The Best Coastal Vanity Lighting Ideas for Nautical-Inspired Bathrooms

Last Updated on April 13, 2025

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Discover the best coastal vanity lighting ideas to bring classic nautical vibes to your bathroom.

I am so excited to remodeling our primary bathroom! We met with the contractor yesterday and I’ve got some homework. There is definitely going to be a theme with my blog posts for the next few weeks as I narrow down on the final design for our coastal bathroom makeover.

I am almost 100% sold on doing a navy vanity for our bathroom. If you read my coastal bathroom vanities post, then you know there are so many different choices when it comes to choosing your vanity. And there are even more options for vanity lighting!

I am almost 100% sold on doing a navy vanity for our bathroom. Classic white was my first choice all along, but I am really feeling some color for this space. This is our forever home, so I don’t need to worry about re-sale and quite frankly, navy is an incredibly versatile and classic color that would appeal to so many people anyways!

We have blue shiplap behind our current vanity that we’ll be painting BM White Dove (the ultimate white paint that I’m officially obsessed with!). I am also considering white mirrors, which is a lot of white. I’m also off my gold/bronze kick and committing to classic polished nickel finishes. So, I’ll be on the hunt for vanity lighting that will coordinate with that!

Polished nickel lighting is perfect for a classic coastal vanity, but there are so many different directions you can take coastal style! From classic coastal to modern coastal, I’ve curated the perfect lighting fixtures for your coastal vanity. Check out my coastal vanity lighting ideas to inspire a gorgeous ocean-inspired bathroom refresh.

Classic Coastal Vanity Lighting

Shop the Look: 1. \\ 2. \\ 3, \\ 4. \\ 5. \\ Navy Vanity \\ White Vanity

Polished nickel is about as classic as it comes for coastal vanity lighting. To say I’m obsessed with this style is an understatement. Go for polished nickel if you want a look that’s timeless and elevated. This gives me major Nantucket vibes!

Nautical Coastal Vanity Lighting

Shop the Look: 1. \\ 2. \\ 3. \\ 4. \\ 5. \\ White Vanity \\ Navy Vanity

Nautical-style lighting is probably my favorite choice for a coastal bathroom. Coastal is such a classic style but you can really amp up the nautical vibes and make a design statement with the right lighting. Look for lighting inspired by boats at sea or lighthouses. This could include lighting with jute accents and caged or dome lighting.

There are no color rules here! Just make sure your lighting choice coordinates with your vanity hardware. Below is a pic of our basement bathroom from our last house. I chose the Shades of Light Classic Dome 3-Light in White/Pewter.

You can read all about our coastal basement makeover HERE.

Beachy Coastal Vanity Lighting

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Beachy coastal style is one you can really have fun with! Think lighting you would see if you were on a beach vacation. You can almost smell the salt in the air when you see these dreamy styles. Look for lighting with organic material accents like rattan and rope to evoke those seaside vibes.

Modern Coastal Vanity Lighting

Shop the Look: 1. \\ 2. \\ 3. \\ 4. \\ 5. \\ Wood Vanity \\ Navy Vanity

Modern coastal vanity lighting still brings in nautical and beachy elements but with a more contemporary edge. Here you’ll see a lot of warm tones like gold and brass, sleeker designs, and even black! Yes, you can use black in a modern coastal design. It’s all about adding in coastal elements through texture and design.

Coastal Bathroom Lighting: Vanity Lighting Vs. Sconces

Both traditional vanity lighting (2, 3, and 4 light fixtures) and sconces can be used as your bathroom vanity lighting. It’s both a matter of design preference and what will logistically fit.

If you want a look that’s both elevated and minimalistic, go for sconces. I really love the look of a sconce on either side of a mirror or even in the middle of the mirrors. You may not get quite as much light as if you went with overhead vanity lighting.

Shop the Look: Rattan Sconce \\ Gold Mirror \\ Navy Vanity

Overhead vanity lighting is the more traditional route and can generally give you really good light, especially for applying makeup. Both looks are beautiful, so choose which style works for your taste and space.