Wall-Mounted Reading Light

Allow one light point per side of the bed or per armchair: a reading wall light illuminates the book without lighting up the whole room. Articulated arm, swivel arm or long arc, E27 socket or integrated LED module, warm white light between 2700 and 3500K: the choice comes down to reach and beam direction before power.

• How to choose
• Where to place it
• Wall light or bedside lamp
• Reading on the sofa
• Materials and moods
• Controls
• Install and maintain
• Hallway, staircase, wc

How to choose a reading wall light?

A reading wall light illuminates a precise area without lighting up the whole room. Three criteria decide: the mobility of the arm, articulated, swivel or fixed arc; the source, mostly E27 socket, integrated LED, G9 or GU10 on compact formats; and the light, in warm white 2700-3500K. A dimmer is possible on most models.

Reading wall light: articulated arm, swivel arm or long arc?

The arm decides the use. An articulated arm like the Éclio with its black articulated arm, 55 cm deep, places the light close to the book and folds back against the wall. A swivel arm like the Orély, 45 cm high and up to 80 cm extended, lights further without leaning forward. A long arc of 130 to 175 cm, on the Liséa, the Verdar or the Sparkled, remains the solution when the armchair is far from the wall. For a wide beam, the Vélane and the Banwa drop a 60 cm shade.

Original wall light: round shapes, ball, tube and arc

Round shapes dominate, from the cylindrical shade to the ball, with a few pieces that stand out. The Jemy, blue and rotating, fits in 16.5 cm wide with a G9 base. The Paro mounts vertically or horizontally and includes a USB port. These compact formats complete a selection of wall lights where metal remains the most represented material, in black, white, silver or bronze.

Where to place a bed reading light?

A bed reading light goes on each side of the headboard, at shoulder height once seated, or offset so the arm reaches above the pillow. Reach decides: a short arm like the Éclio, 55 cm deep, stays close to the bed, a long arc of 130 to 175 cm lights further away.

Bedroom reading wall light: on each side or in the centre?

Two symmetrical wall lights are better than one in the centre: each adjusts its direction and intensity without disturbing the other. If only one side is free, a long arm makes up the distance. The catalogue can also be browsed by room, with bedroom wall lights on one side and bedside wall lighting on the other.

What height to avoid dazzling the person next to you?

Set the backplate at shoulder height when seated, then aim the shade towards the bottom of the book rather than towards the bed. A wide shade, Ø 50 to 60 cm, lights a wider area and needs a little distance, while an 11 to 30 cm shade concentrates the light. The Soren also combines a linen shade and an adjustable LED reading light to separate ambience and reading.

Reading wall light or bedside lamp: which to choose?

The reading wall light frees up the bedside table and fixes the light at the right height once and for all. The bedside lamp, on the other hand, moves and can be changed without drilling. In a renovated bedroom or a hotel headboard, the wall light wins, with a choice that also covers the living room and the office.

What a wall light frees up on the bedside table

No more lamp to work around, no more cable to hide: the table becomes a useful surface again. It is the reflex in hotel projects, where the Vory, with its hotel headboard spirit, measures 50 cm and works in GU10, with two temperatures available on the same model.

When a bedside lamp remains the right choice

If you move often, if the wall cannot be drilled or if you want to change the bulb without constraint, the freestanding lamp remains simpler. The wall light requires connection to the wall circuit and a permanent location. For a stable layout, browse the modern models designed for the living space.

Modern living room wall light: which model for reading on the sofa?

In the living room, you look for a longer reach and a beam directed towards the book or the corner of the sofa. Long arc or extendable arm wall lights, in black metal, white or brushed steel, light an armchair without lighting the whole room, with an E27 socket or an integrated LED module.

Powerful living room wall light: E27 socket and bulb to choose

With an E27 socket, the bulb decides the result, within the power limit indicated on the model's product sheet. You keep control over the temperature and the light intensity, and you replace the bulb without changing the wall light. The Banwa, in woven bamboo and Ø 60 cm, lights a large section of wall from a living room light that stays in warm white.

