Retro wall sconces for bathroom

Place the wall lights on either side of the mirror, at face height, then set the color temperature: cool white from 4500 to 6500 K around the mirror for a sharp look, warm white from 2700 to 3500 K for the rest of the room. Retro bathroom wall lights in glass and metal light the vanity top and the wall without cluttering the countertop.

• What is the ideal lighting for a bathroom?
• Which styles and materials?
• IP20: where to install the wall light?
• E27 or E14: which socket?
• Installing and maintaining
• The same style elsewhere
• Choosing by room and size
• Payment, delivery and returns

What is the ideal lighting for a bathroom?

Good lighting places the light on the sides of the mirror rather than above it, with a temperature suited to the task: warm white from 2700 to 3500 K for a relaxed mood, cool white from 4500 to 6500 K for a sharper look on the face. The wall lights in this selection are all LED technology.

Warm white or cool white: which light color to choose?

Around a mirror, cool white from 4500 to 6500 K makes the complexion look truer and helps with shaving or applying makeup. For the rest of the room, warm white from 2700 to 3500 K softens the atmosphere in the evening. The LED range for bathrooms covers both temperatures, and the Kairo wall light even offers both ranges depending on the bulb chosen.

Why place the wall light on either side of a mirror?

A single ceiling source hollows out shadows under the cheekbones and in the neck. Two side wall lights give cross lighting with no cast shadow. A useful reminder: a wall light lights a wall and a mirror, not the whole room. For general light, complete it with our full range of light fittings and browse the retro wall lights to find the matching pair.

Retro bathroom wall lights: which styles and materials?

The selection blends metal, iron, glass and sometimes brass, in ball or round shapes, with white, clear, amber, smoked or grey finishes. The vintage style shows in the patina and the roundness, the contemporary in the clean lines and bare glass.

Retro wall light in glass and metal: the ball look

The Éclat Mystique glass wall light brings together glass, metal, iron and brass in a 60 by 15 cm globe, with an E27 socket. Its cool white light from 4500 to 6500 K suits a living room, office, hallway or entry wall. The clear glass shows the bulb, the amber, smoked or grey versions tint the light.

Vintage bathroom wall lights: iron, brass and smoked glass

Brass brings warm reflections that age well and match old furniture; find them in the brass finishes. Smoked glass softens without darkening. For a dark wall, the black wall lights blend into the color; for a more graphic interior, the art deco style plays with geometry. Wood warms up a tiled wall.

IP20: where to install a retro wall light in the bathroom?

The wall lights in this selection are IP20: this rating protects against dust and contact, not against water splashes. They are therefore installed on dry walls, away from the bathtub and shower, preferably near the mirror and the vanity top.

How to read the IP20 protection rating?

The first digit concerns solids, the second liquids. With IP20, no level of protection against water is guaranteed. A wall light placed above a washbasin, where water is handled without splashing, remains within its normal use; a shower wall or a splash zone changes things. Design models for bathrooms are always chosen according to this location.

Which wall lights to turn to near the shower?

In a wet or highly exposed area, it is better to aim for the IP44 versions near water points, which resist splashes, and the IP65 rating for the shower, protected against jets. This retro collection keeps its place elsewhere in the room, and an adaptable model such as the dimmable models adjusts the intensity to the time of day.

E27 or E14: which socket and wattage for a retro wall light?

The socket depends on the model: E27 on the round glass wall lights, E14 on the feather version. This choice mainly serves to select the bulb and its light output. One of the LED references in the collection is rated at 12 W.

Screw bulb or LED module: what to check before buying

An E27 or E14 socket lets you replace the bulb and vary the light temperature without changing the wall light. That is a comfort when you are hesitating between warm white and cool white, or when a bulb gives up. The E27 socket accepts the most common bulbs, the E14 requires a slimmer format, best kept for small wall lights such as the Kairo bow version, in 32 by 20 cm or 32 by 28 cm.

How to choose the wattage of a wall light?

