Choosing the best bathroom vanity lighting requires balancing dimensions, design and desired task lighting.
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Explore Top LED Bathroom Vanity Lights for Modern Elegance
Updated on Sep. 19, 2024
Finding the optimal lights for a bathroom can be tricky, especially the best bathroom vanity lighting, since they’re equal parts design and task lighting. The right lighting helps people with delicate bathroom tasks, such as applying makeup, shaving, general grooming and tweezing barely-there hairs. It can also make you feel confident before heading out for the day.
When lighting a small space, like a bathroom vanity, it’s essential to think about the layout of the area. Bathrooms can be dark rooms, especially when there’s no window, or the lights are incorrectly placed. Choosing the best bathroom lights and positioning them for maximum effect is key.
“It’s always important to have layers of lighting in any space,” says Ariana Lovato, the owner and principal designer of Honeycomb Home Design. The vanity lights should be functional lighting but still decorative. I always prefer a wall-mounted sconce at eye level because it will provide the most functional, flattering lighting.” Read on to find the best bathroom vanity lighting options to suit every style and space.
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Best Overall Bathroom Vanity Lighting
Pottery Barn Monroe Quintuple Sconce
Simple meets industrial-inspired with the Monroe Sconce. If you’ve got or are dreaming of a bathroom full of white subway tile and barn wood accents, then this sconce is a top-choice for your style. With five bulbs, this will throw bright light right over your vanity. It’s offered in black, black and brass and chrome finishes to accommodate your other hardware. Edison bulbs make this fixture really glow, and it’s compatible with a dimmer.
Pros
- Compatible with a dimmer switch
- Available in multiple finishes
- Designed to withstand moisture
Cons
- On the expensive side
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Most Versatile Bathroom Vanity Lighting
ExBrite Crystal Vanity Lights Wall Sconces
This vanity light earns a spot on this list because it offers an aesthetic that’s increasingly difficult to find. The simple, timeless design works well for people with historic or older homes, as well as those looking for a fixture that matches a mid-century modern or contemporary design. The high-quality black metal, gold details and transparent crystal lampshades make this piece work in a range of bathrooms.
Pros
- Can be mounted upwards or downwards
- Has crystal lampshades and gold details
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Some reviewers complained about quality
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Best LED Bathroom Vanity Lighting
Stix LED Vanity Light
For the ultimate minimalist modern pick with a slim profile, the Stix LED Vanity Light has you covered. The metal and acrylic fixture comes in three finishes (white, black and aluminum) and four sizes (18, 24, 32 and 40 inches). Damp-rated and dimmable, it’ll work safely in bathrooms and powder rooms. It packs a stylish punch and throws a CRI of 90 and a temperature of 3,000K. This vanity light bar works to illuminate large mirrors for your most important bathroom tasks.
Pros
- Has energy-efficient LED lighting source
- Minimalist design
- Available in three finishes
Cons
- Expensive
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Best Splurge Bathroom Vanity Lighting
Melange Pill Form Wall Sconce
This sophisticated, yet playful, wall sconce comes from maximalist interiors master designer, Kelly Wearstler. It’s natural alabaster stone, curved into an oversized pill shape and ringed with sleek, aged bronze, brass or polished-nickel metal. It looks natural placed vertically on either side of a medicine cabinet while emitting a warm, flattering light—almost like frosted glass. The fixture can also be installed horizontally if the space calls for it.
Pros
- Expertly-designed high-end piece
- Hides the light sources
- Available in three finishes
Cons
- Very expensive
- Must be paired with LED bulbs
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Best Two-Light Sconce Bathroom Vanity Lighting
West Elm Mobile Two-Light Sconce
This barbell-style sconce, which can be installed vertically or horizontally, is super hot right now, so it earns top marks for trendiness and versatility. Thanks to its damp rating, it’s smart for humid bathrooms and should last a long time. It comes in four finishes: polished chrome, black and brass two-tone, antique brass and antique bronze. With two 60-watt bulbs, it can throw up to 120 watts of clear, warm light in the space. It can be paired with a dimmer switch, too.
Pros
- Two bulbs provide plenty of light
- Can be mounted vertically or horizontally
- Available in four finishes
- A modern take on an industrial design
- Designed to withstand moisture
Cons
- Professional installation recommended
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Best Bathroom Vanity Lighting for Small Spaces
Commee Four-Light Dimmable Vanity Light
For an updated take on the classic Hollywood globe-bulb mirrors, this vanity bar light nails it. The warm four-bulb light provides the right illumination for applying makeup, and the shape easily takes it into a more stylistically versatile era. The bar fixture has some design, but not enough to overpower a petite room. It could fit in a bathroom or powder room with an art deco, Hollywood Regency or even traditional design.
Pros
- 24-inch compact design
- Won’t break the bank
- Can be mounted vertically or horizontally
Cons
- Only available in black
