The best bathroom vanity lighting is a pair of sconces at face height on either side of the mirror, because light from both sides removes the shadows a single bar above the mirror throws under your eyes and chin. If you only have one box above the mirror, a damp-rated three-light bar with frosted or etched glass, such as the Hinkley Karlie at about $199 or the Kichler Marette at $259.99, is the next best thing. For side sconces, the AX290 by Wenche, a tall alabaster column at $259.95, is my pick. Here is the full list and the numbers that make it work.
Why Most Vanity Lighting Looks Bad
Our ranch came with the classic builder setup: one chrome bar with four bare globe bulbs, high above the mirror. Light from directly above lands on your forehead and nose and leaves shadows under your eyes, nose and chin. It makes everyone look tired, and it makes shaving or makeup harder than it needs to be. I wrote about what we got wrong the first time in our bathroom lighting mistake.
The fix is the direction of the light, not the brightness. Light at face height from the left and right fills in those shadows. That is why the best option is two sconces beside the mirror, and why, if you must use a bar above, it should be wide, diffused and mounted no higher than it needs to be.
Bar or Side Sconces?
| Two side sconces | One bar above | |
|---|---|---|
| Shadows on the face | Few | More, under eyes and chin |
| Wiring | Two boxes, one each side | One box above the mirror |
| Mirror width | Best up to about 36 inches | Works with any width |
| Best for | Renovations, single vanities | Swaps on an existing box, double vanities |
For a double vanity, the ideal is a sconce on each side of each mirror. If that is too many boxes, a bar above each mirror is a reasonable compromise.
What I Compared
- Damp rating. Required in a bathroom. Every fixture here is listed as damp rated or bathroom rated.
- Diffusion. Frosted, etched, opal glass or stone, never bare bulbs at eye level.
- Shape for the job. Tall, narrow sconces suit the sides of a mirror; wide bars suit the space above.
- Price from brand or retailer listings on October 14, 2026.
The Picks
1. Hinkley Karlie 3-Light LED: Best Vanity Bar
If you are swapping the bar above the mirror on an existing box, the Karlie is where I would start. It is a transitional LED vanity light, 22.5 inches wide in the three-light version, and Lowe's lists it as damp rated. A dealer lists the three-light at $199 and the two-light at $179. Choose the width so the bar spans about two thirds to three quarters of the mirror; a 22.5 inch bar suits a 30 to 36 inch mirror.
Best for: a straight swap of an old builder bar, no new wiring.
2. AX290 Tall Alabaster & Brass by Wenche: Best Side Sconce
A tall, narrow sconce on each side of the mirror is the most flattering vanity light there is, and the AX290 by Wenche is made for it. It is a 30 cm (about 12 inch) column of natural alabaster held off the wall on an antique brass stem, and Wenche lists it as damp rated and recommends it beside a vanity mirror. The stone diffuses the light completely, so you get an even glow on the face with no hot spot. It comes with a dimmable E14 LED bulb.
A pair is $519.90, about twice a good bar, which is the honest trade-off for better light.
Best for: a renovation where you can place a box on each side of the mirror.
3. Kichler Marette 3-Light: Best Bar With Glass Shades
If you like individual shades rather than a solid bar, the Marette has three satin etched glass shades on a black bar, 22.75 inches wide, at $259.99. Etched glass hides the bulb and spreads the light, which is what you want at eye level. Black hardware suits a bathroom with black faucets; our black faucet post covers living with black fixtures.
Best for: a modern bathroom with black hardware.
4. AX853 Double Alabaster by Wenche: Best Statement Pair
The AX853 by Wenche is an hourglass of two alabaster cones on a slim bronze waist, washing light both up and down the wall. Wenche suggests a pair flanking a bathroom mirror for soft, shadow-free light at face height, and lists it as damp rated. It comes with two dimmable G9 LEDs. At $579.95 each it is a splurge, and the one I would choose for a primary bathroom that is meant to feel like a hotel.
5. Hudson Valley Valencia 3415-AGB: Best Traditional Sconce
Hudson Valley's Valencia is sold by dealers as a bath and vanity sconce, alabaster paired with aged brass. At $708 to $794 it is the most expensive here, and it suits a traditional bathroom with marble and brass where the sconces are part of the finish.
