Do’s and Don’ts When Lighting a Stairway

Stairway lighting can enhance the visual appeal of a pathway, both indoors and out. It can also improve the safety of navigating the stairwell, making the area easier to use.

Stair lighting designs tend to focus on both of those elements, with trends in staircase lighting changing often to reflect the times. There are many types of lights that you can bring into your staircase to achieve the desired effect, whether that is simply safety or decorative flair as well.

Here, we’ll take a look at the importance of LED stairway lighting as well as how to get it right.

 

Importance of Staircase Lighting 

A stairway is an area of heavy traffic. Any area that is used as frequently as a stairway needs to be properly lit for safety purposes.

Stairway wall lights play a huge role in the functionality and appearance of a stairwell. With proper illumination through staircase lighting, outdoor and indoor stairway lighting alike becomes easier and safer to navigate, which, as stated, is important for heavily travelled areas such as stairwells.

Stylish staircase illumination such as low level wall lights can bring modern charm to a stairwell while also assisting in visibility. Every stairway is different, which presents you with unique opportunities to make yours entirely your own.

There are many stairway lighting ideas you can incorporate into your specific stairwell to enhance the visual appeal. There is a wide variety of stairwell lighting options that you can use, including:

  • Hanging pendant Lights
  • Banister lighting
  • Stair riser lights
  • Wall mounted lights
  • Recessed wall lights
  • Recessed Step Lights
  • Under-step lighting

1 watt recessed LED stair lights installed into stair risers

Are Stairway Lights Easy to Incorporate? 

Just like any other kind of light, the ease of installation comes down to your personal knowledge and the fixture type. Certain lights, like surface mounted lights, may be easy enough for you to install on your own.

More complicated LED lights, such as recessed stairway lighting, may require a qualified electrician. It is generally recommended that you hire a professional for your installation to prevent the risk of electrocution or improper installation.

 

How much is too much?

Stairway lighting options are plentiful, but just because there are many choices doesn’t mean you should cram all of them into the stairwell. Overlighting a staircase can cause glare and can be generally unpleasant.

The amount of light you will need will depend on individual factors, such as the size of the staircase. Small staircases can sometimes benefit from step lights alone. Larger stairwells, on the other hand, may need some supplemental lighting, such as staircase wall lights.

 

Tips for Staircase Lighting

There are many ways you can go with staircase illumination. However, there are a few general tips to consider when doing so.

 

  1. PLAN AHEAD – You are going to be seeing and using these lights every single day, so be sure that you like what you see. Avoid the risk of creating a stairwell that is too busy, too brightly lit or not lit well enough at all when planning the placement. You should also figure out how many lumens you’ll need each light to emit to achieve the desired effect and safety.

 

  1. STAY PRACTICAL – While it’s natural to want to go all out with your staircase lighting, remain practical about what you are doing. Don’t go overboard and cause glare, as that can reduce both visibility and visual appeal. Similarly, think about the inevitable maintenance of the lights and ensure they are placed somewhere that is easy to access.

 

  1. KEEP IT CONSISTENT – Use similar lighting styles and light colours throughout the entire lighting scheme. Doing so will give your staircase a well-balanced look and allow for a seamless transition between the downstairs and upstairs.

 

Do’s and Don’ts of Stairway Lighting Design

 

As you start to plan out some of your staircase lighting ideas, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure the result is exactly as you imagined it.

 

DO: 

  • DO plan ahead of time. Before you even look at the fixtures, take a moment to plan out where you want the lighting to be. Consider stair riser lights, staircase wall lighting and staircase pendant light options, and decide where you want to place them. It’s always a good idea to sketch out your staircase and lighting plan before you begin.

 

  • DO research modern staircase lighting ideas. Trends are ever-shifting when it comes to LED stair lights. Take a moment to see which trends speak to you the most and plan the lights around them.

 

  • DO illuminate the stairs evenly. Since stairways are heavy-traffic areas, you don’t want any dark spots. Dark spots can pose a safety risk, and you don’t want anyone falling down the stairs. Be sure that there is plenty of illumination, from the hallway staircase lighting to the step lights themselves.

 

  • DO use LED bulbs. Energy efficient stair lighting can be achieved by choosing LED lights over traditional bulbs. LED lights use much less energy than traditional bulbs, which can cut down on energy spending over time. This is especially important in stairways where you will keep the lights on all night, such as outdoor stairwells.

 

  • DO get creative. Stairway lighting leaves you plenty of opportunity to express your personal sense of style. From modern, moody low level lighting to oversized statement pendants, you can make the most out of your interior design by giving the stairwell the attention it deserves.

 

  • DO consider the size. If you have a cramped stairwell, you don’t want to add any obstructions. Narrow stairs benefit from recessed lights, both in the form of stair lights and wall lights.

 

  • DO take advantage of recessed lights. Even if your staircase is sprawling and wide, recessed lights are a great choice. They give a contemporary, stylish look that can breathe new life into a dark and unattractive stairwell.

 

  • DO evenly light the stairs. To ensure maximum safety, be sure that the entirety of each step is well lit. This can be done with recessed step lights or wall lights positioned on the side of the steps.

LED stairwell step lighting - stair riser led lights

DON’T: 

  • DON’T neglect vertical space. Stairways tend to have a lot of vertical space in the hollow area above them. This is especially true with curving staircases.

Stairway ceiling lighting, such as a chandelier or other hanging light, can fill in some of that space. This will prevent it from looking so empty while also enhancing its overall style.

 

  • DON’T forget to layer the lights. Layering lights is an important process of lighting any area, and stairwells are no different. To layer lights, you will need ambient, accent and even task lighting.

Ambient lighting often comes in the form of a staircase ceiling light, though on a smaller staircase, you may be able to get away with wall lights. Otherwise, indoor stairway wall lighting can serve as nice accent lighting to cast a warm glow and set a mood while also making it easy to see where you are walking.

If your stairwell has a landing, try to incorporate some task lighting. Place a table lamp by a bench or chair on the landing to evenly distribute the light and provide plenty of illumination.

 

  • DON’T stick to one kind of lighting. When you layer the lights, you are given the chance to incorporate more than one type of fixture into the space. Take advantage of that. Use a mix of hanging ceiling lights, wall lights and recessed step lights for a varied and visually interesting look.

With staircases that have open spaces below them, you have an opportunity to bring in additional lighting. Lighting under the stairs can elevate the general appearance of the entryway or foyer while also reducing any dark spots and shadows.

 

  • DON’T use multiple light colours. Colour temperatures can be broken down into two main categories: cool and warm. Warm colours tend to work best indoors, while cool colours are often used in outdoor stairwells.

Whichever colour you choose, make sure that you use only that and do not mix. Mixing the lights can cause an unsightly clash and be harsh on the eyes.

 

 

Some LED Staircase Wall Lighting Ideas

 

LSL003 1 Watt LED Recessed Mini Wall Light

lsl003 1 watt staircase wall lighting fixtures

The LSL003 mini staircase wall light uses a high quality 1 watt LED and is designed to be positioned in either the side wall alongside the stairs or it can be fitted into the front of the stair riser. The body is made from brushed aluminium and light is projected from either side of the light preventing glare. It can be fitted in either a plasterboard wall or concrete wall and comes with the required parts for this.

 

LSL002 1 Watt Recessed LED Staircase Lights

lsl002 1 watt round staircase wall lighting fitting

This mini recessed round LED wall sconce for the stairs uses a 1 watt warm white LED and is recessed semi flush into either the wall or stair riser. It is finished in a tough brushed aluminium and projects the light downwards onto the stairs below.

 

LSL009 1 Watt Round Recessed LED Wall Light

LSL009 1 watt round staircase wall lighting

Mini round recessed LED wall light ideal for low level staircase lighting installations, the light measures 46mm diameter so looks great when fitted into the face of a staircase. Uses a high quality 1 watt warm white LED and comes with the LED driver so you can connect to the 240 volt mains supply. It can be fitted in both plasterboard and concrete walls.

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