The overall feel of a bathroom can be greatly impacted by the lighting and mirror components that can either help or hinder the space….in particular, the vanity space. Just as important as choosing great pieces to accent the space, is to install them at the right height to balance with the wall space and vanity being used.

I am currently in the process of working on a bathroom remodeling project for my parents’ master bathroom. One of the best parts to me is selecting lighting and mirror(s) to complete the vanity area of a bathroom. If you are looking to update your own bathroom and want to know just how high to go with hanging each element on the vanity wall, then this guide will help you out. I’ve addressed some of the common questions for different scenarios people are posed with when installing the mirror and lighting above the bathroom vanity…

1

WHICH GOES FIRST — THE LIGHTING OR THE MIRROR?

When preparing to install the light fixtures and mirror above a bathroom vanity, the easiest way to start is with the mirror, as you want to center it on the wall. Standard spacing for a vanity mirror(s) is 5-10 inches from the vanity sink to the bottom of the mirror. That range of spacing allows for height considerations for who the bathroom is intended for so the mirror can be set eye level for the viewer, as well considering the overall size and shape of the mirror itself. Another thing to consider is whether or not the vanity has a backsplash. For instance, my parents’ chosen vanity is a freestanding option without a backsplash. I still opted for about 10 inches apart. Utilizing oval mirrors for their bathroom meant there would not be as much wall space visible once the mirrors were mounted, which is an option to consider if you are concerned about the blank space there. Another point to consider is the height of the faucet. A taller faucet ( about 8 inches tall) can allow for the mirror to go higher if needed, especially if you don’t have a backsplash, which was this case with my recent project. (See examples below for reference.)

2

WHERE DO I PLACE THE LIGHTING?

Once you have the mirror height decided on, in considering the placement for the lighting, the two most common options are either mounted above the vanity mirror(s) or on the sides of the vanity mirror(s).

For mounting above a mirror:

Standard height for the lighting going above a mirror is 75-80” from the floor to the center of the light fixture. As reference, for the recent bathroom renovation, I installed the mirrors at 44 inches from the floor, which is 9 inches between the sink and bottom of mirror. I installed the light fixtures at 75 inches from the floor.

Here is a more detailed vanity layout based on this recent project for reference, with the actual heights I used along with all the other measurements of the elements within the vanity space:

And here is the image just after the mirrors and lights were hung at those heights:

For mounting on the outer side of the mirror:

If you choose to go with light sconces, you are probably going to utilize two for either side of one mirror, two for the other side of two mirrors, or 3 for the outer sides + one in between two mirrors.

Here are some standard heights to consider:

• For the sides of a mirror or mirrors, the standard height to mount a scone is 64 inches from the floor to the bottom of the sconce.

• If making use of two sconces on outer sides of two mirrors, the standard space between the sconces is 36 - 40 inches apart.

• If use a third sconce, center it in the middle between the two mirrors and in line with the other sconces.

3

SHOULD I OPT FOR ONE MIRROR OR TWO MIRRORS FOR A DOUBLE VANITY?

You have the option of either and can’t go wrong either way. The one thing to consider is if you choose to go with two mirrors, you will want to opt for a size that will allow for the mirrors to be centered above each sink, and if you opt for one large mirror, you will will look to find a size that encompasses that space of both sinks. As you can see from the examples below, either option look great.

4

WHAT IF I OPT FOR A WALL MOUNTED FAUCET ?

A popular trend in bathrooms now is mounting the faucet(s) on the wall versus within the sink(s). It is great for single and double vanity spaces. When deciding where to mount, opt or 4-5 inches above the sink and centered with the mirror.

Here is a look of mounting a faucet actually on a wall with a vessel style sink.

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