Linear Wall Lights: Sizes, Placement and How to Choose
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Short answer: a linear wall light is a long, slim bar with a light built in, hung on the wall so it washes the surface with warm light along its length. Pick a length of about half to two-thirds of the furniture below it, centre it on that furniture, and hang it at eye level (152-168 cm from the floor to its centre). Choose down-only light for a calm pool of light, or up and down for a fuller wash of the wall.
What is a linear wall light?
A linear wall light is a long, narrow fitting, usually a bar of wood or metal with an LED set into it, mounted flat on the wall. Unlike a round wall lamp, the light comes out along the whole length, so it reads as a line of warm light rather than a single glow. It suits long surfaces: the wall above a sofa, a headboard or a console, and corridors and staircases.
How long should a linear wall light be?
Make the light about 50-70% of the width of the furniture beneath it. A 36-inch (91 cm) light above a 6-foot (183 cm) sofa is about right; the same light above a 3-foot console looks oversized. On a corridor wall there is no furniture to match, so choose the longest length that still leaves a hand's width of clear wall at each end.
| Where it goes | Suggested length |
|---|---|
| Above a console or sideboard of about 90-120 cm | 24 inch (60 cm) |
| Above a double bed headboard or a 5-6 ft sofa | 36 inch (91 cm) |
| Long sofa wall or corridor | 48 inch (122 cm) |
How high should a linear wall light be hung?
Hang it so the centre of the light sits 152-168 cm from the floor in a living room or hallway, and 100-120 cm from the floor beside a bed. Above a headboard, keep it 15-25 cm above the headboard so the light does not shine into your eyes when you lie back. The full room-by-room numbers are in our wall light height and placement guide.
Which way should the light face?
Down-only light makes a calm pool of warm light below the fitting and keeps the ceiling dark, which suits bedrooms and quiet corners. Up and down light washes the wall from ceiling to floor and feels more architectural, which suits a living room feature wall or a corridor. If you want both effects from one fitting, see our guide to up down wall lights.
Linear wall lights in the NixWoods range
All three are made in solid teak with an integrated warm-white LED, for dry indoor rooms.
- Aurora linear wall light - 36 or 48 inches, Natural Teak or Black, 3000K warm white. The light faces down only or up and down, on both sizes. From ₹1,999.
- Timber linear wall light - 24 or 36 inches in natural, unfinished teak, 4 inches deep. From ₹2,999.
- Aure linear wall light - a compact 300 mm bar (300 x 45 x 60 mm) that lights upward or downward. From ₹1,599.
Browse them together in wooden wall lights.
Do you need an electrician to fit a linear wall light?
An electrician is advised unless you know basic electrical connections. Most wall lights need a direct wire connection to your electrical point. The Aurora fixes with two screws and one wire, so it is a short job, and any local electrician can do it in one visit. Switch the power off at the mains before you start.
Can a linear wall light go in a bathroom?
No. Our linear wall lights are made for dry indoor rooms and are not intended for bathrooms, outdoor walls or damp spaces. For a bathroom, use a fitting with a published IP rating for wet zones.
FAQs
What is the best length for a linear wall light above a sofa?
About half to two-thirds of the sofa width. For a 6-foot sofa that is a 36-inch light; for a longer sofa, 48 inches.
Should a linear wall light be horizontal or vertical?
Horizontal above furniture, so it follows the line of the sofa, bed or console. Vertical suits a narrow wall between two windows or beside a door; our vertical wooden wall light is made for that.
How many linear wall lights do I need?
One is enough above a single piece of furniture. Along a long corridor wall, two or three spaced 180-250 cm apart read as one architectural line.
How much does a linear wall light cost?
NixWoods solid teak linear wall lights start at ₹1,599 for the Aure and ₹1,999 for the Aurora.
Is a wooden linear wall light safe near a bed?
Yes for a dry bedroom, with the fitting wired by an electrician and mounted above the headboard or beside the bed at 100-120 cm from the floor.
Read next: How Indian homes choose linear wall lights: our order data