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6 Fabulous Living Room Wall Lighting Ideas
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6 Fabulous Living Room Wall Lighting Ideas
Beautiful lighting that makes a statement will enhance any room in a home. The best lighting ideas combine style with function, making the whole much more than the sum of its parts. Wall lighting for living rooms is a big part of making the overall design stand out by augmenting the layered lighting in the room.
Wall light fixtures are a gorgeous source of ambient lighting, particularly in large open areas such as living rooms, great rooms, or open-concept floorplans. They can also offer accent lighting that creates a warm, intimate atmosphere. The right wall sconce can make small spaces seem larger and big rooms feel cozier.
Decorative sconces can be a piece of art in their own right or be incorporated with photographs or paintings. They can stand out or add a subtle influence, depending on the design. And they can even act as wall spotlights that throw concentrated light downwards for task lighting or to spotlight special features or artwork.
Trends in living room wall lights come and go, but when keeping in mind the period and style of the home, they can become a neutral element in a timeless interior design. They help keep the lighting soft and warm, highlighting the living room’s main purpose – relaxation and entertaining with family and friends.
Below is a showcase of how fabulous wall lights can level up a living room’s design.
Wall Sconces That Spotlight a Focal Point
Soft downlighting is an understated yet magical way to build layered lighting and add atmosphere. Discreet lighting over a fantastic piece of artwork influences the way a home is experienced and felt. Using wall lights to create pockets of light in the living room makes it feel warm and welcoming.
The Hudson Valley Lighting Garfield 15 Inch LED Wall Sconce’s distressed bronze finish and shade illuminate the artwork below. The industrial-chic perforated metal shade doesn’t steal the show from the art but adds intrigue and character to the room.
Wall Lights Work Well in Pairs
Think in pairs (or more) when planning living room wall lights. A pair adds symmetry to the design while a series of sconces across a large living room can help unify the design. Depending on the style, consider whether the wall lights will be statement silhouettes, decorative, or minimal. Plan for their placement early in the process since their wiring will be a factor.
@everickbrowndesign Hudson Valley Lighting Nyack 19 Inch Wall SconceFull or metallic intricacy, these Hudson Valley Lighting Nyack 19 Inch Wall Sconces feature perforated black metal caps and shiny opal glass shades.
The light flows directly through the shade and indirectly through the perforations, creating a warm layer of light. This room also demonstrates how well symmetry works with wall lights as they perfectly flank the fireplace, making it even more of a focal point.
Wall Sconces That Add a Decorative Element
Living room wall lights need to be practical and functional. But they are a big part of the décor scheme. To make a statement, their design doesn’t have to exactly match that of other lighting in the space, but their materials should match.
Abington 18 Inch Wall Sconce by Hudson Valley LightingWall lights are meant to bring character to a space, and this pair of Abington 18 Inch Wall Sconce by Hudson Valley Lighting does that and more. The design references the candles and torches used before homes had gas and electric power. These living room wall lights take up very little space but pack a subtle design punch.
Vida 17 Inch Wall Sconce by Fredrick RamondIn another example, a pair of Vida 17 Inch Wall Sconces by Fredrick Ramond bring attention to the display case and shed a warm glow over the living room.
Spectacular on their own, they go well with the Tryst Pendant by Fredrick Ramond but do not match the style exactly.
Slim Wall Sconces That Create a Flattering Glow
Living room wall lighting can be sleekly elegant, making a statement without even trying. There’s no reason why a wall sconce can’t step up and be the statement light in your living room. They provide a soft, diffused light that can look dramatic when teamed with dark and dramatic paint colors and architectural features.
@tomlenovichdesign Kelly Wearstler Melange 20 Inch LED Wall Sconce by Visual Comfort and Co.These stunning Kelly Wearstler Melange 20 Inch LED Wall Sconces by Visual Comfort and Co. add a decorative glow that softly illuminates the architectural features of this living room. The curved shape contrasts with the linear elements and adds a warm metallic element to the design.
Wall Lighting as a Work of Art
Think of the living room wall light fixtures as a way to make a visual impact while also brightening up the room.
