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Lighting is one of the most important elements in any room, allowing you to not only set the mood but also provide enough visibility for completing tasks. Recessed wall lights are one of the most stylish and versatile additions you can make to the lighting scheme of a room.
What is a Recessed Wall Light?
Recessed Interior LED wall lights, also referred to as recessed sconces, are light fixtures that recess into the wall. In doing so, they sit flush with the wall itself. This gives them a minimalistic look and feel, while also providing you with plenty of light.
Since they are embedded in the wall itself, they are unobtrusive and do not get in the way like wall mounted lights sometimes do. This leaves only the outer rim of the light visible, giving off a modern aesthetic.
You can find recessed wall lights available for both interior and exterior spaces. Recessed wall light fixtures come in a number of different styles that you can select from to suit the appearance of your space.
Choosing the right recessed wall lighting often comes down to a matter of preference. The lights you choose will also depend on the unique lighting needs of your space.
How to Combine Recessed LED Wall Lights With Other Lighting
Combining recessed wall lights with other ambient, task and accent lighting will give your space a well-balanced look and feel. Layering lights provides more than one level of lighting and at different intensities, making the area seem cohesive and well-lit.
To begin, you can layer your indoor and outdoor recessed wall lighting with layers of ambient lighting. Pendant lights or flush mounted ceiling lights can provide the general foundation of illumination. From there, you can bring in task lights for dedicated areas of a room, like a reading nook or work space. Finish it off with accent lights in the form of decorative lighting.
Bringing in floor and table lamps with your recessed wall lights can also create a visual flow between floor and ceiling. This will help you bring lights from the bottom up, where the indoor recessed wall lighting makes up the middle ground.
In outdoor spaces, you can pair your general wall lighting with dedicated pathway lighting. This will ensure plenty of illumination for navigating the garden at night. Low level lighting around patios and decks can also ensure a well-lit entertainment space with indirect lighting from your wall lights.
Take the time to highlight any outdoor features you want as a focal point with accent lighting. Light the space around the fixture with a recessed wall light for general illumination, then put focus directly on the feature with a spotlight or similar fixture.
How to Use Recessed LED Wall Lighting to Illuminate Steps
Stairway lighting is crucial in outdoor spaces if you want to ensure safe and secure navigation at night. Recessed wall lights can be positioned closer to the ground in order to illuminate steps for clear visibility.
In interior stairways, you can position the lights on the wall, somewhere about halfway through the stairway if it is smaller. This will spread illumination adequately to facilitate safer movement.
Outdoor stairs, on the other hand, can have lights recessed into the risers themselves. You can also install them on the sides of the stairs on the wall, of course, to shine over the tops of the steps.
By setting them on a timer or motion sensor, you can make the outdoor space even safer for you and your guests. This will ensure the lights are always on when you need them, but are off and saving energy when you do not.
With stair lights, you can make the garden lighting design more visually interesting. Highlight the materials of the steps and create strategic shadows beside the walkway to add some depth and drama.
No matter how you use them, placement is key. Be sure to mount the lights right by the stairs, first and foremost. Doing so ensures the light shines right on the steps without casting shadows.
Furthermore, positioning them around eye-level shining downwards will prevent glare when traversing the space. Generally, it is recommended you place a wall light every three or four steps for even illumination.
Creative Ways to Use Recessed LED Wall Lighting
Wall mounted LED lights, like recessed fixtures, provide ample opportunity for decorating your space. Below are a few ways to incorporate them creatively.
Highlight Architectural Elements
Placing recessed lights on textured walls can draw attention to the details and materials in a subtle and indirect way. Wood and tile are particularly good for texture illumination. For more overt focal points, you can use them to accentuate bold feature walls or hanging artwork.
Soft, Warm Ambiance
Since wall lights provide indirect lighting, you can use it to illuminate a space without making it too bright. Recessed LED lights near the ceiling will generate a soft spread of ambient illumination, which is ideal for living rooms and bedrooms. In hallways, you can space recessed wall lights evenly to balance illumination throughout.
Backlighting
Using smaller recessed lights, you can backlight shelves, artwork and other points of interest. This not only creates a focal point, but also adds depth and drama to the space. Backlighting shelves will allow you to draw attention to your favorite books or decor as well, giving your home more personality.
Lighting Up Alcoves
If you have any recessed nooks in the space, installing recessed wall lights can transform it into something magical. It will cast a soft but concentrated glow around the alcove, making it an ideal focal point for sculptures and other decorative items.
Similarly, you can light up a reading nook with recessed lights. They will provide soft and general lighting to read by, which you can then supplement with an additional task light, like a reading light.
What is Low Level Recessed Lighting?
