Features of the location of sconces - at what height is better to place

Wall lights are widely used in all living rooms, as they allow you to illuminate a separate part of the space and provide a comfortable environment for work and leisure. Sconces are used to illuminate paintings, sculptures and other elements, if necessary. There are different types of equipment. Choose a specific one based on the location and features of use.

Bra above the bed is a classic solution.

At what height to hang

The height of the installation of a sconce depends on where the lamp is located and for what purposes it is used. In the regulatory documents there is no rigid framework, there are recommendations that are worth using to pick up the height and not to redo the work later. You need to consider a few recommendations:

1. For fixtures placed near furniture on which a person is lying or sitting, choose a height within the range of 100 to 150 cm. This will ensure comfortable conditions for reading or needlework.
2. Where sconces serve to illuminate a large area or are used as the main source of light, it is better to place them at a height of 2 meters if the ceiling is high and 1.8 meters if it is low.
3. If a picture or other object is to be illuminated, the height should be chosen according to the fact. Take into account that the light flux must be distributed in a certain way, so it is better to preconnect the lamp and pick the most successful position.

Backlighting of paintings with wall lights.

Important! Bra is not suitable for niches, it is better to put spotlights there. Also, this option can interfere with the movement in narrow rooms.

General requirements and arrangement rules

When installing it is worth to be guided by safety rules for working with electrical appliances. If there is no experience in working with electricity, it is better to entrust it to a specialist. There are also peculiarities that must be remembered when choosing a place for the sconces:

1. Choose one of two ways to connect to the network. Direct connection is safer and more convenient, but it requires prior wiring and install a switch in a convenient place, often the switch is placed on the body of the sconces. Connecting through the socket is easier. You do not need to prepare anything, the main thing is to have power nearby, the length of the cord in the lights is usually not more than one and a half meters.
2. If you use a cord with a plug, the key switch should be located at a height of 80 to 170 cm above the floor. Select so that you can turn off the light without getting up from your seat. In children's rooms, you should place the switch higher so that the child cannot play with it.
3. Wiring for direct wiring can be done as a hidden or open, there is not much difference. The exception - bathrooms and rooms with high humidity, it is better to lay a hidden wiring.
4. From the switch to the gas line should not be less than 50 cm.

In the bathroom, they put models with protection against moisture.

It is also necessary to take into account the lighting standards, which are prescribed in SanPiN 2.2.1/2.1.1.1278-03. In accordance with the document you need to provide the following illumination values per square meter:

1. 400-500 lux in areas where you have to strain your eyesight: reading, handicrafts, crafts, etc.
2. 300 Lx for places where you have to occasionally look at something or do work that requires moderate eye strain.
3. 200 Lx in play areas, children's rooms and other places intended for children.
4. 150 Lx for kitchens and living areas.
5. 50 lux in a bathroom, hallway or corridor would be sufficient.

Warning! Illumination depends not only on the power of the sconces, but also on the height of the location.

Define in advance type of bulbswhich light bulbs will be installed. It is better to refuse traditional incandescent bulbs and choose fluorescent, halogen or LED. The latter option consumes the least amount of electricity and lasts an average of 5,000 hours, so it is worth choosing it.

Stylish sconce with LED lamp.

Features of installation in different rooms

To correctly put a sconce, it is easiest to break down the recommendations for a particular room and follow them. It is better to choose the type of light fixture in advance, so as to understand how it will distribute light. The position depends on this, as sconces with diffusing plafonds differ from models with directional light.

Modern design

How to properly place in the bedroom

Placement of lights above the bed in the bedroom is a classic solution, which is used most often. But you can choose other options, there are no restrictions, it all depends on what purpose the sconce serves. Remember a few recommendations:

1. Suitable height when installed near the bed - from 120 to 160 cm. The exact value should be selected, based on the characteristics of the furniture and the purpose of use.
2. If there is a dressing table in the bedroom, you can place lights on one or both sides. It is important that the light hits the space in front of the mirror and illuminates the face when applying makeup.
3. When the bedroom has a work table or a table for needlework, a sconce will be suitable for lighting the table top. Choose a model that illuminates the small space underneath well.
4. Give preference to models with soft, diffused light and LED lamps. If the light is plugged in, consider the location of the outlet.

Sconces are ideal for the bedroom.

Note! When choosing a location, it is worth taking into account the ease of movement in the bedroom. Therefore, the sconces should be placed so as not to bump your head when getting out of bed and not to bump when moving in the dark.

Take into account the design of the bedroom, the lamp should blend in with the environment. It is best to choose it after the purchase of furniture and finishing work. If there is a chandelier in the room, it is better to proceed from its style.

Living Room

In this room, the family gets together, relaxes in the evenings. It is also where they receive guests and arrange family celebrations. To place wall lights correctly, it is worth considering a few tips:

1. Often sconces hang near upholstered armchairs or a sofa. This is an area where people sit with a book or a gadget and spend a lot of time. Make the height no more than 150 cm, so that the light is not scattered strongly.
2. Light fixtures are used to highlight individual elements of the furnishings, highlight paintings, sculptures or home collection. In this case, select the height of the situation, there are no clear requirements and recommendations.
3. If there is a real or artificial fireplace in the living room, sconces on both sides will highlight it and give the room charm. Here will suit the classic lights, and if the fireplace is made in a modern style, then pick a model under it, all elements should be combined.
4. You can illuminate the tabletop if there is a game table in the living room or a place for needlework. In this case, a plafond with directional light is suitable to relieve the strain on the eyes and provide a comfortable environment.

