How to Install a Vanity Light

Sometimes the most noticeable ways to change the look of any room, particularly the bathroom, is by paying attention to the details. Adding a new Bathroom Vanity Light can dramatically alter the appearance and feel of your bathroom, and changing the fixture is a task that you can probably easily do yourself.

The first step is to choose out the new fixture. iBuyLights.com has a huge selection of bathroom vanity lights. Since you’re buying a new fixture, you’re going to want to make sure that it will fit into the existing space. Measure the area where the light will be installed and check it against the dimensions of the new fixture.

The second step might be the most important one: cut the power off to the existing fixture at the electrical service box. Simply turning the light off works fine if you’re going to just change a light bulb, but you do not want to have live wires when you’re swapping the fixture. Don’t overlook this!

After you’ve cut the power off to the existing fixture, remove it. If the fixture has been there for quite some time, painted over, or caulked on then you might need to gently pry it off with a knife. Be careful to not damage the wall, because you don’t want to turn this into a much larger project! Disconnect the wires from old fixture.

In most old homes the fixtures were usually mounted directly on an electrical box. New building codes don’t allow that, you you’ll have to use a mounting strap (essentially a flat metal bar that is attached to the box). A lot of fixtures include one with the necessary hardware, but you can also easily find the parts you’ll need at a local hardware store.

Follow the Fixture’s instructions and attach the wires from the wall to the fixture’s wiring. Because you’re installing a light in the bathroom, it is important to properly ground the fixture – you wouldn’t want to blow up the brand new fixture! The instructions should tell you how to properly ground the fixture, as this will vary slightly amongst fixtures.

After this, the next step is to mount the fixture to the wall. Once again, follow the instructions. Then screw in a light bulb (follow the wattage guidelines of the fixture), turn the electricity back on, and enjoy your new bathroom light!