Vanity Lighting

1. Humidity, moisture, and electricity often don't mix. Light fixtures for bathrooms should be certified for "damp locations" by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Any light fixture in the splash zone near a shower or bathtub should carry the UL seal for "wet locations."

2. You can brighten a bathroom by going from a 3-light fixture to a 5-light. Or, we have bathroom wall lights available in numerous styles and sizes. Either option should transform a dim bathroom.

3. Because of their reflective relationship, light and mirrors can be tricky. For best results, a light should be almost as wide as the mirror, if you're working with double-sink vanities. We recommend mounting it 78 inches above the floor, above the mirror, in its center.

4. If you're lighting more than 100 square feet of bathroom, you may need additional wall sconces and light fixtures to achieve the look you want. But most small bathrooms can be lit adequately by vanities with three incandescent bulbs.

5. Inadequate and improper lighting of your bathroom mirror can cast shadows on your reflection. Wall sconces can help. We offer a wide selection of wall sconces - both contemporary and traditional - to match your bathroom's style and decor.

6. You're using your bathroom vanity and mirror to get ready, and so the right lighting is key. Vanity-light bars - you've seen them in movies, as the stars put on their makeup before the big show - can give you the kind of illumination you're looking for. These bars often go above and/or along the sides of your vanity mirror.

7. While installing your bathroom wall light fixture, be sure to test it. It should shine where you will stand when grooming or getting ready. This is the spot the light is to illuminate. Make sure there will be no shadows on your face.

8. Incandescent bulbs with plastic or glass diffusers will offer the most flattering light for bathroom light fixtures, while frosted bulbs will give off less glare. If you are going with fluorescent bulbs, warm, white-toned ones will perform most like incandescent options.

9. Natural light is often your best accessory, and should be used to complement your electric bathroom light fixtures. If utilized to the fullest, you may not need to flip the light switch in the daytime. Frosted glass offers maximum privacy also taking advantage of outdoor light.