How to Add a Bathroom Wall Light

Adding in a bathroom wall light will transform a passable bathroom into one where everything is clearly visible. If you have ever not had enough light in a bathroom, you know how annoying it can be when looking in a mirror or taking a shower. If you are doing this job as a retrofit, it will involve tearing into the drywall and possibly leaving you with a patch job. The wiring is fairly straightforward, but being able to locate and splice into a circuit without damaging the drywall is the chore. This particular wall light will contain its own switch, so there is no need to wire an independent switch. 

Step 1: Locate Studs in Approximate Area

Where you plan on installing the wall light, run the stud finder over the wall to locate the studs on both sides of the fixture. If there happens to be a stud directly where you want to install the light, you will have to make some adjustments to your plan. Find and mark the vertical placement of the studs coming from both directions so you know exactly where they are. 

Step 2: Cut into the Drywall

If there is an outlet below where you want to install the light, be careful, for there might be a cable behind the wall. Cut into the drywall with the drywall saw. Cut out a section about 10 by 10 inches. You have to be able to screw the light box into the studs, so it has to be that big. 

Step 3: Locate a Circuit

You’ll need to find a circuit into which you can splice the light. It may be from an outlet, or it may be a circuit running to other lights or a fan. Use the fish tape to try to find any cable behind the walls. If you are unsuccessful, you may have to make more cuts in the drywall to locate the right cable. 

Step 4: Expose the Cable 

Make perfectly sure you know which circuit you are working with. Turn the power to that circuit off at the main circuit panel. Into the hole you’ve cut, pull about 1 foot of Romex insulated cable so you have something to work with. 

Step 5: Attach the Light Box

To one stud, attach the light box by means of preset nails or wood screws. If the fixture is over 50 pounds, a special bracket will be necessary. Again, make sure the circuit is off and cut the Romex where it is exposed. Bring about 6 inches through the top hole and 6 inches through the bottom hole of the light box. 

Step 6: Wire the Light in the Middle of the Circuit

Strip the Romex of its outer insulation on both ends. Strip the individual black and white wires of its insulation about an inch. Using three wire nuts, connect the black from the source with the black on the light and the black leading out of the box. Do the same with the white wires. Connect the bare (or green) wires, but connect the third piece to the box. 

Check your connections and then check the power. Flip the circuit back on, screw in a light bulb and turn the switch on the light fixture. If the light does not come on, there is a bad connection somewhere. If it does, tuck the wires into the light box, patch the drywall around the box and attach the light fixture.