Whether your living room is a relaxed reading nook or a stylish home office, wall lamps in the right place will add a touch of sophistication. Part of a layered lighting scheme, these decorative and functional pieces can illuminate hard-to-light areas and highlight a room’s features. Furniturei
Choosing the best wall light in your living room starts with identifying its role in your layered lighting design plan. Do you want it to blend into the background or stand out as a focal point? Do you need it to provide task lighting, such as illuminating a sofa or armchair? Or do you need it to highlight artwork, a piece of furniture or other decorative accents? Answering these questions will help narrow down your options, and you can then choose a style and finish that coordinates with the rest of your décor.
Wall lights come in a wide range of styles to blend into your living room decor, including sconces and wall-mount fixtures. Sconces have a short arm that extends out from the wall and a lamp shade to diffuse the light. They often feature two arms if you’re looking for a more symmetrical look. These types of wall lights are also available in a variety of finishes that complement most types of interior design.
Another type of wall light is a wall-mount fixture that mounts flush against the wall and does not have an arm or shade. These types of lights are ideal for tight spaces where a sconce would be too bulky. They are also available in a variety of finishes and materials, from wood to chrome to bronze, so you can find the perfect match for your living room décor.
For accent lighting in a living room, choose wall sconces with an interesting structural shape or a bold color to draw all eyes to the piece of art or other decorative item you’re highlighting. The Trillium 32 Inch Wall Sconce by Regina Andrew, for example, offers elegant accent lighting with a touch of glam by casting branches and leaves in natural brass to create all-eyes-on drama.
If you’re installing wall lighting to highlight a painting or other piece of wall art, consider using uplight wall sconces that will cast light down on the object. These sconces typically have a frosted or translucent fabric shade to diffuse the light and mimic a more natural effect. These wall sconces are also available in a variety of finishes to coordinate with your living room decor, such as this antiqued brass finish.
If you’re installing wall lighting to serve as task lighting, install the sconce or fixture lower than head height — about shoulder or waist height — so it doesn’t interfere with your posture while reading. When selecting a wall light to use as task lighting, consider the shade’s thickness and whether it has a dimmer setting so you can control light levels. A dimmer will also allow you to switch between warm and cool lighting, which can influence your mood.