Beautiful form meets practical function to make a stunning design statement.
In this living room, a pair of Visual Comfort and Co. Kelly Wearstler Piel 19 Inch LED Wall Sconces becomes a part of the wall art, bringing the look of the entire room together. The eye-catching look brings in all of the elements of the design, from the couch to the painting to the table.
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(Image credit: Albion Nord )
Living room wall lighting ideas are a must-have in a well-designed space. We often talk about layering lighting because it’s so key to creating the right mood – but living room wall lights can do more than just conjuring up pleasant ambient lighting.
Chosen carefully, they are integral to your living room ideas – making small spaces feel larger and large rooms cozier.
They can be used to highlight architecture, artwork and books, and bold designs can be a feature in their own right.
Below, we showcase just what fabulous living room wall lighting ideas can do for your space.
Living room wall lighting ideas
Living room lighting ideas deserve great attention when you are redesigning this most important of rooms. And while most of our readers will know not to rely on a single pendant in a space that needs clever mood lighting to feel inviting, wall lights are often overlooked. We’ve pulled together our top 10 living room wall lighting ideas – from downlighters to columns and decorative designs – to show just what can be done.
1. Use living room wall lighting to highlight a focal feature
(Image credit: Graham & Green)
‘Directional lighting is a magical and underestimated tool for creating layers of light and adding atmosphere.’ says Joanna Spindler from Graham & Green .
‘Angling a discreet beam down over a favorite piece of art, sculpture, or in this case a record player, allows you to influence the way your home feels and is experienced.
The antiqued brass gives a soft golden glow, while the light in the rest of the room remains low and intimate. Bathing corners of your rooms in little pockets of light makes them come alive and feel warm and inviting – just as a home should be.’
2. Choose living room wall lights to add a decorative aspect
(Image credit: Arteriors London)
Living room wall lighting ideas should be both practical and functional, but they are obviously part of your decor scheme, so match the materials, if not the design, to the other lighting you have – for example, this contemporary pendant light, with its glass shades and black body, matches the wall light perfectly.
Helen Pett, design ambassador at Arteriors London adds: ‘Discrete and atmospheric, living room wall lights take little space and can provide a decorative flourish. We have seen lovely examples of customers using wall lights in pairs or trios along the length of their walls, framing cabinets, ornate mirrors, paired alongside floor lamps – all of which look stylish and unique while creating various levels of illumination.
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3. Enhance space with living room wall lighting ideas
(Image credit: Pooky)
Small living room lighting ideas really can enhance a tight space, with a shade that throws light upwards and downwards creating the neat visual trick of exaggerating the room's vertical proportions.
‘Wall lights are a stylish and flexible lighting option for any room in your home, they’re particularly great if space is at a premium and you don’t have much table or floor space for lamps.
'They are a great alternative light source for layering with ceiling lighting as they’re beautiful as both ambient and accent lighting, and can make a striking design statement in their own right.
'When positioning your wall lights, the ideal height and spacing will depend on the size and style of the fitting, the proportions of the room and the kind of look you’re wanting to create,’ explains Rohan Blacker, founder of Pooky .
4. Use living room wall lights to create a cozy reading nook
(Image credit: Susie Atkinson)
You can use a wall lighting in a living room – whatever its size – to create a cozy corner – a directional light like the one above strikes the perfect balance of functionality and decorative effect.
This type of living room wall lighting can be part of your lighting scheme in style, or, if it is in a more secluded corner of the living room you could choose a light that’s more individual, like this design.
5. Pick living room wall lighting that's a standout feature
(Image credit: Arteriors London)
Living room wall lighting ideas are generally used as secondary fixtures, with a pendant being the main feature light. But there’s absolutely no reason why a wall light can’t step up to the plate and be the statement light in your living room, as above.
Helen Pett, design ambassador at Arteriors London gives her advice: ‘Depending on the style you are looking for, consider whether you want to incorporate decorative, statement silhouettes or you prefer a more minimal solution. Plan for this early in the design process, as you will need to factor in the wiring of each fixture.’