Indoor LED wall lights and outdoor LED wall lights alike both have the potential to be used for low level lighting. Low level recessed lights are recessed wall sconce fixtures that sit closer to the wall than regular surface mounted wall lights.
Low level recessed wall lights for stairs are a common usage of this lighting style. Lights at this position help illuminate the stairs themselves. This also makes them ideal for use for any type of pathway lighting.
Types of Low Level Recessed Wall Lights
Modern wall lighting trends provide many different LED wall light varieties that you can choose from. The most popular among them include:
- WALL WASHER LIGHTS – Wall grazers shine lights up and down the wall behind them. Sometimes, they even shine the light directly behind them in a halo formation on the wall.
- UPLIGHTS – Uplight LED wall sconce fixtures sit close to the floor and shine light straight up onto the wall above it. This washes the wall with a beam of vertical light, which gives the space some depth. You’ll commonly see these as recessed garden wall lights.
- STANDARD LIGHTS – Some lights just shine light in front of and around the fixtures, and this is true of recessed wall lighting. These are popular for use as stairway and general pathway lighting.
What Are The Benefits of Low-Level Recessed Wall Lights For Interior Areas?
With recessed wall lights, indoor spaces can see a massive improvement in many ways, such as:
- AESTHETICS –
Low level lighting can improve the appearance and atmosphere of a room by way of:
- Highlighting Architectural Elements – Low level lights can draw attention to unique wall textures or alcoves, creating a nice focal point.
- Illuminating Art – Low level light placed at the base of sculptures and other art pieces can show them off while creating a gallery-like feel.
- Mood Lighting – Using the soft, indirect glow of low level lighting, you can make a room feel warmer and more atmospheric.
- Providing Visual Depth – Shadows and light from low level light fixtures work together to create a visually intriguing space, which can add drama and depth.
- FUNCTIONALITY AND SAFETY –
Low level lights can also make a space easier to navigate when placed in different areas of the home:
- STAIRCASE LIGHTING – This brings illumination to stairs and helps prevent accidents such as tripping. They can shine on each individual step or light up more than one at a time.
- HALLWAY LIGHTING – Lead guests down corridors using low level lighting on the walls. This can also eliminate any dark corners in the space.
- CLOSET ILLUMINATION – Installing low level lights in your wardrobe can provide better visibility all around when selecting your attire for the day.
- VERSATILITY –
Recessed LED wall lamp fixtures are versatile and easy to work into many spaces:
- IDEAL FOR ANY ROOM – Matching wall lights with interior decor is a simple process with recessed lights. Low level lights can enhance bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens.
- PERFECT FOR SMALLER SPACES – If you don’t have a lot of room, installing recessed low level lighting can bring illumination without any clutter.
Why Use Recessed Wall Lighting for Outdoor Spaces?
Through recessed wall lights, outdoor areas can be improved the same way interiors can. Below are some benefits of outdoor recessed wall lighting.
- KERB APPEAL – With beautiful wall lighting, you can make your garden more attractive from the road.
- EMPHASIZE ARCHITECTURE – If you have unique sculptures or outdoor architectural elements worth highlighting, lights such as recessed brick wall lights can show them off.
- ACCENT THE LANDSCAPE – Highlight shrubs, trees and other organic materials with recessed lights in nearby walls.
- MOOD LIGHTING – Create a beautiful entertainment space with recessed outdoor wall and step lighting near seating and dining areas outdoors.
- LIGHT SENSORS – Using fixtures that have dusk to dawn sensors, you can have the lights turn on and off by themselves depending on the time of day and natural light levels.
- DRIVEWAY SAFETY – Make it easier to see the driveway to park your car with lights on the exterior walls of the garage. Similarly, you can also make any walkways more visible this way.
- BETTER SECURITY – Having a well-lit exterior is a great deterrent against intruders. They are less likely to want to take their chances somewhere that does not have shadows to conceal them. Make entrances more welcoming. Having recessed lights on the porch and in entryway areas will light up the space and make it more inviting to guests.
- PATIO AND DECK LIGHTING – Dress up your outdoor living space with wall lights in deck and patio areas.
Why Use LED Recessed Wall Sconces?
The use of LED bulbs is on the rise, almost entirely replacing traditional halogen and incandescent bulbs. LEDs have many benefits that make them so attractive.
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY – LED lights use significantly less electricity than traditional bulbs. This means they need less energy to run, which can benefit both the environment and your wallet.
- INSTANTLY TURN ON – Unlike other bulbs that usually flicker to life, LED bulbs immediately shine stable light as soon as you switch them on.
- LONG LIFE SPAN – LED bulbs last far longer than halogen and incandescent bulbs, rated to outlast a minimum of 20,000 hours. This means you’ll have to spend much less time, money and effort replacing them.
