A gold wall light in brushed brass or aged brass? On a white wall the difference shows from two metres away, so let the handles and taps already fitted decide. Brass accounts for more than half of this page.
Two gold wall lights in a 5 × 4 m lounge with a fireplace and brushed brass handles
Off-white walls and a 2.50 m ceiling, with the sofa facing the fireplace and a wiring point either side of the chimney breast at 1.70 m. The handles and taps in the open-plan kitchen are brushed brass. The pair of wall lights will be too, not aged, because brushed next to antiqued looks like a mistake. Two sources of 300 to 500 lumens at 2,700 K give enough background light; the ceiling light and a floor lamp supply the 2,000 to 3,000 lumens the room needs.
Glass first, bulb second
Beside the sofa, a wall light sits at eye level when you're standing. An opal globe or a white fabric shade hides the bulb. Amber glass, on several models, warms the light further and tints the wall yellow. Two exposed E14 filament candle bulbs work, at 400 lumens each at most and on a dimmer.
One gold wall light in five has integrated LED, slimmer and rated for 15,000 to 30,000 hours, with a module that can't be replaced; the rest take an E27, G9 or E14 bulb, which you add yourself when the product page doesn't show it as included.
What changes in the hallway, by the bed and in the bathroom
- Hallway. Two wall lights either side of the mirror at 1.55 to 1.65 m, 300 to 500 lumens each, with the brass repeated on the coat hooks or the frame.
- Bedside. 1.10 to 1.30 m from the floor. There are a few gold reading lights with a flexible arm or a swivel spot, but mostly fabric shades on brass arms, at 400 to 800 lumens for reading.
- Bathroom. Brass follows the taps there, and a few models are made for the mirror. Outside the zones IP44 is advisable; above the bath or shower tray and within 60 cm of it, zones 1 and 2 under BS 7671, IPX4 is required. Allow 500 to 800 lumens either side of the face, at 4,000 K and CRI 90.
If you're unsure of the distance to the tray, ask an electrician to confirm the position.
Crystal drops on gold frames are filed under crystal wall lights, candle arms and scrolls under classic wall lights, the same shapes in black under black wall lights. The rest are among the wall lights, and our guide to choosing a bathroom wall light explains the zones in detail.
Brushed or aged, to go with your handles? Ask us on +33 9 70 46 66 67, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm UK time; delivery is free in the UK and the European Union, with 30 days to change your mind.
