By Chris Smith
Wall lights come in a vast collection of styles and serve various purposes. Wall lighting can give needed illumination for safety, accent architectural artwork, and features, add task lighting, or serve as décor all on their own. Here, we explain some of the most often wondered whats, whereas, and whys of wall lighting.
Why Do I Need Wall Lights?
When “wall light” is specified, the first thought that pops into many people’s heads is an ornamental sconce that provides little helpful illumination beyond an accent light. While this application is undoubtedly essential as a decorative feature, wall lights also serve multiple functions for reading, proper task lighting, and overall safety. And wall lights are crucial components of properly layered lighting, which adds beauty and utility to general design schemes.
Where Should I Use Wall Lighting?
Wall lights have applications in any room, indoors and out. Working alongside ceiling lights, a wall-mounted fixture gives extra illumination, while using wall lights in place of overhead lighting produces a more atmospheric effect and can relieve glare. In bathrooms, vanity lights are a vital part of light layering: Flank, a mirror with wall fixtures, to expel shadows from your face that hanging lights tend to cast.
A wall-mounted swing arm light is a practical option to a traditional desk lamp in an office or craft room, clearing up your horizontal surfaces for your jobs. Artwork can be better displayed under a picture light, while sculptures, niches, and other architectural details help from wall-mounted spots. Outdoor wall lights are generally used on the porch and along exterior walls for safety, though many designs provide a decorative touch and safety features.
In rooms where overhead lighting and table/floor lamps will do much of the lighting work, wall lights are still precious additions to add ambiance and lighten corners that may become shadowy after sunset. Try flanking large windows with wall sconces to imitate the effect of daylight coming in, adding a wall light near a particularly dark corner or close to a doorway to illuminate your way into the room. And having all your lights on separate switches enables for better control of your lightscape: Wall lights are especially suited to dimmer switches that will allow you to determine the room’s mood.
What Types of Wall Lights are There?
Picking the proper wall light for the job isn’t difficult, as there are just a few basic types to be familiar with:
- Uplights give a wash of light up a wall, appropriate for accent and atmosphere.
- Downlights may emphasize walls too, but more commonly lighten the ground below for a practical purpose.
- Reading and swing arm lights have flexible elements that can bring light to you.
- Vanity and Bath lights are designed for smooth, glare-free illumination.
- Picture lights and spots are used to bring attention to—you guessed it— artwork and pictures.
Author’s Bio:
Chris Smith is a published author, passionate about helping people understand content marketing through his easily digestible materials.