Lighting has the power to completely change the character of a room. The right fixture can draw attention to architectural details, create a welcoming atmosphere and introduce another layer of style to your interior.
Wall lights are particularly versatile. Unlike floor and table lamps, they make use of otherwise unused wall space, while providing both practical illumination and decorative appeal. Whether you're lighting a hallway, framing a fireplace or creating a relaxing bedside glow, the right wall light can make a considered finishing touch to your home.
At From The Anvil, our wall lights are designed to combine timeless design with beautifully crafted finishes. In this guide, we'll explore how to install and position wall lights, how to style them within different interiors and how to choose the right bulb to achieve your desired ambience.
Contents
- How to Install Wall Lights
- Where to Hang Wall Lights
- How to Style Wall Lights
- How to Choose Lightbulbs
How to Install Wall Lights
Every From The Anvil wall light is crafted with care and wired by hand in Mid Wales. Our wall lights are mains-powered, meaning they are designed to be hardwired into the electrical circuit within your wall. This creates a beautifully clean finish without visible cables trailing down the surface.
If you're replacing an existing wall light, installation can be relatively straightforward. However, because mains-powered lighting involves electrical connections, we always recommend using a qualified electrician to install or alter electrical wiring. They'll also be able to advise on the most suitable position, switching arrangement and any requirements specific to your property.
Once you've chosen your wall light, don't overlook the switch. As one of the most frequently used pieces of electrical hardware in a room, a switch can either complement your lighting scheme or become an opportunity to introduce contrast.
For a coordinated look, pair our Nickel wall lights with Satin Stainless Steel switches. The cool, reflective qualities of both finishes work together beautifully without appearing overly matched.
Alternatively, contrasting finishes can give your interior a more distinctive, contemporary feel. Try pairing Matt Black switches with Hammered Brass lighting for a striking combination of dark and warm metallic tones.
For further inspiration, explore our complete collection of electrical switches, sockets and accessories.
Above: inspiration for pairing Black Nickel light switches with Pewter or Nickel wall lights.
When planning your lighting scheme, think about how you want the room to feel at different times of day. Wall lights work particularly well as part of a layered lighting scheme, allowing you to combine general, task and accent lighting rather than relying on a single central light source.
Where to Hang Wall Lights
One of the biggest advantages of wall lights is their versatility. They can be used to illuminate a space, highlight a particular feature or simply introduce an additional decorative element to your walls.
They are particularly useful in smaller or narrow spaces where floor and table lamps may take up valuable room. In hallways, for example, wall lights provide gentle illumination while keeping walkways clear and uncluttered.
In living rooms, try positioning a pair of wall lights either side of a fireplace, artwork or architectural feature. Using matching fixtures symmetrically creates a sense of balance and draws the eye towards the focal point of the room.
The same approach works beautifully in bedrooms. Installing a wall light on either side of the bed can provide a practical alternative to bedside lamps, leaving your bedside tables free for books, decorative objects and other essentials. Adjustable or directional designs can be particularly useful if the lights will be used for reading.
Above: From The Anvil's Smooth Copper Brindley wall light in an earthy Heath colour, creating a cosy reading nook above a beside table.
When deciding on height, consider both the room and the function of the light. As a general rule, wall lights should be positioned so the bulb isn't directly in your eye line when you're standing or sitting nearby. However, there is no single height that works for every room; the proportions of your wall, the design of the fitting and the way you intend to use the light should all be taken into consideration.
Don't be afraid to use wall lights in less obvious locations, either. A single fitting can bring life to a neglected alcove, illuminate a dark corner or add character to the space between two windows.
How to Style Wall Lights
Wall lights don't simply provide illumination – they can become an integral part of your interior design. Think of them as decorative details that happen to provide light, and you'll have far more opportunities to make an impact.
One of our favourite ways to incorporate wall lights is to use existing architectural features as a guide. Position a fitting within a panelled section of wall or align it with a dado rail, doorway or other architectural detail. This helps the light feel intentional and creates a stronger relationship between the lighting and the wider room.
Consider proportion, too. A larger wall light can make a statement on a generous feature wall, while a more compact fitting may be better suited to a narrow hallway or smaller bedroom. If you're installing two lights together, keeping their positioning consistent will help create a polished, balanced appearance.
The finish you choose is equally important. Metallic finishes can introduce warmth, contrast or subtle texture depending on the look you're trying to achieve.
Our Flora wall lights, for example, combine elegant detailing with a timeless silhouette, making them an adaptable choice for both classic and contemporary interiors. Choose Smooth Copper for a rich, warm metallic accent that creates a welcoming atmosphere, or opt for Smooth Nickel for a cooler, more understated finish.
Above: From The Anvil's Aged Brass Brindley and Aged Brass Flora wall lights.
For interiors with a more traditional, industrial or utilitarian character, the Brindley wall lights offer a timeless alternative. Their gently curved profile brings softness to practical spaces, while their handcrafted finishes make them particularly effective when coordinated with other pieces of hardware.
For a cohesive scheme, pair Smooth Brass Brindley lights with Polished Brass or Aged Brass cabinet hardware. Repeating a finish throughout a room helps create continuity, particularly in kitchens and utility spaces where multiple pieces of hardware are visible.
For something more immersive, consider colour drenching. Painting your walls, woodwork and lighting in complementary or identical shades creates a sophisticated, enveloping effect, allowing the architectural details of the room to take centre stage.
Wall lights can either contrast beautifully against a colour-drenched scheme or disappear seamlessly into it. Matching the finish of your light to your chosen paint colour is an especially effective way to create a cohesive, considered interior.
Our bespoke service also gives you the opportunity to create lighting tailored to your project. From colour and finish to the finer details of your scheme, bespoke wall lights can help bring a highly individual interior vision to life. Discover more about our bespoke service.
How to Choose Lightbulbs
The wall light itself is only part of the equation. Your choice of bulb can dramatically influence the atmosphere created by your lighting, so it's worth considering the colour temperature, shape and style of the bulb alongside the fitting.
For a warm and welcoming atmosphere, lower colour temperatures are generally ideal for living spaces, bedrooms and other areas where you want to create a relaxed feel. Cooler temperatures can provide a brighter, crisper appearance and may be better suited to contemporary spaces or areas where clear illumination is important.
At Period Property Store, we offer a selection of bulbs that complement our collection of wall lights while offering distinctive looks.
Our LED Light Bulb features a classic rounded profile that works effortlessly across a variety of interiors. Its warm 2200K colour temperature produces a soft, inviting glow, making it particularly well suited to ambient lighting and spaces designed for relaxation.
For a more distinctive finish, our Vintage LED Edison Light Bulb has a slim, conical profile that brings a more contemporary character to your wall light. With a 2700K colour temperature, it provides a slightly brighter and cleaner appearance while retaining a warm quality.
When choosing your bulb, it's also worth considering how visible it will be within the fitting. If your wall light has an open shade, the bulb becomes part of the overall design, making decorative filament or vintage-inspired shapes an opportunity to add another layer of character.
Bring Your Walls to Life
Whether you're renovating a period property, adding character to a new build or simply looking for an easy way to refresh an existing room, wall lights offer an opportunity to combine practical illumination with timeless design.
From creating symmetry around a fireplace to adding a warm glow beside the bed, highlighting architectural details or introducing contrast through carefully chosen finishes, thoughtful lighting can completely transform the way a room looks and feels.
Explore the full collection of From The Anvil wall lights to discover handcrafted designs and finishes created to complement both traditional and contemporary interiors.