Great Ways to Use Interior Wall Lighting

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Indoor wall lights can make a great impact on the appearance and lighting levels in your home. Using interior wall lights, you can brighten dark corners, draw attention to certain features or just spruce up the design style. In this article, we will look at some ways to use LED interior wall lights to your advantage.

General Advice for Interior Wall Lighting

Here are a few general tips to keep in mind as you plan your new interior wall lighting design:

Where you place the wall lights matters. Some of the most popular places are hallways to illuminate a long stretch of wall, living rooms to provide task lighting and bedrooms to provide atmosphere and mood.
Placement refers to where on the walls you are placing the lights. It is best not to install wall lights at a height where you could walk into them. Putting lights at about six feet off the floor makes a good starting point unless any family members are that tall. Spacing the lights six to eight apart is a good rule of thumb. That said, it depends on the size and layout of your room if that’s the best choice for you. Staggering the lights can give them a more natural appearance.
MAKE A STATEMENT. You can use decorative wall lights to serve as art pieces in your space while they provide needed light. Dramatic LED wall lighting can make your space more interesting to behold. Featuring wall lights such as these can add some much-needed personality to a drab area.
BE MINDFUL OF SHAPE AND MATERIAL. You should choose LED wall lighting that matches the rest of your home. Decide if that means boxy or curvy shapes, what colour finish that means and what material would fit in best.
CONSIDER THE SWITCHES. There are various types of light switches you will need to decide between when designing your wall lights. These include:

Pull cords
Rocker switches
Dimmer dials
Toggle switches
In-line rockers

CONSIDER THE POWER SOURCE. If you aren’t hardwiring the lights, you will need to make sure you have a long cord that can reach a power outlet. Keep in mind that this means the cord will be visible, which might be less than ideal for those who don’t like clutter.

How To Use Wall Washer Interior Wall Lights

One of the biggest benefits of modern indoor wall lights is their artistic effect. Interior wall wash lights are one of these light styles. This type of light shines illumination back onto the wall, “washing” it with light. This is particularly useful for rooms that are small or dark to make the space look brighter, better lit and spacious.

A sleek, modern example is this light:

Leon 12 Watt 450mm Wide Brushed Silver LED Wall Light

This wall light has a long bar shape that shines a wide beam of light both above and below it. The metallic finish also does its part in reflecting illumination to make a space seem brighter.

Create shafts of light using the walls by placing multiple wall washers with narrow beams near one another.
Make a room feel more spacious by using directional lighting pointed at the walls and a wide beam angle.
Position them further away from the wall if you want a softer illumination.
Place wall washing lights on light-coloured walls for maximum visibility and light reflectivity.
Consider the lumen count and colour temperature of the light. You don’t want anything harsh and glaring bouncing off of the walls.

Artistic Ways To Use LED Interior Uplighters

Wall uplighters are similar to wall washers in the way they shine illumination upward instead of outward. With proper placement, uplighter wall lights can create a beautiful lighting effect in your space. You can use them to:

Shine upward onto an architectural feature, such as a beam or pillar
Shine upward onto a vaulted ceiling to make a space seem less cavernous and dark
Create ambient lighting that is subtle and off to the side
Enjoy light without glare

These types of lights tend to look their best when they are placed with another uplighter. This will prevent the single light from looking “lost” or out of place.

The LWA438 is a simplistic, yet unique example of this. With its flat body and wide wall washing beam angle, it looks great on either side of fireplaces, bookshelves and other such areas to offer a sense of balance.

LWA438 12 Watt Interior Wall Uplighter

You can get a similar effect with the LWA427. Though it is smaller, it can still draw attention to certain areas while shining light upward. It looks best in pairs and comes in black or white colour finishes, just like the wall washers motioned above.

LWA427 3 Watt LED Wall Washer Uplight

Low Level Wall Lighting Ideas

You can also use wall sconce lighting to bring the lighting down to the floor. Not only does low level lighting provide a richer mood, but it can also make it easier to navigate certain areas. Since sconces sit flush with the wall, there is no risk of tripping over them as you might with a small floor lamp.

