Bathroom Vanity Lighting – How Not to Look Like Dracula

Tom Farin Interior Design, Lighting Tips, Residential Lighting

Recessed downlights should not be used to light your face while standing at a mirror in your bathroom because the light coming from these fixtures will only cause harsh shadows on your face. Instead, wall-mounted vanity light fixtures attached above the mirror and/or on both sides of the mirror, or backlit vanity mirrors (a very neat option – especially if wall space is limited) should be used. That way, shadows on your face can be minimized. Recessed downlights can be used in other parts of the bathroom for general lighting but not for task lighting at the sink area – unless, of course, you want to look years older or like Bella Lugosi in makeup.

Round halogen backlit vanity mirror.

Square fluorescent backlit vanity mirror.

Tom Farin

Tom Farin is the founder of Pegasus Lighting. Dr. Farin has been in the field of lighting since 1987. He has extensive training and experience in lighting, physics, mathematics and education, acquired at the undergraduate level, in graduate school, and in the field. It is Dr. Farin's interest and expertise in education that has driven the overall design of the www.PegasusLighting.com site - with its heavy emphasis on lighting terminology, lighting techniques, and thorough information on each lighting product.

7 thoughts to “Bathroom Vanity Lighting – How Not to Look Like Dracula”

  1. Pingback: Quick Fixes for Bathroom Annoyances | Pegasus Lighting Blog

  3. I’m interested in the mirrors for bathroom that have the bult in fluorescent lights…..can these be put on a dimmer switch?

  5. In addition to needing a special (expensive) dimmable ballast, fluorescent lamps also require a special fluorescent dimmer.

  6. I need a vanity mirror that is 24″ wide & 36″ long and would like back lit lighting. Do you offer anything like this? I am on a budgit and dont know if I can afford. Do you have any ideas?

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