Choosing the Right Style of Wall Light

Whether you’re looking to add subtle illumination to a dark hallway or brighten up a narrow bathroom, wall light fixtures are a versatile choice. They provide focused illumination, perfect for task lighting or brightening spaces that large overhead fixtures might fail to reach like alcoves and bay windows.

There are many different styles of wall lights to choose from, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The first step to choosing the right style is to think about the function that you want the lights to perform. This will help you decide what types of bulbs to use with the fixture and where to install it.

Direct Wall Lights – These fixtures provide direct lighting to the wall, usually with a glass lens or diffuser to manage glare. They’re most often installed in kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms.

Indirect Wall Lights – These are less commonly used but can be great for brightening up small areas and providing indirect lighting in bathrooms, hallways, and stairways. They typically feature a thin profile and are ADA-compliant, which means they’re ideal for those with special needs or mobility limitations.

Picture Lights – These are decorative wall lights that focus on specific features such as a photo, picture or artwork. These are a great way to highlight an artistic focal point in your home and can also be mounted above or below a work of art on your wall.

Swing Arm Wall Lights – These are a great alternative to the traditional wall light and are a very flexible option for lighting your space. They can be positioned in many ways but are most commonly hung at eye level.

Scissor Arm Wall Lights – These are another popular option, similar to the swing arm wall light but have a more open neck that allows them to be moved in all directions.

ADA Compliant Wall Lights – These wall fixtures are ideal for those with disabilities or mobility restrictions as they are able to be fitted in tight spots and are often more slim than the competition thanks to LED technology.

Hospitality Wall Lights – These wall fixtures are perfect for use in bars and restaurants, offering both functional lighting and a stylish aesthetic that is sure to attract attention and draw people in.

Bathroom Wall Lights – These wall lights are perfect for bathrooms as they have a high IP44 rating meaning they are waterproof, making them safe to use in the bathroom and other wet areas of your home.

Bedroom Wall Lights – Most bedroom wall lights are used for reading purposes and are positioned either low down at the side of the bed or near the top of the headboard. They’re a popular choice for those wanting to brighten up the bedroom and are a good option if you’re short of wall space for ceiling lights.

Wall light fixtures may be switched by a normal wall switch, or they may need to be hard wired into your mains wiring. Whichever method you choose, it’s important to have the right cables in place before you start installation. Depending on how the wall was built, you will need to cut out channels in the wall for the power and switch cables. If you’re unsure about how to do this, it’s best to get a professional in to do the job for you.