Lighting plays an important role in interior design, both for functionality and style. Lighting is often used as the finishing touch in any room, providing the right amount of illumination and setting the overall ambiance of the space.
The specific style of the lighting fixtures also contributes to the overall decor scheme and can be used to either blend in or create a focal point.
Types of Wall Lighting
There are many different types of light fixtures, one of the most versatile being wall lights. Some of the most common types of wall lights include the wall sconce, swing arm wall lamps, vanity lights and picture lights. Each type of wall lighting is best suited to specific uses or placements.
What to Consider When Choosing the Perfect Wall Light
When choosing wall lights for your home, it’s important to consider key factors like purpose, location, style, size, bulb type and materials. Wall lights are a valuable addition to any room, and provide concentrated lighting throughout your home for maximum functionality and aesthetics.
Wall Sconces
A wall sconce is a lighting fixture that attaches to the wall. It usually consists of a decorative plate or bracket that is installed on the wall and a component that extends from the wall to hold the light source. Wall sconces are versatile and compact fixtures that can be placed around a room as needed.
Designs and Styles of Wall Sconces
Sconces come in many styles and designs, ranging from classic styles inspired by old-world charm, to contemporary options with sleek designs. Wall sconces are often used as decorative accents and are available in many styles to complement the overall look and feel of any room.
Placement of Sconces
Wall sconces can be used to add both ambient and accent lighting, depending on their placement. Many people use arrangements of multiple wall sconces to shed ambient light throughout a room. One wall sconce can also be placed in areas where more lighting is needed like dark corners and near task-related areas.
When choosing a wall sconce, consider how much light is needed, as well as how it complements the ceiling lights and overall lighting scheme. These versatile light fixtures are great options for both ambient and task lighting.
Wall sconces are often used in spaces like a hallway, bedrooms, living rooms or dens. These rooms often need a wall light to help shed light in areas that the overhead lighting may not illuminate. It is common to see a wall light like a sconce placed in a dim hallway, or used to add brightness to larger rooms that may need more than just overhead lights or one wall light to provide adequate lighting.
Swing Arm Wall Lamps
Swing arm wall lamps are a type of wall-mounted lighting with an adjustable arm that can be swung or pivoted to direct light as needed.
The design of these lamps allows for flexibility in adjusting the position and angle of the light, making them particularly useful for tasks like reading or concentrated illumination in specific areas.
Ideal Spaces for Swing Arm Wall Lamps
Swing arm wall lamps are most commonly used in spaces where concentrated lighting is needed like bedrooms, offices and dens. They are particularly useful in rooms that are used day and night since they can provide brightness in designated areas even when the overhead lighting is turned off, such as near the bedside table or in a reading nook.
Balancing Functionality with Style
Swing arm wall lamps are a great example of lighting fixtures that combine functionality with style. They are highly practical light sources that are available in a wide range of styles for a decorative touch. From modern to traditional, there are many different styles, sizes and materials to choose from.
How Swing Arms Enhance Task Lighting
Swing arms enhance task lighting with their adjustable designs. They typically have one or more pivot points that allow it to swing back and forth, as well as sometimes rotate or extend. This allows you to control it within a range of angles and directions to direct light where it is needed most. This makes these fixtures highly versatile and practical for use in many different spaces.
Vanity Lights
Vanity lights are a type of lighting fixture designed for use in bathrooms, dressing rooms, or other grooming-related spaces. These lights are commonly installed above or on either side of a vanity mirror, providing even and flattering lighting for tasks like applying makeup, shaving, or styling hair.
Popular Styles of Vanity Lights
Some of the most popular vanity light styles are Hollywood style with exposed bulbs along the perimeter of the mirror, mirror-integrated lights that are built directly into the vanity mirror and bar or strip vanity lights that contain a row of lights in one long fixture. Horizontal bath bars are a specific style of vanity lighting commonly used in bathrooms. These fixtures are designed with a horizontal orientation, making them ideal for mounting above or alongside bathroom mirrors to provide even illumination.
Each style of vanity light has its own advantages and disadvantages, but it’s important to choose a style that suits your bathroom decor.
Placement of Vanity Lights
When installing your vanity lights, they should be strategically placed around mirrors to minimize shadows on the face, ensuring that the lighting is even and well-distributed for grooming tasks. Their main function is to provide bright and focused illumination, so it’s important to install them at a height where the lighting is not obstructed.