Wattage is not chosen on its own: it goes hand in hand with the temperature and the expected output. The Éclat Mystique is rated at 12 W, which corresponds to an accent wall light rather than the main lighting of a large room. To compare two models, rely on the dimensions and the position of the source, not on the wattage figure alone.

How to install and maintain a retro wall light?

First note the width, height and projection: 60 by 15 cm for the ball wall light, 32 cm wide for the Kairo, and 41 cm wide for 22.5 cm high and 22 cm projection on the Éclat Classique. Maintenance is limited to a soft cloth on the metal and a glass cleaner on the glass.

Dimensions and projection: what changes around a mirror

Projection is the distance between the wall and the furthest point of the wall light. A round wall light with 22 cm projection placed too close to a mirror can get in the way of movement or the reflection; a flat wall light with 15 cm depth fades away. Also check the free wall width on each side of the mirror before fixing. The round Éclat Classique wall light is designed for a mirror, in metal and glass, E27 socket.

Cleaning glass, iron and brass without damaging the finish

A soft, slightly damp cloth is enough on metal and iron. On brass, simply use a soft cloth: stripping preparations meant for wood attack the finish and remove the patina, which is precisely what you are looking for. Glass is cleaned with a glass cleaner, without rubbing the metal parts.

Applying the same style elsewhere: living room wall lights, WC light fitting and modern kitchen decor

The same spirit works outside the bathroom: two wall lights on either side of a sofa, a compact version in a toilet, and a discreet nod to modern kitchen decor when the surfaces are smooth and light.

Which living room wall lights to extend the style?

In a living room, two wall lights framing a bookcase or a sofa are a good substitute for a table lamp. Warm white is more comfortable there for reading. Living room wall lights often pick up the glass and metal of the bathroom, and the hallway models extend the series along a passage, all the way to a staircase to be marked out.

WC light fitting: which version to choose?

In a toilet, choose a reduced format, a sharper cool white from 4500 to 6500 K, and a material that is easy to clean. A toilet light fitting is placed near the door or above the washbasin, and the same model joins the entryway wall lights. For a bedroom, the light should on the contrary stay warm: see the bedroom wall lights.

Which retro wall lights to choose according to the room and the size?

Three criteria are enough: the room to light, the size available on the wall and the light color. A large ball wall light suits a living room or an office, a compact wall light finds its place in a bedroom, a round version matches a mirror.

One large wall light or two small ones?

A wide wall calls for a large ball wall light, which makes a strong point without multiplying fixings. A narrow wall or a mirror framed by cupboards calls for two compact wall lights, more discreet, repeating the same model. Count the wall light width available on each side before deciding, and look at the vintage models for the bathroom for the overall spirit.

Which finish for which wall color?

On light tiles, clear glass and white metal keep a bright look; on a dark wall, a gold or bronze finish creates the contrast. Amber or smoked glass tints the light and pairs with beige and terracotta tones. A sober model in metal and glass outlasts trends, like the Éclat Mystique.

Materials, output and maintenance

Once the room and the size are settled, the choice comes down to the finish: compare the three models in our retro wall light catalogue and check the wall width before confirming.

Ordering a retro wall light from Designix: payment, delivery and returns

Every wall light in this collection comes with a two-year guarantee. Orders are paid by secure payment, shipping is tracked and returns are possible. Designix customer service helps check the size and socket before confirming the basket.

What is guaranteed on this selection

The two-year guarantee covers all the models shown here, whatever the finish. Secure payment protects the transaction, delivery is tracked to your address, and returns remain open if the model does not match the wall. One point to keep in mind: no exchange replaces a measurement taken before ordering.

Unsure about the model? Designix customer service

Width, height, projection, socket, light temperature: this information is on each product page, and customer service goes through it with you if needed. For a project across several rooms, start from our light fitting catalogue then come back to the retro wall lights for the final match.

Browse the collection, compare temperatures and sockets, then add to the basket the model that matches your wall.

Frequently asked questions