How to upgrade this ugly vanity light pair?

Kim Sobaszek
by Kim Sobaszek

We have these outdate vanity light fixtures. the back side wall was cut open for the wiring, so removing them would be major Reno work with removing metal box and new drywall..I just want to change them somehow and update the lights on both sides. ANY suggestions short of new drywall work are welcome. Going for a more farmhouse or industrial look with silver finish. Have to start with these before we can upgrade anything else in this makeover.

  15 answers
  • Recreated Designs Recreated Designs on May 13, 2020

    Hi Kim, Can you remove the lightbulbs (temporarily) and paint the wood and brass? If you painted them white it would give them a farmhouse feel. Just avoid getting paint inside of the sockets and you should be all good to go.

  • Beth Beth on May 13, 2020

    You could build a cover for them that sits on the wood around the lights. If you made a little frame out of wire, you could cover it with any kind of fabric that you wanted. You could use little clips to hold the metal frame to the wood.

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on May 13, 2020

    I would I would paint and distress the wood area and paint the brass silver. That will freshen it up.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on May 13, 2020

    See if anything here that can fix your lights, lots of ideas:


    https://www.pinterest.com/cordieswift/vanity-light/

    • Kim Sobaszek Kim Sobaszek on May 18, 2020

      Didn't want to spend money, but love this companies lights. Maybe I'll wait and go that route.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on May 13, 2020

    Hello. I’m not sure what degree of technical skill is involved maybe framing in the mirror and put it in a fixture on top would be an option. Hope you find the perfect solution to your need

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on May 13, 2020

    Paint the wood white and the gold to silver. Make sure to use high heat paint.

  • Lauren Farmer Lauren Farmer on May 13, 2020

    Outdated??? What?? Those types of lights are HUGE right now. People are doing movie star type makeup vanities all the time and paying lots of money for those exact light fixtures. So I'd think again before getting rid of them and if you want to, list them to sell and then buy what you want.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on May 13, 2020

    you could remove the lights and replace the wood behind them and just use overhead lights instead - these type lights put off so much heat and use a lot of electricity as I am sure you already know.

  • Oliva Oliva on May 13, 2020

    There are more modern looking LED lights from Modern Forms that come in three lengths, which might work for you. They will require a "dedicated dimmer" if you want that option. They have a chrome background, and a lexan type cover to diffuse the light, but the coverage is amazing.

  • Dee Dee on May 13, 2020

    I would paint them white. If you can take them down, spray paint them with Rustoleum Spray paint. Clean well before painting, and then use a primer. Rustoleum makes a good spray primer. Then lightly sand the primer and spray white. Go on Amazon and look at the tungsten light bulbs. or just look up fancy decorator light bulbs. I think that will be great for your update.

  • 17335038 17335038 on May 14, 2020

    To replace these outdated fixtures with newer styles, one mounted on each side of the mirror, would not require any more wiring that what these most likely are hooked up to now. Although there are four bulbs in a row, the wiring connecting to all four sockets will be contained to only one part at the back of the fixture. Likewise, the connection from inside the wall should be coming out of only one hole in the drywall behind the fixture.


    I would remove one of the fixtures first, to verify that the above situation is the case. After that it should be easy to simply disconnect both these fixtures, and reconnect the new ones.


    Any imperfections in the drywall that may be caused by the removal can be repaired or wallpapered over.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on May 15, 2020

    Hello there,

    Change or paint with glass paint the bulbs. Use stickers on them. Paint the frame. Box in the bulbs with opalic plastic cover. Best wishes.

  • William William on May 16, 2020

    Somebody use two over mirror lights on the sides of the mirror to make them look like "Hollywood' lights. Totally ugly. I would do what Flipturn suggests. Remove the lights. The only hole in the wall should be for the electrical box. Replace them with wall sconces.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Apr 12, 2021

    Farmhouse fix: Mason jars with the lids' rings & seals.

    Take out the bulbs

    unscrew the exposed "beauty ring" at the mounting plate.

    Cut a hole in the jar lid, to fit around the outside of the exposed bulb socket holder.

    Put the jar lid ring and the cut lid together and put on socket holder with the lid threads pointing towards you.

    Screw the beauty ring back on.

    Screw the lightbulb in.

    Screw the Mason jar on the lid ring.


    The G Lamps that are there now, may not fit inside the mouth of the jar. Edison Lamps (exposed filament) are made in other shapes, like A & elongated.