Skip to content

Art Deco Lighting

Period lamps, identified and safely lit

Plate XIVArt decoBuying note

Art Deco Bathroom and Vanity Lights: Styles and Safety

How to choose an art deco vanity light or bathroom sconce: the period look, which zones need a damp or wet rating, and what to check on a vintage fixture.

By Art Deco Lighting editorial teamUpdated 3 min read7 sources

We earn from qualifying purchases through links on this page. How we make money.

A vintage bathroom with a wall light above a pedestal sink and a small enamel bathtub on a stand
A vintage bathroom with a wall light above a pedestal sink and a small enamel bathtub on a stand

An art deco vanity light pairs chrome or nickel with frosted, etched or opal glass, often as two sconces beside the mirror. For a bathroom, check the rating first: inside the tub or shower zone a fixture must be marked for damp or wet locations, and most vintage pieces are not. Use those outside the zone, rewired by an electrician.

What makes a bathroom light look art deco?

An art deco bathroom light pairs shiny metal with softened glass. The Metropolitan Museum’s 1927 table lamp by Donald Deskey is chrome-plated metal and glass, and chrome and nickel suit a bathroom in the same spirit. The glass hides the bulb rather than showing it:

  • Frosted glass has “a matte finish produced by exposing the object to fumes of hydrofluoric acid,” in the Corning Museum of Glass’s words.
  • Opal glass is “translucent and white, with a grayish or bluish tinge,” and gives an even white glow.

Shapes follow the rest of the style: geometric rather than floral, with clean lines on the backplate and the shade. For the wider look, see the art deco lighting guide.

Art deco sconces and vanity lights

Shop art deco wall sconces

Opens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns.

Where in a bathroom does a light need a rating?

A bathroom light needs a rating when it sits close to the water. EC&M’s summary of the National Electrical Code sets out three rules:

Where the light goes What the code asks for
Directly over the tub or shower, up to 8 feet above the rim or threshold A fixture “marked for damp locations”
In the shower spray A fixture marked for wet locations
Hanging fixtures, chandeliers and pendants Nothing within 3 feet horizontally and 8 feet vertically of the tub rim

A vanity mirror over a sink is usually outside the tub zone, so a common plan is vintage sconces at the mirror and a new, rated fixture over the shower. Your electrician will measure the zones in your room and apply the local code.

Can a vintage fixture go in a bathroom?

A vintage fixture can often go in a bathroom if it stays outside the rated zones. Before it goes up:

  1. Look for a marking. A label or stamp reading “damp location” means the fixture was made for it. A missing label means you should treat it as a dry-location fixture.
  2. Have it rewired. Old cloth-covered wire and worn sockets should be replaced before any fixture goes up. Ask for new parts with a UL, ETL or CSA mark, which ESFI advises checking for on electrical products. The rewiring guide explains the parts.
  3. Check the metal. Look for plating that is already lifting or flaking, and ask the seller about it. The brass cleaning guide covers gentle care for brass parts.
  4. Mind the bulb. The NIH Office of Research Services says fixtures carry a sticker with the maximum bulb wattage. Stay within it, or within a conservative figure if the sticker is lost.

Water and wiring

Bathroom lights are wired into the house, so fitting one is a job for a qualified electrician. ESFI says a GFCI should be used “in any indoor or outdoor area where water may come into contact with electrical products,” and that the National Electrical Code requires GFCIs in all bathrooms.

Vintage and antique wall lights

Shop antique and vintage wall sconces

Opens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns.

Sconces beside the mirror or a light above?

Sconces on both sides light the face from left and right, so they cast fewer shadows under the brow and chin than one light overhead. A matched pair is easier to buy together than to assemble later, as the wall sconce guide explains.

A bar light or a single shade above the mirror suits a narrow wall or a mirror cabinet with no room at the sides. Pair it with a ceiling light in the same finish so the room reads as one design.

Which ceiling light suits a deco bathroom?

A close-to-ceiling fixture with a frosted or opal bowl keeps glass well away from heads and spreads light around the room. The vintage flush mount guide covers what to measure and check, and the chandelier and ceiling light guide covers pendants for larger rooms, which must stay clear of the tub zone above.

Art deco ceiling lights

Shop art deco chandeliers and ceiling lights

Opens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns.

For colored glass, see the stained glass sconce and ceiling light guide. Back to the art deco lighting guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a vintage light in a bathroom?

Yes, outside the tub and shower zone, and once an electrician has checked the wiring. Inside that zone, EC&M's summary of the electrical code says a fixture must be marked for damp locations, or wet locations in shower spray. Most old fixtures carry no such marking.

What does damp rated mean for a bathroom light?

The fixture is marked as suitable for damp locations, such as the area above a tub or shower that gets steam but not direct water. A wet rating is needed where water from the shower can reach the fixture.

Do bathroom lights need a GFCI?

Bathroom outlets do. ESFI says the National Electrical Code requires GFCIs in all bathrooms, and an electrician can tell you whether the lighting circuit needs one too in your area.

Should vanity lights go beside the mirror or above it?

A pair of sconces on either side lights the face from both directions and casts fewer shadows than a single light above. A bar light above the mirror works where the wall beside it is too narrow for sconces.

What glass suits an art deco bathroom light?

Frosted, etched or opal glass, which hide the bulb and soften the light. Look for art deco frosted glass sconces in chrome or nickel to match period bathroom fittings.

Sources

  1. Stumped by the Code? NEC Requirements of Luminaires Installed in Wet, Damp, or Corrosive LocationsEC&M
  2. Ground Fault Circuit InterruptersElectrical Safety Foundation International
  3. Buyer's Guide: Purchasing TipElectrical Safety Foundation International
  4. Table Lamp, Donald Deskey, 1927The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  5. FrostingCorning Museum of Glass
  6. Opal glassCorning Museum of Glass
  7. Be Fire Safe with ElectricityNIH Office of Research Services

Collection: Art decoIntroduction: Art Deco Lighting: How to Recognize and Buy 1920s and 1930s Lamps

The whole catalogue

Affiliate disclosure

Art Deco Lighting is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links: when you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase through our links. Commissions never decide what we recommend or how we rank it. Listings and prices come from our partners and change often, so check the price, condition and seller on the retailer's page before you buy. Read how we make money.