Wall lighting is an often overlooked but highly important element of interior design. It can aesthetically enhance the room, while also brightening darker corners, making it highly useful and versatile. In this article, we will explore indoor wall lights, including their purpose and how to incorporate them.
Why Is Wall Lighting Great for a Home Interior?
Wall lighting achieves something that most other lighting fixtures cannot: they add architectural character and illumination alike. Unlike standard ceiling lights, which are usually more functional than anything, modern inside wall lights have a decorative element, too. They are able to influence the atmosphere of the space which can alter the overall vibe. They can also be used to highlight elements you want to draw the eye to.
Decorative wall lights can introduce balanced, soft illumination into the space, reducing harsh shadows and making the space feel more inviting. They also provide visual depth that can enhance the overall feeling of depth and dimension across the room. This style of lights can make the room feel more layered and dynamic, such as when you include up and down wall washing indoor sconce wall lights.
Interior wall light fittings can also create a zoned look in the space and introduce focal points. They can be used to frame artwork, highlight architecture, or add symmetry to a space. Wall lights are particularly helpful in this regard where open-plan floor spaces are involved, helping to separate different sections out and create focal points.
Quality wall lights may also be used for creating task lighting in certain areas. Task lights around reading nooks and other small areas can enhance visibility for completing certain activities.
What Is the Purpose of Them?
Interior wall lights serve a purpose in each room and play a heavy role in influencing how a space will function overall. Different from ceiling lights which mostly illuminate a space from above, interior wall light design focuses on introducing lights that shine from different heights in the room. This gives you more creative control and freedom over the illumination in a room.
The main purpose of an interior wall light is to give comfortable, balanced illumination from various angles. Wall lights are soft and reduce shadows, lowering contrast and creating a more relaxing environment. Compare this to a ceiling light which doesn’t always cast illumination evenly to every corner and can leave dull spots.
Wall lights are also ideal for task lighting. Wall lights can be placed anywhere focused light is needed--like beside a bed for a reading light, near a staircase for navigation, or by a mirror for grooming.
Beyond task and ambient wall lighting ideas, you can incorporate wall lights as accent lighting as well. Accent lights can be used to showcase architecture, artwork, and focal points in general. They bring texture and personality to a room while giving additional illumination.
Why It Is Important to Consider the Room You Are Lighting
When it choosing wall lights, it comes down to far more than just choosing a style or color you prefer. You'll also need to understand how each room in the house functions, and how lights can enhance that specific area.
For example, fixtures that are perfect for bedroom wall lighting might not be suitable as bathroom wall lights. One use of wall lights provides a soft glow in the bedroom, while the other will focus on brightness and visibility.
Following that same example, bathroom lights will often have practical constraints that aren't necessary in a bedroom. Bathroom lights need moisture-resistance due to the wet nature of a bathroom. Bedroom lights, on the other hand, typically do not need to be IP rated.
Considering the room will also help you pin down visual harmony. Wall lights need to complement the style of the room, the existing decor, the layout of the furniture and the architectural features. For example, a modern room may benefit from sleek, minimalistic fixtures. Traditional rooms may look better with brassy finishes and intricate designs.
You should also be considering things like placement and proportion. Where you install the lights plays a huge role in how well the illumination is incorporated into the space. Not taking time to do so thoughtfully can end in subpar results.
How to Get the Height and Placement Right
As mentioned, the placement of the lighting is crucial in terms of both visual comfort and overall balance. Wall lights tend to sit around eye-level, meaning even small mistakes in the positioning can affect the look and feel of the space. For this reason, thoughtful placement is crucial.
The first thing to consider is the comfort of the eyes. In many spaces, interior designer wall lights will usually be installed around eye level, around 1.5 meters to 1.7 meters from the floor. This height keeps light sources comfortable right above the eyeline without disrupting the spread of the lighting.
The goal of this placement is to reduce glare while ensuring the light is evenly distributed. This is especially important where hallway wall lights are concerned, or any other high-traffic zone. If there are fittings with strong directional beams or exposed bulbs, slightly adjusting the height can make a big difference in avoiding glare.
The spacing of your fixtures is also critical. Wall lights need to feel as if they were placed intentionally and not just randomly scattered about. Even spacing in long hallways or in larger rooms will create a nice flow and rhythm.
The exact distance between the lights will depend on the beam spread of the fitting and the brightness of the lights. Both of these elements together influence how much light shines between each fixture placement. This will account for how many fixtures are needed to ensure proper illumination.
When lights are positioned by seating areas, mirrors and beside beds, the placement is more dependent on the tasks that will take place in the area. Bedside wall lights should rest high enough to give you illumination for reading without shining right in the eyes. Mirror lights, on the other hand, should be placed at, or slightly above, eye level to eliminate harsh shadows.
You should also consider the style of the light when choosing placement. For instance, up-and-down lights look better when they are centered as a focal point. Sculptural wall lights might require a little more space around them to really make them stand out. Recessed wall lights, on the other hand, might be best placed closer together to give a continuous lighting effect.
How to Combine With Other Lighting in a Room
Combining wall lights with other fixtures in the room is important when it comes to creating a balanced lighting scheme. Layered lighting is the process of incorporating ambient, accent and task lighting into one space. When you layer lights, you are making sure the room is well-lit and has a nice mixture of lighting types.
Ambient lights are the overall layer of light in a room. It sets the main foundation for the lighting scheme and is then supplemented by other lighting styles. Wall lights can be used as ambient lighting in smaller rooms, but generally speaking, ceiling lights take on this role.
Typically, wall lights are better for task and accent lighting. Task lights provide focused illumination for zones of activity. Accent lighting shows off certain elements in a room. Both are perfectly primed for the use of wall lights. Due to the versatility in placement of a wall light, you can really get creative and ensure ample light in any area of the room.
When layering lights, it’s important to ensure the light fixtures have a similar finish and style. You should also be sure the lights are all the same colour temperature in order to prevent clashing.
Why It Is Important to Consider the Beam Angle of the Lights
From living room wall lights to interior wall sconces ideas for bedrooms, the beam angle needs to be taken into account. The beam angle refers to what angle the illumination shines at, and how wide or narrow the lighting is. Beam angle has one of the strongest visual consequences, so you need to take it into consideration.
A narrow beam angle distributes light over 10 to 30 degrees, while a wider beam angle shines over 60 degrees. Narrower beams shine more focused light and are great for accent lights. Wider beam angles give a more general wash.
The differences between wide and narrow beam angles are stark enough that they can influence the overall atmosphere of your space as well. Understanding the benefits of each can help you create more dynamic lighting in your home without any visual clashing.
Conclusion
Wall lights are an important part of any layered lighting scheme and should not be overlooked. In this article, we’ve explored the benefits and purpose of wall lights, as well as how to incorporate them into your space. Keep this article close as you design a lighting scheme that includes wall sconces for best results.
