Hinkley Helene Sconce, Birch Lane
- Odessa Wall Sconce Light, Lowe’s
- Aero Antique Brass Sconce, Lowe’s
- Green Glass Flower Shade Light, Walmart
- Pearson Pleated Shade, Birch Lane
Final tips
Good bathroom lighting is all about function + style. Pick the right fixture, size, and place it correctly, layer in sconces or vanity lights, and don’t forget dimmers and light bulb temperature.
Further reading or bathrooms & lighting:
