Types Of Hallway Lights & How To Use Them
Which areas of your house or apartment do members of your household visit every single day? It’s the hallway, stairway and entryway. Now, how much time did you spend choosing the lighting for those spaces compared to rooms like the dining room and kitchen? The answer is probably “much less”.
It’s time to change that way of thinking because your hallway is important. You greet your guests into your home. You get the kids out the door with shoes on and school bags packed – most days. You come home dripping wet in a storm. You find your way upstairs when you’re tired and downstairs again when you’re half awake.
Here we’ll look at LED lighting choices for these important areas of your home where so much real life happens.
What’s the best lighting for a hallway?
The short answer is lighting your Hallway with LEDs. Go big and go bright! This is where you make your first impression on guests but it’s also where you’re welcomed home every evening after a long day at work – so think big, bright and beautiful.
If you have the space then pendant lights are a great place to start and make a statement as soon as you step in the door. We have over a hundred models to choose from and an oversized statement pendant not only brightens the space but draws the eye upwards to appreciate the space. If the hallway is long, then two pendant lights, one at each end, will both light the space and draw the eye along its length.
LED lights can be chosen by colour, power, beam angle and even the wire colour so narrowing down your choices to something more manageable has never been easier.
Are LED lights good for hallways?
LED lights are a great solution for hallway lighting due to their low energy usage, choice of warm or daylight colours and range of power and brightness.
Before LEDs, we chose the brightness of our lights by wattage. LEDs also use wattage but may give you readings for lux and lumens. What are these? Lumen indicates the amount of light emitted by the light source whereas lux indicates the amount of visible light and its intensity on a surface. Because LEDs use much less power (Watts) than incandescent, halogen or CFL lighting to give the same lumen output you only need a 5-7 watt LED to give the same light output as a 60-watt incandescent light.
Because LEDs are physically smaller than traditional lights they can be used in a wider range of light fittings which means the interior designer has a far greater range of styles to choose from. This is especially useful when lighting awkward spaces such as hallways and stairwells.
What is the best lighting for a dark hallway?
A dark or small hallway may seem like a challenge at first but it’s just an opportunity to be more creative. If you lack the space to go big and splashy with a statement piece then think small, multiple and angles.
Wall sconces, recessed lights that sit flush with the ceiling, up-lights and table lamps can all be mixed and matched to create a stunning effect that draws the visitor into the home. Focus task lighting on the places where you need to do practical tasks like finding your keys or helping the kids do up laces. Brightening the space will make it feel bigger and by adding reflective surfaces such as mirrors or glazed artworks light can be bounced off them to reach corners that would otherwise not be reached.
Consider using ceiling spots that can be angled. This way you can place them, either from a central rail or individually, where their light can be pointed into those tricky dark corners.
For a dark stairway, a creative way to light it is to place mini LEDs into the treads themselves or strip LEDs under each one. This way you make a feature of the stairs and they become more than just functional but a part of your overall lighting design concept.
If you’re lucky enough to have some daylight coming through a glass front door then make the most of it with a large hallway mirror to reflect it across the room.
How do you light a small hallway?
In a small hallway, you have two options. You can go for one large statement lamp if you have enough height, or two or three wall sconces or recessed ceiling lights. Either way, go for brightness as this will always make a small space feel larger. Painting the walls white, or similarly bright colour will also help as this will reflect light into the corners, giving a lighter feeling to the whole space.
How many lights should be in a hallway?
The standard spacing for hallway downlights used by electricians is 6 to 8 feet measured from the centre of the lights. Divide these evenly along the length of the hallway if a single statement pendant at one or both ends doesn’t give enough illumination to the space.
What colour is best for the hallway?
As hallways, entryways and stairways are generally the smaller spaces in your home you should look at using brighter colours for your light fittings. Whites, reds, yellows and oranges, depending on your decor but traditionally metallic colours were used as well so don’t forget to think about brass or chrome fittings as these will really reflect light and add another dimension to the space.
FAQs
How can I make my hallway look more expensive and welcoming?
A large, statement pendant light will create a luxurious feeling in any hallway.
Should hallway lights match?
For a single statement “look”, matching hallway lights work best, but if you want something more interesting and quirky, mixing styles and lighting positions and the creative use of angled lights is a great way to go.
Can you hang pendants in the hallway and how many?
Yes, if you have enough height to the ceiling. A single one at the entrance or one at each end to draw the eye upwards and along the length of the hallway.
How many watts/lumens should a hallway light be?
In general, 7 watts per square meter is adequate for a passageway compared to 30 watts for a large living room.
How many downlights do I need for a hallway?
Downlights are usually spaced 6 to 8 feet apart.
How do you pick a hallway ceiling light?
Take a look at our full range of indoor lighting here, where you can filter by brand, colour, brightness and angle.
Should you put recessed lights in the hallway?
Yes, recessed LED lighting works great in a hallway, especially if ceiling height is an issue or if you prefer a more discreet look to your interior lighting design.
And finally a word about outside lighting in your entryway. LED lighting using a motion sensor means you can have stylish lighting that comes on only when needed. You can even choose a solar-powered option for further energy savings. Search here for our range of porch lighting and make the entryway to your home bright and welcoming for everyone.