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Wall lights are the quiet layer most rooms are missing. From a dimmable swing arm beside a bed to a clear glass bar above a mirror. Free UK delivery on orders over £100.
What a wall light is for
A wall light with indirect light gives a room a warmer, quieter atmosphere than anything overhead can. It brings a dark wall back into the room, and in a small space it lights the room without taking any of the floor.
That is the argument for wall lights generally. The argument for a specific one starts with a different question.
Decide the purpose before the design
Different jobs want different fittings, and the job decides which. Take vanity lighting as the clearest example. A light above a mirror has to be warm and even, bright enough to show a face without casting shadows and not so bright that it dazzles. That is a specific requirement, and it is why vanity lights are a specific type of fitting rather than a wall light that happens to be near a mirror.
The same logic runs through the rest. An up-and-down sconce washes a wall and suits a corridor or a staircase. A swing arm with a dimmer is a reading light. A clear glass bar over a mirror is a task light. Knowing which of those you want before you start looking saves most of the work.
Then the room
Once you know the purpose, check the colour scheme and design style of the room, where the electrical point is, and the space available. A fitting that is too big or too small for the wall it is on is the most common mistake, and it is the easiest to avoid with a tape measure.
Outdoors, and a warning
If you are looking for a wall light for outside, check the rating rather than the listing. Exposure to weather ruins a fitting that is not built for it. None of the wall lights on this page carries an outdoor rating: for outside, use the solar spotlight from our outdoor range, which is IP65 and comes with wall screws.
If you are unsure, email us at theteam@modernlight.uk before you order.
Frequently asked questions about wall lights
What is a wall sconce?
Strictly, a fitting attached to a wall where the light is directed upwards and outwards. In recent years the term has come to be used for almost any wall light, particularly a decorative one.
What is the difference between a wall light and a wall sconce?
Traditionally a sconce is a type of wall light, defined by throwing light up and out. In current usage the two words are used interchangeably.
How do I choose the right wall light?
Purpose first, because that decides which direction the fitting throws light. Then the electrical point, then the colour scheme and style, then the dimensions of the space so the fitting is neither too big nor too small for it.
Should I buy a wall light or a table lamp?
A table lamp is easier: plug it in and you are done. A wall light needs installation and usually an electrician. What it gives you back is floor and surface space, which in a small room is worth more than the convenience.
How high should a wall light go?
In a corridor, around 1.6m to 1.8m from the floor. Beside a bed, around 1.2m to 1.5m, so the shade sits just above shoulder height when you are sitting up. Above a mirror, usually around 2m.
How far apart should a pair be?
Around 2m to 2.5m between centres in a hallway gives an even run without dark gaps.
Which of yours can I plug in rather than wire in?
The swing arm wall sconce. It comes with a 1.83m cord and a plug, and it can also be hardwired later if you would rather not see the cord.
Which of yours are dimmable?
The swing arm has its own rotary dimmer on the backplate and ships with a matched dimmable bulb. The clear glass bar dims with dimmable bulbs and a compatible dimmer. The up-down LED pair does NOT dim: the maker states it will flicker on a dimmable switch.