Vanity Lighting Ideas: 14 Ways to Upgrade Your Bathroom
Elevate this bathroom essential.
Combining both form and function, vanity lighting can easily transform the look and feel of your bathroom. You can play around with the shape, size, or placement to create a unique vanity lighting design. We've collected a list of 14 vanity lighting ideas to inspire your next bathroom refresh.
Tip!
Not sure which type of lighting would work best for your bathroom? Check out our guide Bathroom Light Fixtures: How to Choose the Right One to find helpful info on types of bathroom light fixtures and proper placement.
1. Make It Minimal
For modern bathrooms, choosing pared-back vanity lighting feels intuitive. Pick simple silhouettes that still feel inviting and provide the right amount of lighting to illuminate your vanity. To achieve this vanity lighting idea, aim for restraint with minimalist globe-shaped sconces like the ones above.
Opt for ambience with vanity lighting that projects light both up and down. Combining the perks of an uplight and a task light, these sconces provide a balanced amount of light to keep your vanity well-lit. Choose sconces in a finish that matches the wall tile to elevate the space even further.
Give your bathroom a cohesive feel by coordinating the finishes throughout the space. From oil-rubbed bronze to polished brass to matte black, it's easy to find a stylish finish that matches the aesthetic of your bathroom. The matte black finishes in the photo above create a united feel between the vanity lights, shower fixtures, and bathroom hardware.
When working with two single vanities instead of one double vanity, you'll want to light each vanity individually. The gap between two vanities is often too large to use one single vanity light, so picking two matching lights offers ample lighting for each vanity.
Choosing playful bathroom fixtures can make your everyday routines feel less drab. Complement a patterned backsplash or funky bathroom vanity with unique vanity lighting. Look for fixtures with statement-making silhouettes or unexpected shapes to give your space some eclectic flair.
While sconces are a staple for vanity lighting ideas, two pendant lights can create a stylish statement. Plus, they provide plenty of illumination to fill your whole bathroom, combining the functionality of overhead and vanity lighting. Pick pendants with domed metal shades for a bit of drama, or go for fixtures with sheer glass shades to create a soft glow.
Tip!
Make sure to choose pendant lights that are rated for damp locations to make sure they're safe to use in bathrooms.
7. Play With Proportions
The placement and proportion of vanity lighting can also impact the overall look of your vanity. You can help connect the vanity and vanity mirror by playing with the scale of your vanity lighting. In the photo above, the elongated wall sconces help bridge the visual gap between the vertical mirror and wide vanity.
The shade material can be another thing you'll need to consider when choosing the right fixture for your vanity lighting idea. Metal will give your wall sconces a task-oriented feel with its more focused light, while glass or fabric can provide a more diffused look depending on its opacity. The sconces in the photo above have a semi-sheer glass shade that gives the space a warm, soft glow for a very flattering light for you to enjoy while getting ready.
Mix modern with modern by pairing a wall-mounted vanity with a pair of sleek wall sconces. In the photo above, the combination of the globe-shaped shades and rectangular base makes this sconce stylish and unconventional.
Whether your style leans more classic or contemporary, torchiere wall sconces add that boost of elegance you might be craving. The timeless silhouette can be modified to feel modern – just choose a simplified silhouette, shiny brass finish, or a clean-lined lampshade.
If two won't do, go for three wall sconces to give your double vanity the proper illumination. To ensure the space doesn't feel overwhelmed by three sconces, look for fixtures that feel seamless by matching the shapes, finishes, or details seen throughout the bathroom. In the photo above, the rounded gold sconces mirror the gold faucets and rounded hardware.
When lighting double vanities, centering one vanity light above the vanity mirrors can help create symmetry. Go for a fixture that has several lights to make sure that your space is well-lit, or pair the vanity light with extra overhead lighting for a layered lighting design.
Why match finishes when you can incorporate a mix? Choose light fixtures that combine two finishes used in the bathroom to draw them together. In the photo above, the gold-and-black wall sconces perfectly unite the black and gold finishes across the bathroom.
Make a statement by placing two pendant lights off to one side of the vanity. The asymmetrical look feels chic, especially when paired with additional overhead lighting.
