Wall Lights

A wall light pushes light sideways instead of straight down. That is why it works beside a bedhead, along a hallway or either side of a mirror, where a ceiling fitting would flatten everything and a table lamp would take up a surface you wanted to keep.

It is also the layer most homes are missing. Once there is light at eye level, the ceiling fitting stops being the only switch in the room, and the evening can be lit at half the level without anything feeling dim.

What's in this range

This collection holds 13 fittings, priced from $40 to $120 in Australian dollars. Listed heights run from 5.6 cm for the smallest sensor unit to 58 cm for the tallest bedside wall lamp, and the shades and diffusers measure between 6.5 cm and 15 cm across. Listed wattage runs from 0.2 W up to 18 W, so even the largest fitting here draws less than an old incandescent globe.

Aluminium is the most common body material, usually paired with an acrylic or frosted glass diffuser. Iron with an acrylic diffuser, ABS and a metal frame with a fabric shade also appear. Integrated LED is the dominant light source, listed on four product pages, with two more supplying LED lamps in the box and two fittings taking a G9 lamp. Power is split between mains wiring and rechargeable batteries charged over USB. Controls include a wall switch, touch dimming, a remote with dimming and one automatic sensor that switches off after twenty seconds. Colour temperatures listed across the range include 3000K, 3500K, 4000K, 5500K and 6000K, and one model states a 2700K to 7000K span. One fitting is rated IP65 for outdoor walls. Bedrooms and hallways are the two rooms named most often, followed by balconies, living rooms and reading corners.

How to choose

Hardwired or rechargeable

This is the first fork, and it decides everything else. A hardwired sconce is permanent and must be installed by a licensed electrician in Australia. A rechargeable model mounts with a magnetic plate or adhesive and goes up in minutes, which is what makes it the realistic choice in a rental. Several rechargeable models here lift off their bracket so you can carry the light and put it back to charge.

Height above the floor or the bed

Read the height in centimetres against the wall you have in mind. The tallest fitting here is 58 cm, which is a strong vertical element beside a bedhead, while the shortest is under 6 cm and reads as a marker rather than a light. Hold a piece of paper at the size on the product page before you commit.

Which way the light goes

A fitting with a closed top throws light down onto a book. One with an open top washes the ceiling and lifts the whole room. A mirror sconce is meant to light a face evenly rather than the wall behind it. The product images show which of these you are buying, and the material line tells you whether the diffuser is frosted, which softens the edge of the beam.

Colour temperature

Warm white around 3000K suits a bedroom and a hallway used at night. Cooler settings from 4000K upward suit a mirror or a work area. Models here that list several temperatures let you set the fitting once and leave it, so choose on the room rather than on the number of options.

Indoor or exterior

Only fittings with a stated IP rating belong outside. One model here is rated IP65 for exterior walls. The rest list no rating, which means they are indoor fittings. For a wider choice of exterior options, see outdoor lights.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an electrician?

For a hardwired sconce, yes. Fixed wiring work must be carried out by a licensed electrician in Australia. The battery and rechargeable models in this range need no wiring at all, which is why they are listed alongside the wired ones. See rechargeable lamps for the full cordless range.

Will a wall light be enough on its own in a bedroom?

Beside a bed, usually yes, because you only need light on the page. As the sole light in the room, usually not. Most bedrooms end up with a ceiling fitting for getting dressed and a wall light for the evening. See bedroom lights for the pieces that work together.

How far does the fitting stick out from the wall?

Projection is listed on each product page, and it matters most in a hallway where people pass close to the wall. Check it against the width you actually have before ordering.

Do the fittings come with globes?

It varies. Most models here use an integrated LED, so nothing needs to be supplied. Two fittings take a G9 lamp and two more state that LED lamps are included. The light source line on each product page says which applies.

Can I put one of these in a bathroom?

Only a fitting rated for the position, and the electrician installing it will confirm how close it can sit to a bath or shower. The fittings selected for damp rooms are grouped in bathroom lights.