Bra and chandelier in the living room, made in the same style.

In large living rooms hang 2-3 sconces on each wall as additional lighting. Fixtures are selected under the chandelier or vice versa, depending on what was bought first.

Tip! If several sconces are used, it is worth making a common control with the remote control. Then you can not only turn on and off, but also adjust the brightness of the lighting.

Children's room

When choosing sconces for a child's room, first of all it is worth considering the safety of the equipment, in order to exclude even the slightest possibility of electrocution or injury by falling lamp. Therefore, it is necessary to comply with several recommendations:

1. Select the height so that a small child could not reach. It is dangerous both for burns from a heated bulb and for falling.
2. The switch should also be located out of the reach of a child. So it makes sense to choose models with a button on the body.
3. It is better to use sconces with diffused light, so that the bulb does not glare the child and provide soft lighting of the play area.
4. You can pick up a variant as a nightlight, in which case the light should be muted.
5. For older children, a sconce to illuminate the desk and the rest area, if the child has a sofa.

The original night light in the nursery.

Wall lights for children's rooms have different designs and are selected according to the age and sex of the child. Most often they are made of impact-resistant plastic and other safe materials.

Read also

Design of modern floor lamps - unusual options

 

Kitchen

Here, sconces are rarely used, especially if the size of the kitchen is small. But in a spacious room, you can install wall lights according to these recommendations:

1. If the dining area is in a corner or against a wall, install 1-2 sconces above the table. Place at such a height that people do not cling their heads, or half a meter above the tabletop.
2. When placed above the work area, choose waterproof models, the shades of which are easy to clean. The light should be directed, not diffused.
3. It is more convenient to use lights with a separate switch.

Wall lights over the dining area.

Choose a wall sconce that matches the chandelier and spotlights, if any. When installing over the work area, consider where it's most convenient to make a switch so you don't get distracted when you're cooking.

Corridor and Staircase

Wall-mounted models are well suited for these rooms. The main thing is to position them correctly to avoid injury and not to create a nuisance. It is worth using such tips:

1. For stairs, sconces with soft, muted light are suitable, the light should not strike the eyes. If there is not enough light, it is better to put additional lights, and not to use bulbs more brightness.
2. When installing over stairs, select the height so as not to interfere with people going up and down.
3. In a narrow hallway or corridor sconces can be the main source of light. The number depends on the length of the room, put better at a height of 2 meters and above, so as not to hit his head.

Compact sconces for the staircase.

Tip! In the hallway, you can use modern switches to light the light with a clap, it's convenient.

Height of installation of sconces depending on the functional purpose

To choose a place for the arrangement of wall lights, it is worth determining in advance for what purposes they will be used and what height will suit more.

Above the nightstand

If the bedroom has one or two nightstands near the bed, sconces are often hung above them to illuminate a small area without turning on the main light. The height should be between 120 and 160 cm, depending on how much area you want to cover. If it is a night table's surface put it lower, and if you want to take a part of a bed which is convenient when reading, then put it higher.

A small model with a soft diffused light will do. If the wiring will be hidden, it is laid in advance, so that then do not spoil the walls.

A sconce over a nightstand with additional spot lights below.

Above the sofa and upholstered chairs

To illuminate the recreation area with the help of wall lights is most convenient, if you place them intelligently. The height of the mount is usually 140 to 150 cm, so that the light falls on the place where a person is sitting, and provide comfortable conditions for reading or other activities.

Usually choose models with lampshades that illuminate the space underneath and diffuse light throughout the room. The stylistics match the living room or the room where the sofa stands. It is not uncommon to use a comfortable model with a rope to pull on.

Video: how to properly wire under the sconces

Above the bed

Most often, a sconce over the bed is needed for reading. Therefore, the light should fall directly on the place where the person lies, so that there is no shadow. The height of placement depends on the size of the headboard, if it is high, some put the light directly on it. Make the height of bedside lamps more than 160 cm is not necessary, it is better to lower the light so that it does not disturb those who lie beside.

The height of sconces over the bed should be chosen so that you can turn them on and off by holding out your hand. Some people put a switch on the wall near the headboard if the sconce is too high. The design can be anything, as long as it fits the setting.

Note! If you place a wall lamp between the bed and the nightstand, it will illuminate both objects.

To illuminate the mirror.

In this case, the position of the sconce is selected under the mirror. The lamp should be located approximately at the level of the head of the person in the upper third of the mirror. The closer it is, the better the space in front of the dressing table is illuminated.

Stylish lights near the mirror.

It is better to use diffused light, as directed light will glare and be reflected from the mirror. It is easiest to use models with a switch on the body or on a wire, if you need to connect through a socket.

To choose the height of a sconce is not difficult, if you use simple recommendations and prepare for the installation in advance. Take into account the purpose of application, this determines the choice of model and its characteristics. Think ahead about where to best place the switch for your convenience.