Low level lights are quite versatile in where they can be used:

Recessed into the wall of a corridor
Recessed around a cinema room
Recessed into stair risers
Recessed into kitchen plinth areas

Benefits of Low Level wall Lights

SEND LIGHT ACROSS FLOORS. Lights such as the LSL001 Square 1 Watt Recessed LED Wall Light shine a wide angle beam of illumination on the floor, spread out in front of it. You can place one of these lights every few feet down a hallway to keep it well lit and make it easier to see.

LSL001 1 Watt Square Recessed LED Wall Light

INCREASE SPACIOUSNESS. Having a well-lit staircase can make even the most narrow of stairs feel roomier. Without wall mounted lights sticking out, the space will feel tidier and less bulky. They will also take up less room than other types of lights and won’t pose a tripping hazard.
STAIR LIGHTING. You can also place low level lighting directly on stairs to light up each tread.
Having a modern wall lamp placed periodically throughout a space can make it feel well lit and safer to navigate. A light such as the LSL009A Round 1 Watt Recessed LED Wall Light makes a great option for this. It is small, round and easy to install one after the other. It also has a slight wall washing effect that will make it look as artistic as it is practical.

LSL009A Round 1 Watt Mini Recessed LED Wall Light

ENHANCE A KITCHEN. Installing low level lights around the plinths, cabinets and skirting boards will give the kitchen a nice glow. It’s a great option for leaving on at night for late-night trips through the kitchen without having to turn on a bright overhead light.

How To Create a Focus with Picture Lighting

Picture lighting will allow you to draw the eye to certain areas in the room. Most commonly, it is used to light artwork. A well-placed interior wall lamp makes a huge difference when it comes to creating focus in a certain space.

You can use a standard picture light to shine up onto a painting. For a gallery feel, you could instead opt for track lighting. This will offer you greater flexibility and allow you to add more lighting over time as the art on the wall changes. Recessed fixtures are also a good choice for lighting art. This is especially true if the lights are directional.

Tips for Using Picture Lights

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE. You want to get a light that matches the size of the picture. For a portrait-oriented picture, opt for a light that is half of its width. For a landscape-oriented picture, opt for one that is between one-third and one-half of its width.
USE LED BULBS. Choosing a picture light with an LED bulb will offer a crisper look. It will be long lasting and can operate for a minimum of 20,000 hours before needing to be changed, which also makes it low maintenance. Since you can choose the lumens and colour temperature of an LED light, you also have more wiggle room regarding the appearance of the illumination itself.
POSITION IT WELL. You want to create an even spread of light across the entire picture. Therefore, place the light centrally above the art and shine it at a 35-degree angle to lessen glare.
AMOUNT OF LIGHT. Take natural light into consideration when choosing lumens. If the natural light does a good job of shining onto the art, you will need less lighting during the day. If the room is dark, you will need a bulb with more lumens.

How To Create a Statement with LED Interior Wall Lights

You can use decorative wall lights that are artistic in their own right to create a statement in a room. Choose wall lights that have a unique shape or style that makes them stand out from the others in the space. You can also use lights that contrast against the colour of the wall behind it to make them pop to life. Placing the lights away from furniture or televisions will make them more obvious and draw more attention.

If you want to make the statement a modern one, you can choose a hardwired light. This will avoid plugs and cords while making it look like the light is just floating there on the wall. A feature light such as the LWA457 5 Watt Decorative White Interior LED Wall Light can accomplish this. This light is an asymmetrical shape that uses contrast with the black circle in the centre of the white plate. From around the circle shines a halo of light, giving it an eye-catching look.

LWA457 5 Watt Modern Decorative LED Wall Light

Ways To Control Your Interior Lighting

There are many ways you can control the light in your home:

STANDARD SWITCHES. The standard wall switches that you know and love are fixed in one place on the wall. To use them, you must get up and manually turn them on and off. This isn’t as convenient as some other options, but many homeowners still like this classic style.
DIMMER SWITCHES. Natural light shifts throughout the day and your interior lights should, too. Using a dimmer switch, you can control the brightness of the light as the day goes on, changing it with a simple turn.
SMART LIGHTING. With smart lights, you can control the light with the sound of your voice most commonly. You can also use apps that come with your smart home system to control it manually that way. Smart lights allow you to change all manner of things about the light, including brightness, colour temperature and even timing.
LIGHT TIMERS. Timers allow you to set certain times for lights to come on and turn off again. Not only is this convenient and time-saving, but it can also save you money on energy bills.