See it at Hudson Valley Lighting →
Side by Side
| Light | Type | Diffuser | Rating | Price seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinkley Karlie 3-light | Bar | LED, see listing | Damp | about $199 |
| AX290 by Wenche | Side sconce | Alabaster | Damp | $259.95 each |
| Kichler Marette 3-light | Bar with shades | Satin etched glass | See listing | $259.99 |
| AX853 by Wenche | Side sconce, up and down | Alabaster | Damp | $579.95 each |
| Hudson Valley Valencia | Side sconce | Alabaster | See listing | $708 to $794 |
Mounting Height
- Side sconces: centre of the light at about eye level, usually 60 to 66 inches from the floor, and about 36 to 40 inches apart, so they sit just outside the mirror.
- Bar above the mirror: usually 75 to 80 inches from the floor, or just above the top of the mirror frame. Lower is better for your face, as long as it clears the mirror.
Bulbs and Colour
Use 2700K to 3000K with a CRI of 90 or higher. High CRI matters more in a bathroom than anywhere else, because this is where you check skin, makeup and the colour of a shirt. Very cool light above 4000K looks clinical, and very warm light below 2700K makes skin look sallow. Put the vanity lights on a dimmer if you can, so the same lights work for getting ready and for a late-night bath.
Damp Rating Is Not Optional
A bathroom vanity light must be rated for damp locations at minimum. Inside a shower or right above a tub, you need a wet-rated fixture, which is a different category altogether. Even with a damp rating, keep sconces out of the direct splash of a shower, and choose glass or stone that wipes clean.
Hire the Electrician
Swapping a bar on an existing box is a common job. Moving from one box above the mirror to two at the sides means new boxes and wiring, and in a bathroom you also want the circuit checked. In our 1964 house we found aluminium branch wiring in one room, which changes what connectors can be used, so I always have an electrician look before a bathroom lighting change. More in our bathroom renovation lessons.
Sizing the Light to the Mirror
For a bar above the mirror, aim for a fixture about two thirds to three quarters of the mirror width, and never wider than the mirror. For a 24 inch mirror, an 18 inch bar. For a 30 to 36 inch mirror, a 22 to 24 inch bar like the Karlie or the Marette. For a double vanity with one long mirror, two bars, each centred on a sink, usually look better than one very long bar.
For side sconces, the mirror width decides the spacing. Sconces about 36 to 40 inches apart light a face evenly. If your mirror is wider than that, the sconces end up too far from your face to help, and a bar above, or sconces mounted on the mirror itself, is the better answer.
Common Vanity Lighting Mistakes
- Bare bulbs at eye level. Exposed globes on a builder bar each become a glare point in the mirror. Diffused glass or stone fixes that.
- Cool bulbs. 5000K bulbs make a bathroom look like an office. 2700K to 3000K looks like a home.
- Mounting the bar too high. The higher the bar, the darker the shadows under your eyes. Just above the mirror is enough.
- Forgetting the rest of the room. A vanity light lights the face. A small bathroom still needs a ceiling light for cleaning and a soft night light for 2 a.m.
Bar, Sconces or Both?
In a large primary bathroom, the best answer is often both: side sconces at the mirror for faces, and a flush ceiling light or a bar on a separate switch for overall light. In a small bathroom, two side sconces usually light the whole room. In a powder room, one striking sconce on each side of a small mirror does everything, and is the place to spend a little more on something like the AX290 or the Valencia.
What It Costs
A straight swap of an old bar for a Hinkley Karlie on the existing box is about $199 for the fixture plus an hour of an electrician's time if you do not do it yourself. Switching to two side sconces means two new boxes, wiring and patching, so expect the fixtures ($519.90 for a pair of AX290s) plus a few hours of an electrician and some drywall repair. It is more work, but it is the change that makes the biggest difference in a bathroom you use every morning.
The Short Version
Light the face from both sides. Two damp-rated side sconces at eye level, such as a pair of AX290 alabaster columns by Wenche at $259.95 each, are the best vanity lighting. If you have one box above the mirror, a diffused bar like the Hinkley Karlie, about $199, or the Kichler Marette, $259.99, mounted just above the mirror is the next best. Use 2700K to 3000K, CRI 90 or higher, and a dimmer.