- DIMMABILITY – LED lights can often be dimmed, which is great for those who like to create mood lighting or use low level directional lighting for shining on objects and pathways.
- VERSATILITY – With so many colour temperatures and lumen count combinations to choose from, you can install the perfect light for your unique outdoor space.
Advice on Installation of Recessed Wall Lighting
If you’re interested in your own recessed wall lighting, below you’ll find some tips on installing them.
- TALK TO A PROFESSIONAL – Before anything else, you should contact a qualified electrician to help you install them. This will ensure that the lights are safely installed and compliant with codes.
- WIRING – In a similar vein, the fixtures need to be wired securely and correctly. This includes having outdoor rated wiring when you use these lights in the garden.
- PLACEMENT – Carefully position the fixtures and think about the lighting effect you want to achieve when doing so.
- WEATHERPROOFING – If you’re installing outdoor wall lights, you’ll need to be sure they won’t be affected by the weather. This means choosing lighting with the right IP ratings to ensure they are sealed off against moisture.
- CONTROLS – Think about how you want to control the lights. Do you want them attached to the mains power? Would you prefer they have their own switch? Do you want to avoid manual use entirely and use lights on a timer or daylight sensor?
- MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR – Eventually, you are going to need to service or outright replace the lights. Be sure you have given yourself access to the fixture to be able to easily do so.
- CLEANING – After installing, periodically clean the lights. You’ll need to remove any debris, dust or dirt that has accumulated, and you can usually do this with a damp cloth.
Ideas for Recessed Wall Lighting
The Halo Round 1 Watt Recessed LED Wall Light is a standard recessed wall light that provides a halo style glow on the wall behind it. This wall washer is round in shape and features a brushed aluminium finish. On either side are acrylic diffusers, which soften the light that shines through them. A total of 70 lumens of 3200k warm white light is emitted from the fixture that is rated to last up to 50,000 hours. The face of the fixture measures 10 millimeters by 48 millimeters.
Create a soft, atmospheric glow using the LSL009A Round 1 Watt Recessed LED Wall Light. This wall light generates 70 lumens of 3000k warm white light that shines all around the durable metal fixture. It is finished in polished aluminium to give it a more modern and attractive feel. This light is prepared to be installed in drywall and concrete walls alike and is intended for indoor use. Overall, the fixture measures 46 millimeters in diameter.
Illuminate stairs and pathways with ease using the LSL001 Square 1 Watt Recessed LED Wall Light. This wall sconce features a square build that recesses into the wall and shines light ahead on the ground in front of it. It generates 70 lumens of 3200k warm white light that is projected downward at a wide-beam angle. It features a brushed aluminium finish for a modern finishing touch and measures 48 millimeters by 48 millimeters in size.
Simple and minimalistic, the LSL009 Round 1 Watt Acrylic Recessed LED Wall Light is the perfect choice for lovers of modern design styles. This sleek light outputs 70 lumens of light that shines through the acrylic diffuser front plate, which further softens the light. It is suitable for both drywall and cement wall installations and comes with the necessary LED driver for both. The light measures 46 millimeters in diameter.
Make navigating your outdoor space safer and easier than ever with the LSL707 3 Watt Recessed LED Wall Light With Movement Sensor. This light is designed to turn on when movement is detected within three meters of it and remain on for a minimum of 30 seconds after the fact. This is possible through the built-in light and infrared sensors. The light shines 170 lumens of 3000k warm white light through the keyhole cutout and down onto the ground in front of it. The aluminium fixture measures 90 millimeters by 90 millimeters by 40 millimeters.
Illuminate stairs, pathways and entertainment areas with the ODL041 1 Watt Square Recessed Black Outdoor LED Wall Light. This wall light features a square shape with an oblong cutout through which the 70 lumens of 3000k warm white light shines. It is built to last from premium aluminium with a weatherproof rating of IP65. The fixture is finished in anodized black to match any exterior. It measures 60 millimeters by 60 millimeters in total.
Warm up the atmosphere of your outdoor living space with the ODL701 3 Watt Round Black Recessed Outdoor Wall Light. This round light shines illumination directly below it, outputting a bright 300 lumens of 3000k warm white light. It is fashioned from hard-wearing aluminium given a neutral black finish and measures 83 millimeters in diameter. Its IP65 rating makes it ideal for outdoor usage.
Enhance your garden and patio with the ODL704 6 Watt Rectangular Black Recessed Exterior Wall Light. This rectangular light recesses into the wall and shines 600 lumens of 3000k warm white light, making it quite bright for many applications. It is crafted from top-quality aluminium with a neutral black finish to make it easy to incorporate into any outdoor space. Its IP65 rating further protects it from the elements. Overall, the fixture measures 147 millimeters by 86 millimeters in size.