Wall lights are the cheapest way to change how a room feels, and the easiest to get wrong. A ceiling fixture lights a floor; a wall fixture lights a wall, and a wall is most of what a guest actually looks at.

Why wall lights do more than ceiling lights

A ceiling light produces a horizontal pool of light and a face in shadow. A wall light places light on a vertical plane at eye height, which is where people read, talk and recognise each other. In hotel corridors and restaurant alcoves this is the difference between “adequate” and “designed”.

Up-down versus down-only

Up-down sconces throw light both ways: a wash up the wall and a pool below. They read as architectural and are the safer choice on a 2.7–3.2 m wall. Down-only fixtures are sharper and more efficient, but they need a taller wall or they look like they are cutting the wall in half at close range.

Mounting height and spacing

Wall type	Mounting height	Typical spacing
Corridor, 2.7 m ceiling	1.8–2.0 m to centre	2.4–3.0 m apart
Restaurant alcove	1.6–1.8 m	one per booth
Bathroom mirror	1.7–1.9 m, two fixtures	400–600 mm either side
Facade / entrance	2.2–2.6 m	according to column rhythm

The useful rule: the gap between two wall lights should be roughly twice the mounting height minus the ceiling height, so the pools just touch. Wider than that and the wall reads as a series of isolated dots.

When IP65 is not optional

Coastal projects, covered terraces, pool surrounds and any facade within a few kilometres of salt water need IP65 and a corrosion-resistant finish. Indoor-only IP20 fixtures in those positions fail at the seal within two seasons, and the cost is not the fixture — it is the access equipment to replace it.

Specifying a wall light for a project

Four parameters decide the result: beam angle, CCT, CRI and finish. 24° gives a defined pool; 60° gives a wash. 2700K suits residential and restaurant, 3000K suits hotel corridors, 4000K belongs outdoors or in service areas. CRI 90 matters wherever skin and food are in the frame.

Ask for the photometric file for the exact configuration before you commit — ours are shared before the deposit. See the wall light range for the current models, or read how custom finishes and tooling work if you need a specific look.

Products mentioned in this guide

• Cylinder Up-Down Sconce — up-down wall sconce for corridors, facades and stairwells
• Aurora Round Flush Mount — flush-mount LED ceiling light for hotel corridors and residential developments

Related reading

• Custom lighting for commercial interiors
• Key factors when sourcing decorative lights for wholesale

Frequently asked questions

How high should wall lights be mounted?

1.8–2.0 m to the centre in corridors, 1.6–1.8 m in restaurant alcoves, 2.2–2.6 m on facades. Measure to the centre of the fixture, not the top.

Do I need IP65 for a covered terrace?

Yes, if it is open to wind-driven rain or within a few kilometres of the coast. IP20 fixtures in those positions corrode at the seal within about two seasons.

Can the finish be matched to a RAL colour?

Yes, on custom runs. Send the RAL reference with the order; the finish moves the quotation point because it becomes a batch item.