A wall light can be beautifully designed and badly placed. The mistake starts when somebody picks a height before knowing where the bed, mirror or sofa will go.
Quick Answer
Start with the centre of general wall lights at 1500 to 1700mm above the finished floor. Position bedside reading lights around 400 to 600mm above the mattress. Beside a bathroom mirror, aim for face height, usually around 1550 to 1650mm.
The Numbers
Starting points for 2.4 to 2.7m ceilings. Heights are to the fitting’s centre from the finished floor, except where noted.
| Location | Height | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| Living and dining | 1500 to 1700mm | Check glare from the sofa and dining chairs |
| Hallway | 1500 to 1700mm | Indirect light, as with Hilow Line, softens the wall |
| Bedside reading | 400 to 600mm above the mattress | Aim at the page; ask about Jackie’s wall-arm option |
| Bedside decorative | 1200 to 1400mm | Clear the bedhead; choose diffused light |
| Beside the bathroom mirror | 1550 to 1650mm | Position at face height; Murané Wall is IP20, so confirm bathroom suitability with your electrician |
| Entry and alfresco | 1600 to 1800mm | Check coverage and weather exposure |
| Stairs | Plan to suit the flight | Light treads and landings without glare |
Four Checks Before the Wiring Goes In
Furniture first. Confirm the bed, mattress, bedhead and mirror dimensions before rough-in. Tape a full-size outline of the fitting to the wall. Stand back, sit down and check it. Our lighting plan guide covers what to settle before wiring begins.
Check for glare. Sit on the sofa. Sit up in bed. If the exposed LED or globe dazzles you, move the fitting or choose another. Check orientation too: Apex can mount horizontally or vertically.
Specify the actual fixing point. The fitting’s visual centre may differ from its cable entry. Give your electrician the installation drawing and desired finished position. “Put it at 1600mm” leaves too much unsaid.
Give it its own switch. Keep wall lights independent of downlights and bedside controls within reach. For dimming, check compatibility before buying; independent control is what makes an evening lighting scheme useful.
Three Things We’ll Argue About
Our design positions:
Don’t let the door frame dictate the height.
Putting a wall light at 2040mm because it lines up with the door frame is a shortcut. Make the case for that height through the light it delivers. A tidy line on a drawing is a weak reason to live with it.
Flank the mirror.
Our vote is firmly for light on both sides, at face height. It reduces the shadows that light from above can cast under the eyes, nose and chin. Leave room for the lights when choosing the mirror. Don’t give them whatever wall is left.
Symmetry is a habit, not a rule.
A pair beside the bed makes sense. A pair beside the sofa deserves a question: what does each one do? Put the reading light where someone reads. Balance can come from furniture, artwork or a lamp.
FAQ
Do high ceilings mean higher wall lights?
Sometimes. Test the fitting’s scale and beam before raising it. Bedside lights stay tied to the mattress; the bed doesn’t get taller.
Can a wall light go beside the shower?
Ask your licensed electrician to confirm the bathroom zone and fitting requirements before buying. Outdoors, check weather suitability and, near the coast, corrosion resistance.
What if the walls are already closed?
Consider a portable lamp such as Auriel Table. It brings soft light to a bedside or console without chasing cables into the wall.
Bring Your Furniture Heights
Bring your electrical plan, bedhead height and mirror dimensions. We can mark up mounting positions before rough-in.
Get in touch and talk to one of our lighting consultants or explore our wall light range online.
