How to Change a Vanity Light

You can dramatically change the appearance and mood of your bathroom by changing the vanity light. There are numerous styles and designs to fit virtually any bathroom theme. You do not have to settle for the traditional vanity light set that came installed in your home. Learning how to change a vanity light can save money, as you do not need to hire an electrician for this moderately easy bathroom home improvement project.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver Wire nuts Wire stripper Extension cord Alternate light source

Instructions

1. Switch off the power supply to the existing vanity light. Go to the breaker box in your home, look for the breaker for the room with the vanity light and flip the switch to the off position.

2. Plug an alternate light source into a long extension cord. Take the alternate light source to the bathroom with the vanity light.

3. Remove the bulbs in the vanity light. Unscrew the vanity light's mounting and fixture with the screwdriver. Remove the wire nuts from the wiring and unscrew the wires from the mounting and fixture. Set the mounting and fixture pieces aside.

4. Attach any mounting hardware that came with the new vanity light fixture, per the manufacturer's instructions.

5. Locate the hot wire from the wall and on the vanity light fixture. This wire should be either red or black. Hold the hot wire from the wall next to the hot wire from the light fixture. Twist the end of the wires to bind them together. Cap the end with a wire nut.

6. Locate the green wire from the wall and on the vanity light fixture. Connect and cap the end of the green wires, as you did the hot wire in step 5.

7. Locate the ground wire from the wall and on the vanity light fixture. This wire should be copper or white. Connect and cap the end of the ground wires, as you did the hot wire in step 5.

8. Tuck the bound wires into the light's hole while bringing the light fixture flush with the mounting and wall. Secure the light fixture to the mounting and wall, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

9. Replace vanity light bulbs of the appropriate wattage into the new vanity light. Turn the breaker switch back on.

Tips & Warnings

• Flip on and off the lights in the room to make certain the power supply is completely shut off before you change a vanity light.