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Buyer’s guide to wall lighting – how to choose the right wall lights
Why is wall lighting important?
As you may already know, the secret to great lighting is layering. You should always look to have three types of light – ambient, task and accent. These light sources complement each other and all play an important role.
Wall lights are important in adding layers of light because they can perform any of the roles well. They can be the main ambient light source or provide you with gentle task lighting while reading in bed. Although, they are commonly used as accent lighting, highlighting the key features of a room.
Read the rest of our helpful guide and then discover our fabulous range of wall lights here.
What to consider when buying wall lights
What will be the function of your wall light?
We mentioned how wall lights can play the role of any type of light, so think about that when choosing them. Will your wall light be used to accentuate certain features, or will you use it for task lighting? Perhaps for your bathroom you want a wall light to be the general lighting source?
It’s important to know the role it will play, because you’ll need to buy the fixture best suited to it. Direct spotlights are great for task or accent lighting, but for ambient lighting you’ll want a fixture that distributes light evenly throughout the room.
It’s also important to note that light flux will vary with each room. Ensure that the light can sufficiently illuminate the whole space. Wall lights struggle to provide ambient light to larger rooms.
They should work with the style of the room
Think about the style of the room you are buying for. Are you going for a more classic or mid-century modern look? Or do you need a more contemporary style fitting? It’s important to think about how the wall lights will work with the rest of the room design before buying.
Consider wall lights with switches
You can operate wall lights independently from other light fittings in the room, by fitting them with an integrated switch. This is great for creating a relaxed mood late at night or turning down the lights to watch a movie.
There are several different switches for wall lights, some of the most popular include:
Rocker – a popular classic, usually a solid rectangular tab that works as an on/off switch.
Pull Cord – a hanging string switch that is simply pulled to turn on or off.
Toggle – a nodule or small lever-style switch that you simply flick up and down to use. Similar to the classic rocker switch.
Dimmer – a dial that can be used to dim or brighten light. The user can roll the dial to control the light setting. Perfect for creating mood.
Types of wall lighting fixture
There are a range of wall lighting styles to suit any décor, so it can be tricky knowing which fixture is right for your home. Below we’ve listed a few popular options to give you some ideas and help you pick the perfect wall lights.
Uplights – are a popular choice of accent lighting. They shine light upwards to complement ambient lighting and create atmosphere.
Downlights – also provide accent lighting but focus on highlighting features underneath, like a house plant or mantelpiece.
Picture Lights – as the name suggests, these lights are placed around pictures to accentuate and draw attention to them.
Spotlights – offer a targeted beam of light to highlight specific features. This could be a portrait or object on the ground.
Vanity Lighting – provide even illumination that prevents glare. Because of this, they are often placed around mirrors.
Reading Lights – are used for one particular job: to help you read. They protect your eyes from strain and illuminate your reading material. They’re an example of task lighting, rather than accent or ambient.
Picking the right light bulb for your wall lights
The three main types of bulbs used in wall lights are LEDs, fluorescent and incandescent, though incandescent bulbs are being phased out.
LEDs – use less power than other bulbs, making them the most energy-efficient and cheapest to run.
Fluorescent – although they are far more efficient than incandescent bulbs, they are expensive to buy, are non-dimmable and have a harsh colour tone.
Incandescent – lastly, are incandescent bulbs which have now been banned in the UK due to their environmental impact. They are cheap to buy but use lots of energy and need replacing often.
See our light bulb guide for an in-depth view.