Ideas for Wall Lighting in the Bedroom

Bedroom lighting should be inviting, warm and comfortable. Below are a few tips for accomplishing this sort of atmosphere:

PUT WALL LIGHTS BESIDE THE BED. By placing lights on either side of the bed, you can spread light out more easily. This will also free up table space and floor space by the bed and make it look less cluttered. Individual lamps on either side of the bed will also give both partners control of when and where the light shines in a way overhead lights do not.
USE READING LIGHTS. Similarly, reading lights can serve this purpose. Lights like the LWA315 3 Watt LED Beech Wood Wall Mounted Reading Light shine just enough light to easily read and relax. It has a simple on/off button and can be positioned at the perfect angle to shine where you want it to. It has a modern but casual feel with a light wood finish.
However, for a sleek-looking reading light, the LWA322 3 Watt Recessed LED Reading Wall Light may better suit your needs. It is available in metallic finishes and can be pressed into the wall plate when not in use, making it look more minimalistic and sophisticated.
MATCH LIGHTS TO YOUR DESIGN STYLE. Light is an accessory in and of itself. It should therefore match the overall design style and colour scheme of the bedroom.
CHOOSE FEATURE LIGHTING. If you want to make a statement in your bedroom, consider hanging a dramatic light on the wall behind your bed. This can give it an artistic look and create a focal point around the largest furniture in the space.
CONSIDER ADJUSTABLE LIGHTING. As the bedroom is meant for rest and relaxation, you might not always want a bright overhead light. Choose a dimmable light with brightness you can adjust both during the day and at night.
USE CONTRAST. Paint a wall a contrasting colour that the lamp itself will stand out against. This will offset the lamp and give your space a unique touch.

LWA315 3 Watt Beech Wood Bedside Wall Reading Light

LWA322 3 Watt Black/Polished Chrome Recessed Reading Light

How To Use Wall Lighting in a Bathroom

Make your bathroom a place you’ll love to be with these wall lighting tips:

THINK PRACTICALLY. Above all else, your bathroom is a place where various tasks occur. It will benefit you to choose wall lights that serve as task lighting for grooming, cleaning, applying makeup, doing skincare or otherwise caring for yourself.
OPT FOR LED. LED lights will allow you to choose the colour temperature and brightness of the lights, letting you create a certain atmosphere in the bathroom.
HIGHLIGHT PRETTY POINTS. Using lights, you can accentuate various elements around it. This could be architectural features, artwork or other accessories. You can highlight mirrors with lights on either side as well. Avoid overhead lights so as not to cast any unflattering shadows on your face.
USE BACKLIGHTING. Backlights behind mirrors and under cabinets can create an artistic effect. They are also good as nightlights, so you don’t blind yourself visiting the bathroom in the middle of the light.
LIGHT UP DARK CORNERS. Using wall lights like the LWA432 6 Watt Square IP65 Bathroom Wall Light, you can bring illumination to areas that the other lights struggle to reach. The light is simple with a rounded-square shape and a choice of black or white finishes. It shines light onto the wall behind it, which will make the bathroom seem larger.

LWA432 Square 6 Watt Halo Effect Bathroom Wall Light

Ways To Use Wall Lighting on a Stairway

Stairway lighting is not only a unique design element. It can also play a huge role in safety. Below are some tips on using wall lights in stairways:

RECESSED LIGHTS. Using recessed lights along the wall of the staircase not only modernises the look; it also makes it safer to navigate. These lights sit flush with the wall and don’t cause any sort of tripping hazard, which is important in areas like this.
LONG BEAMS. Opt for wall lights that shine a long stretch of light ahead of it to light up each step.
Shine uplighters on the wall from the floor upward and make the most out of your vertical space in what is so often a cramped area of the house.
CREATE A STATEMENT. Just because the space is practical doesn’t mean it has to be devoid of style. Lights such as the LWA466 6 Watt Black And Gold Interior LED Wall Light add personality and style while lighting up the area. This light features a simple black post with a tall gold-toned metal wand that shines the light back onto the wall, creating an artistic effect.