Wall Mounted Reading Lights

Wall mounted reading lights that put a beam on the page

Above the bedside table, a wall mounted reading light is a task light first. What sets one apart is the arm, jointed or sprung, so you draw the beam onto a book and push it back afterwards. A small metal cone shade keeps the pool on the page, not across the room. Solid brass has a reassuring weight and dulls to a soft patina over the years, where brass-plated steel holds a brighter shine and stays cooler to the touch. The better arms click softly and hold where you leave them. Beside a headboard or a reading chair, a partner can sleep on while you finish a chapter.

Where does a wall mounted reading light suit the room?

Anywhere you settle in for a while. Either side of a bed it frees the table and keeps glare off a sleeping partner. Beside a low armchair it angles down onto the page. The direction is the whole trick. For a softer wash at eye level rather than a focused beam, bedside wall lights sit better, while picture lights reach over a frame and graze the canvas instead.

How to choose a wall mounted reading light

Start with the fitting (most take an E27 or B22 bulb) and a warm white bulb at 2700K for a soft, golden light to read by. Then measure how far the arm reaches from the wall against the gap beside the bed or chair. A longer reach suits a deep headboard, a compact arm a narrow alcove. A plug-in version needs no electrician, while a hardwired one tidies the cable away. A dimmable bulb earns its place, low for reading and lower as the evening settles.