Hallway Wall Lights

Hallway wall lights at eye level

Opal glass and a ribbed shade sit at eye level, so the light grazes the wall rather than washing down from the ceiling. The glass softens the glow while the ribs cast a faint pattern on the plaster. The hallway is the first room you meet and the last you switch off, so its light does a lot of quiet work. In solid brass the fitting warms as it ages, which suits a narrow corridor better than chrome. With a warm white bulb (2700K) the light reads amber rather than blue, the kind you leave on after dark.

Where should hallway wall lights sit?

Space them evenly along the run, roughly at eye level, so each one washes up and down without dazzling. A pair suits a short hall; a longer corridor takes three or four, with a small lamp on the console for a warmer pool by the door. The same low, level glow carries through the house. Wall lights for the living room sit well beside a sofa or a fireplace, and bedroom wall lights clear the bedside table and settle the room before sleep.

Choosing finish and fitting

Check the bulb fitting first (most take E27 or B22), then how far the light projects from the wall. In a tight hallway a slim back plate keeps the walkway clear, while a taller ceiling can carry a longer uplighter. Decide too between plug-in, which moves with you, and hardwired, which usually means an electrician. Worth knowing: brass-plated steel looks like solid brass on day one, though only solid brass keeps its character as the lacquer wears. A dimmable circuit earns its place, bright on the way out and low last thing at night.