Some may not think installing a bathroom light is exciting (call me weird, because I sure do), but the dramatic results are so satisfying. Today is all about how to install a vanity light, in a bathroom with no pre-installed electrical box. Yes, you get to learn how to install a junction box too!
This is what I like to call the “nitty gritty” of our powder room makeover. You have to get down to the nitty gritty before you get to the beauty of a project, right?
Though I’m taking this time to show you how easy it is to install a vanity light, I’m pretty excited to actually reveal the powder room’s transformation. You’ll get to see a sneak peak below of the new wall color, which turned out great by the way. Until then, we’ll look at this one small task of many in our makeover process. I say “small” because it can go fairly quickly IF you have the right tools.
Of course for us, we discovered extra parts were needed once we removed the old light (cue the junction box). Don’t worry though. This will not happen to you because we’ve already crossed that bridge, and share below how you can avoid this hiccup.
Ready to get into it? Let’s go.
Items needed:
Vanity light of your choice
Medium philips head screwdriver
Voltage detector
Old work junction box (if needed)
Electrical Project Safety
As in any other electrical project detailed here, I must preface this tutorial by saying that I am NOT an electrical professional or electrician. I chose to DIY this project for convenience, and performed electrical research before I was comfortable with approaching this project. I suggest you do the same.
The tutorial below details the steps I took to install my own vanity light, and should not be considered certified professional instruction. If you are even slightly uncomfortable with attempting any of the steps in this process, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT. I recommend you contact an electrician to complete the installation.
Turn off Power to Bathroom
This is by far THE most important step in the process. Locate your home’s fuse box, and turn off the power to the room in which you’ll be working. The power to our powder room also turned off the power to a few other surrounding areas, which was completely fine with me.
Please note, just because the power to the room may be turned off does not mean the power to your bathrooms electrical sockets will be off as well. In many cases, these will still work, just as ours did.
Next, using your voltage detector, double check that the power to your current lighting fixture is indeed off.
Remove Current Vanity Light
We live in a builder grade house, therefore we were given the gift of these beautiful broadway vanity lights. You know, the ones you’ll find in any backstage dressing room, and every basic single family home built in the early 2000’s. Also, by beautiful I mean, tolerable, but not very appealing.
If you have one of these in your home, then removal will be fairly easy.
First, unscrew each bulb from the fixture’s socket.
Then unscrew the silver caps that surrounded the neck of each bulb. The fixture’s exterior plate should now be free to pop off and remove.
After popping that off, you will now be able to see the light’s wires connected to the wires coming out of your wall.
These wires are connected by little orange or white nuts. Remove each nut. Then unscrew the screws securing the bottom plate to the wall.
Now remove the remaining fixture piece.
If your vanity light is anything like ours was, it will have a built in junction box. You see those little holes in the middle of the plate? That’s the built in “junction box.” This means that once you remove the fixture, there may or may not be an actual junction box installed in the wall because the light fixture already came equipped with one.
Builders do this because it’s cheaper, plain and simple.
If this is your predicament worry not. I’ll show you how to install a junction box easily. Specifically, you will need an “old work box.”
Install Old Work Box
The diameter of your wall opening and the depth of the space behind it will determine the type of old work box needed. If you have at least 3 inches of space behind and a 3-4 inch diameter you’ll be able to use a standard round ceiling box like this:
Just be sure to measure the space and get the one that fits those measurements.
Our depth of space however was very small due to a pipe that ran smack dab through the middle of the wall opening. Therefore we only had about 1 inch in depth behind the wall. So we got this 1/2 inch old work pan box and it worked perfectly.
I will say, if using one of these, make sure your fixture isn’t over 8lbs, as I think the shallow pan can only hold so much. Our fixture was 6.5 lbs.
To get the pan secured to the wall, first open one of the metal knockouts by pushing the metal flap through. Then slip all your wires from behind the wall through this hole. Next, unscrew the pan’s middle screw to loosen the bracket. Then angle it and slide the clamp through the opening and behind the wall.
To tighten it to the wall, pull the pan all the way to you either with your finger through the other metal flap or with a finger between the wall and pan. While pulling pan towards you, tighten the pan’s middle screw until the pan is snug against the wall. If you screw too tight the clamp’s teeth will puncture the drywall so be careful.
Now your junction box is installed and you can move on to the fun part.
Install Vanity Light
First, read the instructions for your vanity light. Many vanity lights are similar in wiring and parts, but yours may be slightly different. Ours came with a mounting bracket that held the wire connectors. If you have a t-bracket and wires that need to be stripped, check out my installation of a basket pendant which may help in your instruction.
First, secure the mounting bracket, to the junction box by fastening the screws provided on the sides, into the holes on the pan box. Next, insert the white, green, and white wires (the ones from behind your wall) into their designated spots on the bracket.
Then, insert the wires from the fixture into their designated spots as well, on the mounting bracket. There are separate holes to connect each wire from both your wall and fixture. This is the step where you want to have a steady hand so the wires don’t slip out of their spots while you’re trying to hold the fixture AND insert wires. Hence why it was impossible to get a photo of this in action. Below you can see the wires on the fixture.
You’ll need to also move the wires around so they fit comfortably in order to cover and secure the fixture to the bracket. Once the wires are in a comfortable spot, slip the fixture onto the bracket’s nose, and fasten the nut provided.
Now, all you have to do is fasten the light bulbs in, and cover with the clear bulb covers (probably not their name, but I’m going to roll with it).
Now, turn your power back on and test your light out. That’s it!
Now you have a new vanity light AND junction box, both installed by you. Yes, this is your moment to pat yourself on the back and be proud, so take it! As you can see, this can be a simple project if you have the right tools, and conduct each step safely.
I hope you feel a little more confident and equipped to upgrade the other vanity lights in your home too. Are you upgrading your bathroom or powder room with new fixtures? If so, let me know below if your install was easy, or had any hiccups like ours.
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