Skip to content

Considerations for Adding New Wall Lights

The terms used to describe wall lighting can be confusing to comprehend and leave you unsure when you are looking to replace or add to the lighting in your walls. This guide can help reduce some of the jargon and assist you in determining the things you require. An in-depth guide to the various the different types of lights for walls as well as the potential problems that could hinder you from installing a lighting fixture on your wall, and solutions to common issues. This guide is ideal for people who are looking to purchase an indoor light but aren’t sure what. We’ll assist you in determining the proper height to place the light, the lighting that goes dim when a double-insulated light is required and many more.

Hard Wired Wall Lighting:

Wall lights are known as being hard wired if they are connected to the mains. That is they aren’t connected to an outlet, as the lamp in a table however, they are wired to wires in your home which could be concealed within the wall or surface mounted.

The majority of wall lighting fixtures can be operated using an ordinary switches on the wall (like the one that would control the ceiling light) however, not all of them. The method by which the light fixture is controlled depends on the wiring within your home. There could be 3 cables: neutral, live as well as earth cables. One of them could constitute a switch cable or it could be a live cable that is permanently active. If the cable has been configured to function as one of the switch cables (and this is an elementary explanation that will help understand the concept and we suggest that you hire a certified electrician) You can utilize your wall switches to turn on the lights. In the event that the cable will be live cable, the light on the wall will remain in operation all the time until there is a switch that is directly mounted in the wall.

As mentioned earlier, an electrician is the person responsible for all electrical issues, and even basic tasks may be more complicated than one would expect and this is particularly true in older homes , as some so-called cowboys could have modified or bypassed the safety precautions. The electrician is educated and legally regulated to tackle any electrical issue. We all were taught as infants that electricity is extremely hazardous, therefore to ensure your safety as well as that of visitors and family members to your home, it’s worth it to hire an expert electrician to handle electrical problems. It’s relatively inexpensive to alter a light fixture.

Double-insulated wall lights

There may be no earth cable inside the home, and in this case, only double-insulated (class 2) lighting can be utilized. Sometimes, it is described under the class I designation.

Homes built before 1970 were finished prior to there was a regulation obligation for an earth cable to be installed, which means that the majority of homes built prior to 1970 are required to use double-insulated lighting. If you’re not sure about the safety of using these lights that are double insulated in all homes and rooms (with the only exception of bathrooms) in which case a bathroom-rated version has to be used. Lights that are class 2 have a second layer of insulation to safeguard the live parts and prevent sparks from hitting the light fitting or the switch.

Wall Lights with Switches

Wall lighting can be operated in a separate manner from other lighting fixtures within the room, provided that they have a switch in the fitting, also known as an integrated switch. This is a great option in the case of trying to create a peaceful level of lighting or a relaxing atmosphere. These switches can be used to create a relaxing atmosphere.

Pull Cord A cord switch that you can pull down
Toggle – A “joystick” type switch
Rocker – A rocking-on/off switch
The In-Line Rocker is a rocker-style switch that is connected to an extension cable
Dimmer Dial is a switch that is used for dimming the lighting (anti-clockwise) or to increase the brightness (clockwise)

If you don’t require the lighting fixture to be operated and the light you like has only an integral switch you’ll be happy to know that a switched wall light can be controlled by its mains button (just ensure that the integrated switch is on in the “on in all times). If you’re replacing an old fitting for your wall it is recommended to replace it with a similar fitting therefore, make sure to include this crucial information when searching.
The best place to put your wall lighting

In living rooms and hallways We recommend placing the wall lights in a range of 160 and 170 centimeters above the floor’s in height.

Ideas for Adding New Wall Lights:

Make sure you have access to cabling that allows lighting to be powered, because you don’t want find that you don’t have any wires for the mains to power your new fixtures! Be sure to inform your contractor how you would like to use the lights, as they’ll have to ensure that the proper cabling is put in place that allows for the switch to be operated in the manner you’d like it to.

