How to do wall lights

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to size, style and function. We’ll take you through the basics so you can get the most out of your wall lights.

Choosing a design

Wall lights sit between surface-mounted spotlights and small table lamps – they won’t single-handedly illuminate a room, but they’re impactful enough to set the mood and cast targeted pools of light. 

Our Malvern swan neck design casts light upwards towards the ceiling, which helps to enhance and open up any space. 

Our Primrose, small Claremont and Richmond styles, meanwhile, direct light downwards, but in a softer way than a ceiling light will. 

Then there’s our medium-sized Claremont design that provides both up and down light from its two fluted glass shades. It’s great for framing features indoors and out. 

Regarding shades, be sure to know what sort you’re after. 

Do you want to create a statement or balance? 

A solid brass or fluted glass shade will make an impact (albeit subtly) on your walls, whereas a cone shaped, neutral linen shade will quietly blend into the background.

Where to use them

One of the many great things about wall lights is that they can be used for pretty much anything. 

Frame a bathroom or dresser mirror with a pair of Richmond fixed lights, for example, to illuminate your morning and evening routine.

Or why not use the hanging Claremont style on either side of your bed for night-time reading? They’ll even work in the kitchen above counters or near hob areas to shed some extra light on your culinary endeavours.

And if you have a piece of art or architecture in your home that you’re particularly fond of, you can use wall lights to draw the eye to the feature. 

They really are very versatile.

How to properly position them

When you’re deciding how many wall lights you need and where to place them, it’s a good idea to think about the size of the room and any natural light patterns. 

Having too many close together can seem cluttered, but groups of two, three or four wall lights can be really effective when done right. 

As a rule of thumb, we’d suggest leaving around 8ft between fixtures, if space allows – though, of course, it very much depends on the size and layout of each individual room.

You’ll want to make sure they don’t protrude too far into the room to stop them getting knocked and damaged.

And lastly, we’d recommend positioning them at around 5-6ft high. This way, the light shade will sit at eye level so you shouldn’t get any glare from the bulb. 

Discover our collection of fixed and hanging wall lights here.