Thursday, March 26, 2009

Bathroom Vanity Lighting Ideas

Bathroom Vanity


Lighting can transform your vanity and give your bathroom a modern and updated appearance. Enhancing a bathroom vanity with lights such as wall sconces or track lighting is an affordable way to jazz up your bathroom. If you have space on top of your vanity, consider adding accent lamps.


The Basics


If your goal is to provide a lot of light around your vanity, install lights that can handle a high watt bulb. Fixtures that shift the light down, such as track and recessed lighting, work well around a vanity where you need a lot of light. Wall lights such as sconces work well above the vanity and come in a wide range of designs. Consider adding a dimmer to allow you to adjust the brightness as needed.


Lighting Ideas


Bathroom vanities are the main hub of a bathroom and often require a lot of light around the sink and mirror area. An attractive and modern idea for lights around the vanity is track lighting. Track lighting handles LED bulbs, which last longer than a typical bulb and use less energy. Easily replaced, LED track lighting bulbs are made of hard plastic, making them very durable. Not only are the lights adjustable, but you can also find track designed to bend, allowing you to create your own design.


If your goal is to provide a cozy and warm feel, try installing lamps on either side of the vanity. Lamps work well in guest bathrooms that are smaller and are used less frequently. Because they come in so many different designs, you can mix and match the base and shade to get a one-of-a-kind lamp. Installing three-way bulbs will also allow you to adjust the amount of light on your vanity.








For an elegant and bold approach, install a chandelier above the vanity. Chandeliers can illuminate large rooms and come in many designs. The most popular are crystal and glass, however many home improvement stores carry them in wrought-iron, which are affordable. Check out your local thrift store and flea markets for old chandeliers to spruce up. With a can of spray paint, you can bring it back to life without breaking your budget.


Wall sconces provide lighting around a bathroom mirror and come in a variety of designs. The most affordable are the single sconces, however three and four-lighted sconces are popular above mirrors. If you have single sconces, consider installing them on either side of the vanity. For extra light, add a triple three-light sconce above the mirror.

Tags: your vanity, track lighting, work well, above vanity, allow adjust, around vanity