Replacing your vanity lights is one of the simplest ways to update the look of your bathroom. Whether you want to go from traditional to modern or simply improve your bathroom lighting, you are sure to find a lighting fixture that suits your needs. But design and color are not the only considerations – you also how to think about how they will be installed. Fortunately, vanity lights are fairly easy to install. If you have an electrical box ready, you can set the lights up on your own in less than an hour. Following is a rough guide to installing vanity lights.

1. Choose the right fixtures

Before hitting the stores, make sure you know how big your new lights need to be. Measure the available wall or ceiling space, and leave a few inches of clearance from adjacent fixtures, including mirrors and bulbs. Keep your bathroom’s color and theme in mind when choosing your lights, and make sure they will not clash.

Also, look for a fixture that comes with a mounting strap. This is a metal bar attached to the electrical box to eliminate direct contact with the box and the fixture. Modern electrical codes require the use of a mounting strap, so make sure your fixture complies.

2. Prepare your area for installation

If you are simply replacing old lights, you can just use the existing wiring. If you are installing them somewhere else, have an electrician fix the wiring to accept the new fixture.

Before removing your old fixture, disconnect it from the main electrical panel. Take out the diffuser first, if you have one, and then unscrew the bulb. If the plate has stuck to the paint or caulk, run a small knife to around the plate’s perimeter to dislodge it.  
 
3. Connect your fixture

Check the vacant wires on the electrical box before attaching your new fixture. Make sure there are no tarnished or nicked ends; if there are, cut the damaged parts off and open about half an inch of wire by stripping off some of the insulating coat. Use the nuts that came with the package to connect the wires on the fixture to those on the box. Follow the installation instructions carefully.

4. Install the ground wires

When connecting the ground wires – the wires running from the device to the ground – make sure they are well out of the way of the water and heating pipes. This is especially important for bathroom fixtures, because they are installed close to water systems and there is constant risk of electrical shock. Most lighting fixtures come with ground wire installation instructions. Make sure the ground wire hooks to the mounting strap instead of directly onto the box.
  
5. Mount your fixture

When all the wiring is in place, attach the fixture onto the electrical box, closely following the installation instructions. Attach the light bulb to the fixture. Make sure it screws properly into the cavity and that its wattage is within the fixture’s capacity. Fix the diffuser over the bulb using a nut or cap. Use friction-tight to secure the nut to keep it from cracking.

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