6. Living room wall lights work well in pairs
(Image credit: Living with Lolo/Life Created )
When planning living room lighting, think in terms of multiple living room wall lighting ideas.
A pair will give you a touch of pleasing symmetry, as above, while a series of wall lights across a long living room can help create pace and unity.
Consider using living room wall lights to create contrast: we love the use of the classic chalky blue shade in this room – the black of the lighting fixtures adds a more modern feel and tones with the other subtle black elements in the room.
7. Choose living room wall lights that match your home's style
(Image credit: Albion Nord )
Living room lighting trends come and go, but it's worth bearing in mind the style and period of your home, and choosing authentic wall lights that complement it if you want a timeless scheme.
In this living room, the wall light completely fits the scheme – it’s reminiscent of old oil wall lights from the Victorian era.
‘Keep the lighting as soft and warm as possible, use wall lights and table lamps where possible and avoid too many spotlights making it feel stark and imposing in a space that’s purpose is for relaxation,’ advises Camilla Clarke, creative director at interior design studio Albion Nord .
8. Use living room wall lighting ideas to illuminate displays
(Image credit: Kitesgrove)
These stunning living room wall lights add a decorative glow – the light will be gentle due to the design – however, it will be bright enough to softly illuminate the books and vases.
The curvaceous shape of these wall lights contrasts with the linear nature of the shelving – and they add a warm metallic element to what is an otherwise monochromatic color scheme.
9. Use slim wall lights to create a flattering glow
(Image credit: Davey Lighting )
Living room wall lighting ideas have so many advantages – they’re decorative, they can light up dark corners and they’re space saving – no need for a surface to place them on like a table lamp.
They provide a softer, more diffuse light that can look dramatic when teamed with dark and dramatic living room paint ideas. Also consider how you want to position them, the one shown here could be placed vertically or horizontally.
10. Choose living room wall lighting ideas for glamor
(Image credit: Sims Hilditch)
What can we say about these beauties – if you want to go for wall lights that don’t blend into your living room scheme, then go all out as design agency Sims Hilditch has with these.
Full of metallic intricacy, they will direct the light upwards due to the shape of the shades and they’ll create a warming layer of light. You can also see how well symmetry works when it comes to wall lights – they perfectly frame the fireplace.
How do I choose living room wall lights?
The first thing you need to consider is how much light you will need in the room.
'When choosing the type, positioning and number of wall lights, take into consideration the amount of light from other sources, including natural light, and work how much light you’ll need your wall sconces to provide,' advises lighting experts at Pooky.
As all interior designers know, it’s always a good idea to give yourself plenty of options for creating different moods in a room by having multiple sources of light – and it’s well worth investing in dimmable switches.
'Lighting rarely gets the consideration it deserves, but actually the lighting scheme can make or break the aesthetics and functionality of a living room, so it pays to plan it meticulously from the offset,’ comments Graeme Smith, conceptual designer at Second Nature and Metris.
What are the benefits of wall lights?
Wall lights can be a great addition as they don’t take up space – you don’t need a side table or console for them, for example. They can almost act as both a table lamp and wall light. You can have a single one in a cozy corner or a row along the length of a wall. They also work brilliantly each side of artwork.
Sophie has been an interior stylist and journalist for over 20 years and has worked for many of the main interior magazines during that time, both in-house and as a freelancer. On the side, as well as being the News Editor for indie magazine, 91, she trained to be a florist in 2019 and launched The Prettiest Posy where she curates beautiful flowers for modern weddings and events.
For H&G, she writes features about interior design – and is known for having an eye for a beautiful room.
Wall lamp above the sofa in the living room: atmospheric lighting in the interior
The wall lamp, acting as an additional room lighting, becomes both a decoration and a zoning tool, especially in the living room, where several seating areas are often equipped or it is combined with the kitchen and dining room.
The most appropriate sconces in the interior of the living room are considered to be in a classic design. They help to draw an axis of symmetry in such a room, allocate a place for evening tea drinking, organize wall lighting, highlight the original shape of the hall, for example, if the architecture of the building has a large semicircular bay window with vaults. However, even in a modern style, wall lamps will take their rightful place in the zoning system, lighting, and just to create coziness. nine0003
Functional sconces: how to place lamps with different purposes
Living room sconces can hardly be called a multifunctional detail: depending on the installation location, they can be used to illuminate the ceiling, walls or decor, to create a cozy atmosphere when the overhead light is off, for zoning.
