Wall sconces can be used for many different things. Wall lights are a flexible and stylish addition to most spaces. They can be used to add a flattering layer of ambient light, compensate for areas where general lighting doesn’t reach or isn’t possible, or even create some decorative or design effect.
So we’ve put together a guide to a few places in the home where a wall light or three might be useful, along with tips on how to install them.
Hallway and staircase
A chandelier or ceiling light on a staircase isn’t always evenly distributed, which can be dangerous. Wall lights can help make staircases and corridors brighter and more even.
Install them between 165 and 185 cm from the floor, depending on the height of your ceiling. Use the “6-foot rule” to decide where to place wall lights in corridors. If you leave 1 metre between each wall light in a long corridor or staircase, the light will fill the whole space without any weird gaps.
Bathroom
Install bathroom wall lights on either side of the vanity mirror or an LED bathroom light bar just above the mirror to give you the best light. That way, unsightly harsh shadows cast by ceiling lights won’t get in the way of your morning routine, and you’ll feel your best when you step out into the world.
If you want to install a wall light in the bathroom, it’s best to put one on each side of the vanity unit. Use three wall lights in a bathroom with two vanity units. Place one on each of the outer edges and one in the middle. The height of bathroom wall lights should be between 1.5 and 2.5 metres from the floor, but it can be adjusted to suit your height to be roughly at eye level.
Bedside
Wall sconces are often placed next to beds, as they make excellent reading lamps and are useful at night when the ceiling light is too bright but you’re not yet ready to turn the lights off.
The best starting point for hanging a bedside wall light is 75-90cm above the top of the mattress (or 15-30cm above your shoulder if you’re sitting against the headboard) and no more than a foot from the edge of the bed. This depends a little on how the wall light is made. Adding a dimmer switch to a bedside lamp is also a good idea so that the user can reduce the brightness as night falls.
Living rooms and fireplaces
Wall lights are a great way to add a second light source to larger rooms. Most living rooms have a main overhead light source, such as a chandelier, but wall sconces can be used to illuminate darker areas or far corners of the room and add a flattering layer of more indirect light.
Wall lights are also used in larger rooms to draw attention to one feature, such as the fireplace. Wall lights are often placed on both sides of a fireplace to highlight it in the room.
Entrance
Most entrances have a main light source, such as a chandelier, pendants in the foyer or a large window in the front door that lets in natural light. But a wall light can make this space a little more cosy and welcoming. Wall sconces can be placed inside entrances or outside, near the front door or on the porch. Installing a wall light outside not only increases street appeal, but also optimises the safety of your guests.
Flush style: These sconces are generally small and close to the wall. They do not protrude beyond the wall by more than the depth of the sconce. These compact sconces can be used indoors and outdoors, and are known for giving the impression of covering the wall with light. For this reason, flush wall lights are both a great way to decorate and a good way to add light.
Style with a swivel arm: Because sconces with a swivel arm can be moved, they can be used to direct light in different directions. This makes them perfect for lighting bedsides, tasks, desks and other areas. Some swing arm wall lights only move from side to side, while others can also move up and down.
Downlights cast a narrow beam of light towards the floor and are perfect for bedrooms, offices and other places where people want to be alone. For this reason, they are perfect for making a room smaller, more comfortable and more relaxing.
Rising lamps: Unlike downlights, which diffuse light towards the floor, uplights diffuse light towards the ceiling and make the room feel larger. This style draws the eye upwards, so it’s ideal for lounges, hallways and other places you want to make look bigger than they are.
Plug-in wall light: Plug-in wall lights are the easiest to install. Plug-in wall lights are a good choice when you don’t have a junction box and don’t want to deal with wiring behind walls. Most come with a visible cord or a channel that hides the cord and gives it a more decorative look.