Powerful LED wall light: what an integrated module changes

The LED module fixes the flux at the factory and cannot be replaced: the result is constant, consumption lower for a directed light. The Éclio and the Soleil announce 10 W, the Zodiac 6 W, with dimmer possible. It is the right choice when you want the same light for years, without worrying about the base. Find these formats in the modern living room wall lights. For a Paulmann-style wall reading light, browse our collection.

Bamboo, linen, velvet: which material for a chic country or bohemian wall light?

The material changes the mood as much as the light. Woven bamboo and linen give a chic country or chic bohemian wall light, green or teal velvet and brass lean towards hotel decor. Metal and brushed steel remain the most understated, in black, white or silver.

Chic bohemian wall light: woven bamboo or linen

Woven bamboo filters the light and draws a warm weave, as on the Banwa and the Sparkled, while linen diffuses a soft white, on the Soren and the Liséa. The shade acts as a diffuser: the lighter and more open it is, the more the light spreads. In terms of tones, black, white and silver dominate, beige and bronze follow.

Velvet, brass and gold: the dressed-up version

Velvet brings depth, in green on the Verdar in green velvet, in teal on the Pavone. A gold or brass reading wall light goes well with a fabric shade and a dark wall. To stay with discreet finishes, the gold finishes and the metal and steel wall lights cover most contemporary tastes.

Reading wall light with USB port, dimmer or switch: which controls?

All the wall lights in the collection connect to the wall circuit, so the room switch remains the main control. A dimmer is possible on most models, the Paro adds a USB port and a few references are connected. Each product sheet details what is built in.

Reading wall light with USB port: the socket within reach

The Paro and its USB port avoid multiplying sockets near the bed to charge a phone at night. It works with a G9 bulb, accepts a dimmer and mounts vertically or horizontally, in black or white.

Switch, dimmer, remote control: what the product sheet says

We only announce what the sheet confirms: base, intended bulb, connection, dimmer possible. When an integrated switch, a remote control or an app is not on the sheet, consider that the control goes through the wall switch. This is the case on all models, all IP20.

How to install and maintain a reading wall light?

Cut the circuit before connecting the wall light, fix the backplate to the wall and adjust the arm's direction before tightening. The whole collection is IP20: indoor use in a dry room only. For maintenance, a soft cloth on the metal, a duster on the fabric and bamboo, a bulb suited to the indicated base.

IP20: what it implies before drilling

The IP20 rating protects against touch and solid dust, not moisture. A bathroom or a very damp room requires a higher rating, to be checked on the sheet before purchase. Also note the mounting height with the model's reach: no point fixing high an arm that does not come down far enough.

Changing the bulb: E27, G9 or GU10 socket

On an E27 socket, unscrew when cold and respect the maximum power indicated. A G9 or a GU10 is removed by simple pull or quarter turn depending on the holder. For the bedroom as for the office, a wall reading light dedicated to work is satisfied with a bulb well aimed at the work surface.

Wall light for hallway, staircase, wc or outdoor: which uses?

A wall light is also placed where a low light point is needed: hallway, staircase, toilet or wc, in a compact and adjustable format. This collection remains IP20, so reserved for dry indoor rooms; for a waterproof outdoor use, you must check the protection rating of a model intended for outdoor use.

In a staircase, aim the beam towards the step rather than in the line of sight, and allow one wall light every two or three metres depending on ceiling height. For these passages, hallway wall lights and staircase lighting models in reduced format are often enough. In a bathroom, check the IP before any installation.

Order a reading wall light from Designix

Secure payment, tracked delivery, simple returns and Designix customer service: you first choose the reach and the base, the rest follows. One last check before confirming: the depth once extended, and the mounting height relative to the seat. Our selection of light fittings brings together the most requested reading pieces, from the articulated arm to the long arc.

our selection of light fittings and the indoor wall lights give you the rest of the decor.

Frequently asked questions