Obviously, the lamp directly above the back of the sofa will not be able to illuminate the ceiling or divide the boundaries of the space, so it is only applicable for reading and use as a night light. nine0003
As a rule, the height and place of installation determine the functionality of luminaires:
- Sconce over the sofa in the living room is a variant of a night light, creating an intimate atmosphere in the evening, reading lamp . It is optimal to choose rotary models so that you can remove the backlight away from the sofa itself or direct it to a book.
- To decide at what height to hang sconces for zoning, it is worth determining their number and installation location . For example, upward and downward lamps draw a clear boundary between zones. Such lamps located on both sides of the passage between the zones look harmonious, so they are placed symmetrically - opposite each other.
In this case, the luminous flux should reach the border of the wall and ceiling. - Living room sconce to illuminate decor , respectively, must be hung directly under or above such a detail - depending on the features of the interior item and the model of the lamp. nine0020
- The lamp as a decoration also serves as a way to visually expand the room . The system eliminates the formation of too shaded corners that cause a feeling of discomfort and anxiety. In this case, the sconces are placed on the walls with a certain step, symmetry and with strict observance of the same height. Harmoniously, for example, such lamps look in the bay window between the window openings. They visually "raise" the ceilings, illuminating the area that is not equipped with a central chandelier. nine0020
Having determined the purpose of the lamp, we can talk about how to choose the most suitable models.
How to choose a sconce for the living room
To choose the right model, you should take into account both the functionality of the lamp and the design of the living room - the color in the interior, style, details of the project.
For example, it is often advised to choose a sconce to match the closest piece of furniture. But you can always find other harmonious solutions.
- The choice is based on the style of the interior and how to implement it . In particular, the range of models for retrospective and contemporary trends is different. For a classic design, the sconces will have the same elements in the design that are present in the chandeliers - pendants, forged parts, textile lampshades. A restrained atmosphere will be emphasized by similar products, while a luxurious and solemn one will be emphasized by the corresponding models with gilding. A modern hall is often decorated with stylish and concise lamps. In the same way, they will repeat the motifs present in the interior - metal parts, the color of the most saturated elements, etc. nine0020
- Sconces for the living room are also chosen depending on the purpose. : if the lamp is needed to illuminate a specific object, you should choose directional models.
To illuminate the walls, products with diffused light are purchased; a directional lamp can also be hung above the sofa with the ability to control the direction of flow.
- For zoning, maintaining symmetry in a classic design, wall lighting choose several identical models that can be directed both up and down. At the same time, it is desirable to select products with diffused light, otherwise the sconce will shine with narrow beams, creating new optical illusions. nine0020
- Lamps as decoration will look like works of art . Usually these are lamps in the art deco style, avant-garde, although in such directions as hi-tech, minimalism, eco sconces are also often made in the original design.
Obviously, the choice of design of the living room itself directly affects the choice of lamps. The interior must necessarily have similar details, be it color, shape, motif.
For example, lamps look organic in combination with different ornaments:
- Shades in the form of large leaves - grapes, plane trees, oaks, etc.
- harmonize with a large floral motif in the upholstery. - Strict forms of lamps - circles, square or rectangular shades will help to maintain a geometric pattern in decoration, curtains, carpets.
- Upholstered furniture together with wall lamps can be made in the same palette or the lamp shade can be chosen in the color of sofa cushions.
There are many variants of harmonious composition, and in each direction of design there will be a lot of them - depending on different combinations of shapes, shades, light direction. nine0003
An important nuance of choice is the power of the bulbs. This parameter is important for various functions of lamps - a more powerful lamp is needed for reading, but less powerful sources are suitable for backlighting and diffused flow.
Most interiors are equipped with multifunctional sconces, when models are used both as decoration and for lighting or zoning. Of course, there may be several of them in the room - to perform different functions, but then it is worth choosing the same models.
