
7 Best Ways to Light a Bathroom Vanity
Posted on December 11, 2025Having a properly lit bathroom vanity is an important part of any bathroom. Whether you’re doing a simple remodel or adding a brand new bathroom to your home, lighting is a necessary part of the project. Making sure you can see everything well for specific tasks can make your bathroom experience so much better. Here are some of the best ways to light a bathroom vanity:
- Try modern slim sconces.
- Choose lamp shades with clear glass.
- Consider adding a textured shade.
- Light with pendant lights.
- Backlight the mirror.
- Layer your lighting.
- Try spotlights above the vanity.
1. Try Modern Slim Sconces
To add a bit of drama to your bathroom vanity, try choosing sconces in a tall, slim shape. Sconces are one of the most popular bathroom lighting options because they come in so many different designs. Slim sconces will draw the eyes up, creating height in your bathroom. To bring your room together, pick sconces that have a finish that either matches or contrasts with other accents in your bathroom.
2. Choose Lamp Shades With Clear Glass
If you want to keep your bathroom palette monochrome or simply update a bathroom a bit, consider lighting your vanity with individual lamps hung either beside or above your mirror or mirrors. Updating your lighting is one of the best ways to update a bathroom. Plus, you can play around with the materials and textures of your lamp shades. Clear glass shades allow these lamps to almost disappear into your design, giving your bathroom a cool and modern feel.
3. Consider Adding a Textured Shade
Upgrading the bathroom is a common home renovation trend, but you don’t have to completely redo your bathroom if you don’t need to. Simply updating the vanity can make a big difference. To give your bathroom vanity a little bit more dimension and personality, consider a lighting fixture that has a textured shade. This will add just a small touch of texture and visual interest to your bathroom vanity, but sometimes even small upgrades can make a big difference.
4. Light With Pendant Lights
Pendants are a great way to light any type of bathroom, as well as a bathroom vanity. Hang them right above your vanity to give the area direct light. There are so many options to choose from, so you are bound to find the right fit, no matter your bathroom design. Thinking about the lighting and getting it right are essential bathroom remodeling tips. In addition to materials, colors, and textures, you can also mix different heights and lengths of pendant lights to get the light you need and create the atmosphere you want.
5. Backlight the Mirror
If your goal of remodeling your bathroom is to make it a little bit more modern, consider adding lighting behind your mirror. This sleek and modern way of lighting is perfect if you prefer a very minimal design style, and is a bathroom design idea inspired by hotels. Plus, a backlit mirror adds some quiet luxury to your bathroom. You can either have recessed lighting installed behind the mirror or look for a mirror that comes with built-in back lighting.
6. Layer Your Lighting
If you’re planning to expand your bathroom during the remodeling process, remember to layer your lighting. Layering your lighting allows you to get just the right amount of light for any situation and is a bathroom must-have. For example, make sure you have lights right above or beside your bathroom vanity for tasks at the sink. That way, you don’t need to turn on other lights if they’re not needed.
For your bathroom vanity lighting, you can choose functional sconces, hanging pendants, or go for something more fun to give your bathroom a little bit of personality. The right mix of lighting and layers of lighting is one of the things to consider when remodeling your bathroom, whether you are doing a complete renovation or just updating a section of it.
7. Try Spotlights Above the Vanity
Getting the lighting wrong or choosing lighting that is too harsh are bathroom remodeling mistakes to avoid. Spotlights might sound a little extreme at first. However, they are very effective at properly lighting a space like a bathroom vanity. They sometimes get a bad rap for being too harsh, but when installed properly and paired with other lights, they can be a great option. Spotlights can also give a bathroom a modern or contemporary feel.
Ideally, spotlight lighting should be placed right over the sink or sinks. You can also have a few spotlights in a row. To avoid any harsh lighting, be sure to go with a lightbulb that diffuses light. Make sure you work with your contractor to figure out exactly where to place the spotlights. Their experience is valuable, which is one of the benefits of working with a home improvement contractor.
Remodel Your Bathroom With Zephyr Thomas
These are just a few of the best ways to light a bathroom vanity. Choosing the best vanity for your bathroom remodel and getting the lighting just right is important, so it’s helpful to work with an experienced contractor who can offer advice and make sure the job is done right.
When it comes to bathroom remodeling, it can be overwhelming to plan all the details. So, if you’re thinking about remodeling a current bathroom or adding a new bathroom to your home, Zephyr Thomas can help! Contact us at 717-399-4708 to talk about your project, schedule your free estimate, or stop by our showroom to get inspired!
Take a look at the time-lapse video below to see the Zephyr Thomas team remodeling a bathroom for this homeowner!