Combining Vanity Lights with Other Lighting
Combining different types of bathroom lighting is key for optimal functionality and aesthetics. Vanity lights should be used strategically for grooming tasks and be complemented by general ceiling lighting for overall ambient light. It’s recommended to choose cooler colour temperatures in the bathroom for the most appropriate lighting for grooming.
Picture Lights
Picture lights are specific lighting fixtures designed to accent and illuminate artwork. They are typically mounted above the artwork and are designed to cast a focused and even light on the art, enhancing its visibility and showcasing it in a flattering light.
Types and Styles of Picture Lights
There are different types of picture lighting available to choose from, including fixed, wall-mounted picture lighting, adjustable arm picture lights and clip-on picture lights that attach to the frame.
Fixed wall-mounted picture lights are the most common and they are available in a variety of styles from sleek and modern to more ornate. Many people choose a style of picture light that suits the look of the artwork or the frame.
Installing Picture Lights
When installing your light fixture, it’s important to consider the placement of the fixture. You want the light installed close enough to the art that it provides even illumination, but not so close that you create shadows or glare. The perfect positioning will depend on the size of the artwork and the location where it is hung.
Adding Visual Appeal with Picture Lights
Picture lights help to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home by lighting art to create a stunning focal point. They help draw the eye to the art and provide it with the necessary illumination to flatter and accentuate it.
What to Consider When Buying Wall Lights
Purpose
The most important thing to consider when choosing wall lights is their intended purpose. Selecting an appropriate lighting fixture will depend on why and how it is being used. Is it being used to provide accent lighting, or is it contributing to overall ambient light of a in a room?
If you’re wishing to provide task lighting, light fixtures such as swing arm wall lamps will be useful. Don’t forget to consider the overhead light source in the room, and aim to choose wall lights that will complement it.
Location
Identifying the location where you want to place your wall light will help you choose the best type of fixture. Wall lights can be installed above furniture, art, or mirrors, so consider the best height for optimal illumination.
Wall lights can also be used in a hallway, entryways or seating areas to complement the overall lighting in the room and shed some extra brightness. Vanity lights are a key component of any bathroom, so be sure to add them to your overall lighting scheme in the room.
Style
Lighting is a great way to add a finishing touch to the look and feel of a room. Not only are they functional fixtures, they also provide a decorative touch. When choosing a light fixture, consider what style would best complement the room’s decor.
You can choose a sleek fixture that blends seamlessly or one that has eye-catching accents to create a beautiful focal point. Wall lights are available in a range of styles from modern, to traditional, eclectic, rustic or contemporary.
Size and Scale
It’s always important to consider the size and scale of your lighting fixture to select the right fit for the space. You want your light fixture to be proportionate to the wall size and height. Whether they will be placed at eye level or higher up will depend on their surroundings.
Choosing a light fixture that is too big or too small for its intended space will throw off the overall balance of the space. Consider how the light fits in with the surrounding decor and furniture. Does the size of the light make sense, or does it become overpowering or unnoticed when combined with the rest of the decor?
Light Bulb Type
Different bulbs are best for different lighting needs. In areas like bathrooms or kitchen you’ll want a brighter, cooler toned light to energize the room and provide appropriate lighting.
In spaces like the bedroom or living room, softer and warmer lighting is better for creating a warm glow and relaxing ambiance. By choosing the right light bulb brightness and colour temperature, you can tailor the ambiance to fit the use of the space.
Materials
Wall lights are available in a variety of different materials. Fixture accents like lampshades and light arms can be made from materials like wood, metal, glass or fabric.
Choose a fixture made with materials that complement the overall decor and finishes of the room. This can mean choosing matching materials or complementary ones to create a focal point.
A Bright Decision: Choosing the Right Wall Lighting
Now that you’ve learned more about how to choose wall lights, you can confidently select the right type and style of wall light to complement any space. The process starts by selecting the right type of wall light, whether it’s a wall sconce, swing arm wall light, vanity light or picture light.
Once you’ve chosen the appropriate type of lighting, you can play with different variations of styles, sizes and materials to find the right choice that is both functional and visually appealing. The right lighting choice will depend on your unique style and how you use your home. Whether you're using one wall light for concentrated lighting, or multiple wall lights as ambient lighting, they play a crucial role in overall illumination.
Lighting can make a huge impact on room aesthetics. Not only does the right wall light provide lighting to support the room’s intended purpose, it also adds a decorative element that supports the room’s overall style. Experiment with different wall lighting styles to find the perfect fit for your home.
Browse our collection of wall lighting products to discover wall lights to fit every corner of your home. We carry a variety of wall lighting fixtures from top designer brands for every style and budget.
