(Part 2) Best vanity lighting fixtures according to redditors

Gladly! I actually followed THIS YouTube DIY for the most part. I would watch it, as it gives you a pretty clear picture of what it all entails. BUT, keep in mind that this video leaves SOOOO much out and is not very accurate. I used the exact measurements that the video used, and made it work, but ran into several issues along the way. Below I will list the parts that I used, and the flaws in the video that required a different process.

• First of all, the mirror size and light lengths just don't add up. In her video the lights mount flat to the wall, but for the sizes she SAYS she uses, you must overlap the lights onto the mirror a bit. No big deal at all. But you have to put something behind the light to fill the gap between the wall and light (I just used 1/4" trim, super simple)
  
  
• Second of all, THERE IS NO WAY that she got that dimmer to work. I purchased the exact same one and it wont fit in the light ballast. I ended up going with an outlet style dimmer, and it works great. Ill link it at the bottom.
  
  
• If I think of any other stuff that is not like the video, I will let you know.
  
  
• MIRROR
  
  
• BULBS
  
  
• TOP and SIDE light ballasts.
  
  
• DIMMER
  
  EDIT: Please forgive me if this makes no sense. I am running on no sleep and tend to ramble when I'm tired. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Most of the custom work was the mirror/lighted section, I bought a used vanity itself off craigslist and modified it..

I don't have a before picture of the craigslist vanity I bought, but This was the original style vanity for those curious as to what table we had (with the mirror that lifts up in the middle... we sealed that off to put the box on top)

After we sealed the lift up top piece down, we built a working drawer in the center where the front fake drawer was. It was originally a finished stain from the person I bought off craigslist, so I sanded it down and primed/painted everything a gloss white, and put acrylic cabinet knobs on the drawers.

The seat was also painted white, and we made a new seat cover out of a giraffe print shirt. Just wrapped and stapled it down over the older seat cover.

For the light/mirror section...

• Cut holes around the edge of flat piece of plywood to make a "Frame" around where the mirror would go (we originally wanted MDF but couldn't find a piece big enough).. Then built a frame out of 2 by 3's around the edge of that to create a "box"..
  
  
  
• On the back of the box we put a 5 light vanity bar on the top through the holes, and then two 4 light vanity bars for the sides.
  
  
• Cut two sections out on each side on the bottom to hold single gang plastic electrical boxes.. I used the shallow ones, but regular size works... I put a Leviton dual outlet in one side for her flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers, phone charger, etc, and a Leviton dimmer switch on the other side so she can turn the lights down if she wants, and used screwless snap on wall plates to frame both of those after the box was painted.
  
  
• my brother wired the lights together, and then wired the dimmer switch/outlets to tie into an extension chord he cut so we could just plug the whole system into a wall.
  
  
• the box was then painted white but we left a center opening not painted so we could glue the 20x24 beveled edge mirror to the front of it. We used a mirror silicone glue. It's on there strong!
  
  
• For lighting, we used GE 25-watt soft white light bulb globes (g25)... Definitely buy more than you need because a lot of them didn't work right out of box! Had to return a few boxes.
  
  Then we mounted it using two long bolts with wing nuts to make it removeable for moving. You can see them in this picture
  
  Feel free to ask any questions!!

You could get a bunch of ceramic sockets, electric boxes, etc. and wire them and strip them and wire them and strip them, and spend all day on it only to have an ugly monster that probably has wiring mistakes or you can just buy a couple of vanity lights.
http://www.amazon.com/630NI-Classic-Vanity-Brushed-Nickel/dp/B000H6YB2U

You could probably achieve the same look with a cheap wall/vanity light by taking off the frosted glass that usually screws in and installing the fixture upside down if it's a hanging one. Slightly similiar on Amazon

It feels like a clash between modern and antique. Could go either way on style but would lean towards something like Hardware House 10-1059 Bennington 3-Light Bath or Wall Light, Antique Bronze https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040V5FFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_82HyCb37B9HWR

here Is a blog post about GE's fairy new Reveal light bulb and how it is awesome for make-up. As for a light fixture, you probably want something with next to no shades, or at least one that point down. I'm not exactly sure of your home's decor, or if you have a theme, but Home Depot has this pretty neat shade-less vanity fixture. Amazon has this which i think would look gorgeous in Antique Bronze against the red vanity because it would match the knobs. However, it is also available in brushed nickel and chrome.

Happy decorating, and thanks for hosting!

Since you're going to spend most of your time in your office, I would try to find out if you have warm or cool lighting there and then choose that for your vanity area.

You said you would like to mount the light on your wall, so I'd pick something like this (for warm light) or this (for cool light). Both options give a good overhead light that won't cast shadows like something like this would.

I guess in comparison to the old big bulb Hollywood vanity light we had. Like this.

Even the “most yellow” LED is no where near yellow compared to this! Maybe that the LEDs put off so much more light too! We have 4 1600 lumens bulbs in a standard size bathroom. It’s glorious! I can see!

https://www.amazon.com/Lamp-Shade-Holder-Riser/dp/B008UW7Y4U

Ok, I'm a geek, and these are not on Amazon but how cool is this?

and this?

For real though, here are some Amazon ideas:

• lamp
  
  OR
  
  
• Edgar Allen Poe Infinity Scarf!!!
  
  Thanks for the contest! the writings on the wall are wonderful!
  
  

Ask your landlord to swap the mirror like for a model with an outlet in it. Cheap and easy so the landlord shouldn't mind. If you have a handy buddy, do it yourself and then switch the lamp back before you move out. This is a 10-minute job tops. Something like this -https://www.amazon.com/Vanity-Light-Fixture-Mount-Receptacle/dp/B00MHZDZTE