Switching Old Lights to new ones:

The benefit of swapping your wall light bulbs is knowing that you have access to the mains power wiring and you won’t be left with no power. Take the old fitting off and replaced with a brand new one such as plaster up and down wall lights! Choose the right wall light to give you a similar or adequate amount of light and has the correct mains power cables in order to run the lights properly (unless you’re replacing a light for another with the same switch design). No matter if you’ve or don’t have the correct cable it is possible to find an appropriate wall light. Discover the entire selection of un-switched, switched or double insulated wall lighting on our online store.

Where to Put These:

There’s no definitive answer on the exact location a wall light should be placed since it is dependent on the usage. There are times when you want the lighting to be placed higher in hallways or when your ceilings are tall but generally speaking it is recommended to place your lights about 150cm (or sixty”) above the floor for most areas however, there is a difference in the bedroom where you could consider placing the lights lower to provide lighting for your bed. If your fixtures are wall washers it is possible to put them up above the eye level, so that you don’t only see the interior of the fixture. Regarding the spacing between lights that are in succession We’d suggest between 2.5 three metres for a reasonable spacing however , this is dependent on your personal preferences and the wiring’s suitability. If you’re changing an existing light the cable will decide where the new light require to go, however be aware that the type of light you pick could be different in terms of cables entry points. The best advice to those who don’t wish to ruin the look of their current home and want to keep it simple is to choose an indoor light that has a bigger backing plate (or mounting plate) that will cover all of the screws that were previously in place and also be big enough to conceal the missing wallpaper or paint, which is usually discovered when the light is removed.

Lighting for Walls that Plugs

If you’re looking for a wall light but you don’t have the wiring available to connect it You can think about one of the numerous wall lamps that have an extended plug lead and switch, just like tables and floor lamps. One disadvantage is that you’ll be visible to the cables, and it is recommended to tape the wire down as far as you can to prevent it from getting messy or choosing one that has fabric cords instead of a wire. They’re great for reducing room on the bedside table, or to keep walls from channeling. Plug in socket type of wall light are especially useful who live in apartments as they can be hung from this kind of luminaire much similar fashion to hanging an image.

Dimmable Wall Lights

They are designed to be used on the mains dimmer switch or have their own dimmer dial that will permit the output of light to be adjusted accordingly. This is perfect for living rooms, bedrooms and dining areas in which ambience lighting as well as mood lighting are typically needed. There are many lights that can be dimmed. It is contingent on several factors. If the light is an option to dim the bulb, this is the most important factor to take into consideration. Some LED bulbs can be dimmed but since they’re super-low watts, ensure that the dimmer switch can be adapted to such a low-wattage. If the light comes with internal electronics, like the 12-volt light has an electric transformer, while and a fluorescent might include ballast (sometimes also referred to as choke) and the internal components might not work with dimmers. If you’re searching for a dimmer-compatible wall light, take a look at our range of. You could contact us by phone, email, or use our online chat feature to for assistance in purchasing the perfect wall light from experts in lighting, who’s job is to make the process of buying lights simple.

LED Wall Lights

Wall light fixtures that are powered by LEDs and energy efficient since they consume the smallest amount of energy to provide the high level of illumination. Certain of these wall fixtures are LED-integrated, meaning that the source of light is built into the fixture. There are some who worry about having be replacing the bulb once the bulb dies however LED lights are so durable that the typical lifespan is around 15 years and an LED in the fixture can eliminate the necessity of replacing bulbs completely. It’s natural that technology that is innovative is often viewed with suspicion in the initial stages of launching into the market however, you might be shocked to learn that LEDs are in existence since the 1960’s! It’s only when they’re viable commercially and accessible to everyone that we begin to doubt the long-term viability of their existence.

Alternately, you could make use of LED bulbs with any other light fixture if there’s an equivalent LED bulb it utilizes. Take a look at the variety of retro-fit led bulbs that we suggest in the light bulb section of our online store. We also showcase LED bulbs that can work in conjunction with light bulbs that you can add to your shopping cart.