Vanity Light and Its Detail

Vanity lighting

Vanity lighting includes any light that is installed above the bathroom sink, commonly on either side or top of the mirror. The drain may or may not have a vanity cabinet surrounding it, and the mirror may be installed against the wall or part of a functional medicine cabinet; Lighting needs remain the same.

Ideally, the vanity will be just one component of a bathroom lighting scheme. Like any other room, the bathroom benefits from layers of light: ambient, task, and accent lighting. While some smaller or less designed bathrooms rely solely on overhead lighting (often a flush mount), others may have only vanity lighting to illuminate the space. The latter is preferable, as it may have vanity lights that function as general and task lighting.

How many led lights do you need?

The led lighting for the bathroom vanity, you select depends on the size and design of the pride you are working with this. For a single-sink vanity, use a pair of wall sconces to flank the mirror for the evenest lighting. The American Lighting Association recommends that wall sconces be mounted at a distance of approximately 28 "- 30", and about 60 "- 70" in height from the bottom of the sconce to the floor (almost at eye level). This design ensures the most even (and flattering) lighting for all toilet tasks.

What kind of lights do you need?

The style of vanity lighting you select depends mainly on aesthetic preferences, and there are almost endless options. Note that the lights mounted along the sides of a mirror provide more even illumination than those on the top of the mirrors, and the asymmetry creates shadows. Avoid overhead lighting when possible, especially recessed lights, to avoid shadows that can make toilet tasks difficult.

For difficult architecture or limited wall space, consider mounting lights directly to the mirror surface, observing the ALA recommended measurements. Hanging a pair of pendants on either side of the mirror acts as wall sconces without the required wall bracket. Frosted bulbs, globes, or glass offer even more light diffusion to counter any unwelcome shadow play on the dresser. Finally, in half-baths or vanities, or anywhere the sink is placed in an alcove with no wall space on the sides, try mounting wall sconces perpendicular to the pan, reposition toward the mirror.

What kind of lights do you need?

Depending on the building codes where your project is located, there may be specific lighting requirements you should be aware of that. For example, in some jurisdictions, light fixtures within 6 feet of a tub or shower must have a humidity rating. This is a safe rule of thumb for bathroom lighting, although most well-ventilated bathrooms are not considered wet environments.

Essential considerations for bathroom vanities

Many modern bathroom vanity lights use LEDs as their primary light source, making them ideal for energy efficiency, performance, longevity, and design considerations. However, with high technology comes a more significant number of technical specifications. Pay attention to numbers like Color Rendering Index (CRI) and Color Temperature (Kelvin). Briefly, CRI is concerned with how well lighting colors your eye - look for a higher CRI (at least 90) to see the skin, makeup, and most realistic hair color in the mirror. Color temperature is classified on the Kelvin scale and refers to how warm or cold light appears (the warmest is firelight, the coldest is blue light). For most indoor applications, LED lighting should be approximately 2700K - 3000K and no more than 3500K. This is the closest rating to a standard incandescent light bulb, which our eyes are used to. Our LED Lighting Buyer's Guide delves into this topic.