Wall-mounted reading light

To read in bed without waking your partner, fit a wall reading lamp whose beam is directed at the page, at shoulder height when seated, with the switch within easy reach. A wall reading lamp replaces the bedside lamp when the nightstand is too small or the floor needs to stay clear.

What light does a wall reading lamp give?

A wall reading lamp throws a concentrated light onto the book, the armchair or the worktop, while staying discreet on the wall. The adjustable arm or the diffuser directs the beam: aimed at the page, it lights without dazzling the person sharing the room, unlike an ambient wall light that mainly lights the wall.

Bedroom wall reading lamp: a beam aimed at the book

In a bedroom, you want a narrow cone resting on the page, not a wash of light on both sides of the bed. The articulated arm or the ball joint lets you aim at the book, then bring the fixture back against the wall when you switch off. For easy rest, a warm light around 2700 to 3000 K usually works; a cooler tone, around 4000 K, is more alerting and better suited to working. See a wall bedside reading lamp designed for this setup.

Designer wall reading lamp: indirect light and diffuser

A frosted glass or perforated metal diffuser softens the beam and lights the wall rather than the page. The result is a pleasant ambient light, suited to a hallway or a living room, but less precise for long reading sessions: the wider the beam, the more it lights the room instead of the book. Pieces with a crafted design often work on this principle, to be chosen according to actual use.

Where to install a wall reading lamp in the home?

A wall reading lamp goes anywhere light is needed without furniture: on either side of a bed, near a sofa, on a staircase to mark the steps, or in a toilet where floor space is limited. The choice depends on the height you can reach and the humidity of the room.

Staircase wall light: where to fix it?

On a staircase, follow the climb at a constant height, one wall light per level or every two levels, with a beam directed downwards or grazing the step. A regular height avoids an uneven staircase effect, and grazing light makes the step edges readable without dazzling the person coming down.

Which wall light for a toilet?

Above the mirror or high up, a small wall light replaces a bulky pendant. An original toilet wall light stands out by its shape or finish, useful when the room is visible from a hallway. In a damp room, take the IP rating of the fixture into account.

Which wall light for a modern and powerful living room?

In a living room, a wall light is used to read on the sofa or to light a corner without placing a lamp on the floor. Enough power to read, a beam aimed at the seat and a finish that follows the style of the room matter more than a very bright model that lights the whole room.

Which powerful LED wall light for reading?

"Powerful" here means precise: a well-directed integrated LED module lights the page with little wasted light. A beam that is too wide lights the room instead of the book and tires the eye through contrast. Models for reading on the sofa favour this concentration, with an arm that brings the source closer to the seat.

Modern living room wall light: which finish?

A matt finish and a simple shape suit contemporary interiors; matt black metal structures a pale wall, a gold tone warms a dark wall. If the floor is already taken, a floor reading lamp remains the alternative when wall fixing is not possible.

Wired or wireless wall reading lamp: which to choose?

A wired wall reading lamp connects to an electrical supply and stays on without limit; a wireless version is fitted to a wall with no power supply and runs on battery. The switch, on the backplate, the cable or a remote control, must remain reachable from the bed or the sofa.

Wall reading lamp with switch: how to control it?

Three solutions exist: a switch on the backplate, a switch on the power cable, or a remote control for a wired model operated from a distance. The right question is not aesthetic but practical: once lying down, can your hand find the control without getting up?

Wireless wall reading lamp: for which wall?

With no electrical supply in the wall, a battery-powered wireless wall light avoids building work, which suits a rented home or a partition wall that cannot be drilled. Check the stated battery life, the charging time and the fixing method, as the weight of the battery changes things.

How to match a bohemian, gold or black wall light?

The style of a wall light comes down to material and finish: pale wood and rattan for a bohemian look, brass or a gold finish for a more dressed wall, matt black metal for a graphic interior, bronze for a more understated feel. The colour of the wall and the tone of the surrounding wood guide the choice.

Bohemian chic wall light: which materials?

Pale wood, rattan and linen give a diffuse, warm light without harsh shadows. These materials match natural textiles already present and take a slightly warm light. Wooden wall lights and white models make up this family, easy to combine in a bedroom.

Gold or black wall reading lamp: what effect on the wall?

A gold finish catches the light and draws a bright point on a dark wall; gold finishes stand out even when switched off. Matt black, on the other hand, fades away and leaves only the light visible: see the black version of the reading lamp and the reading lamps in matt black. For an understated, patinated look, bronze reading lamps suit hallways and staircases.

Socket, integrated LED and IP rating: what to check before buying?

Before buying, check the type of socket or integrated LED, whether the bulb can be changed, the control, and the IP rating if the room is damp or outdoors. These elements determine actual use, more than the shape of the fixture.

Socket or integrated LED: what difference in use?

On the 4 wall reading lamps in the collection, an exposed socket, in small or large cap depending on the model, lets you choose the bulb: brightness, tone, replacement in case of failure. An integrated LED module gives a slimmer fixture and even light, but the colour temperature is fixed and the module cannot be replaced. Modules sometimes offer dimming or remote control. In hotel use, an LED bedside reading lamp must offer an accessible control and an adjustable beam for intensive use.

Waterproof outdoor wall light: which criterion to look at?

Outdoors or in a damp room, the IP rating of the fixture is the first criterion: the higher the figure, the better the device resists splashes and dust. Also look at the material of the bracket and screws, which ages with humidity. An outdoor reading wall light is chosen on this criterion before aesthetics.

How to install and care for a wall reading lamp?

A wall reading lamp is fixed at a height that places the beam above the book, once the person is seated, without entering their field of vision. A soft cloth is enough for routine care; in a damp room or outdoors, clean without abrasive products and check the condition of the fixings.

At what height should a wall reading lamp be fixed near the bed?

Logic comes before the figure: sit down, then place the fixture so the cone falls on the page, above the book and out of sight. Two wall lights are fitted on either side of the bed, at the same height, for a symmetrical look and coherent headboard lighting. If floor space is short, also look at floor reading lamps or freestanding models.

How to clean a wall light?

Unplug or switch off the power before any work. Dust the diffuser and the arm with a soft cloth, without aggressive detergent on matt or patinated finishes. Check once a year that the screws are tight and the cable is in good condition, especially near a window or on a staircase.

What mistakes should you avoid when choosing an original wall light?

The most common mistakes: choosing a beam that is too wide and lights the whole room, forgetting where the switch will be once lying down, fixing the wall light too high or too low, or neglecting compatibility between the socket, the dimmer and the intended bulb.

Forgetting the switch and the wall USB socket

A wall reading light without an accessible control forces you to get up, which cancels out its purpose. If you charge a Kindle, a Kobo or a phone near the bed, a nearby wall USB socket avoids running an extension lead. Also check that the dimmer of the installation accepts the chosen bulb.

Choosing a size unsuited to the wall

A long arm on a thin partition wall, or a wall light that is too bulky above a small mirror, unbalances the room. Measure the available width and the thickness of the fixture when extended before ordering. To go further, browse the reading lamps from Designix, the book lamp and our full range of wall lights.

Secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service: the useful information is given on each product page. See our lighting catalogue and all the reading wall lights to compare shapes, materials and fixing methods before choosing.

Frequently asked questions about the wall reading lamp