How we pick our products
Wall lamps give every room enough brightness and can be the highlight of a room with their design. Unlike floor lamps that get in the way and ceiling lamps that are not noticed first, wall lamps take up no space and are noticed immediately. There are endless types to choose from. When choosing, however, you should pay attention to some criteria.
With our wall lamp test 2023 we want to help you find the perfect wall lamp for you. We have compared wall lamps with and without plugs and listed the respective advantages and disadvantages. In addition, we explain the criteria that you should use when making a purchase decision so that you can find the right one.
Contents
Summary
- Wall lamps can be installed both indoors and outdoors, give the perfect brightness, take up no space and can create a certain atmosphere due to the endless designs that are available.
- Basically, a distinction is made between wall lamps with plugs, which you can easily set up yourself, and wall lamps without plugs, where you should hire an electrician to install them.
- Depending on your personal preferences, you can choose from many different wall lamps in terms of material, design and lighting style to find the right one for you. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The Best Wall Lamp: Our Picks
Buying and evaluation criteria for wall lamps
In the following, we show you what criteria you should look for when you decide to buy a wall lamp. Criteria you should use when comparing wall lamps:
Below you will find a more detailed explanation of the respective criteria that are decisive for your decision.
Location
Whether for your bedroom or for outdoors: there are certain wall lights that are only suitable for either indoors or outdoors. Here, you need to pay attention to the IP index, which indicates how well a lamp is protected against liquids and solid foreign bodies. For example, for a wall lamp outdoors or in the bathroom, you need an IP index of 54 or 65 so that it is protected against splashing water from all sides. For the bedroom, on the other hand, an index of 20 is sufficient.
The information about the IP index can be easily obtained from the product data sheet.
Lighting style
Depending on the atmosphere you want to achieve with a wall lamp, you should pay attention to the lighting styles that are available:
- Warm or cold light,
- direct and indirect lighting
- Downlight and uplight
In the following, the respective lighting styles are explained in short sections.
For a cosy atmosphere, we recommend warmer light. You use cold light to make the room appear larger and more stimulating, which is good for a working atmosphere, for example. Indirect light can illuminate the room without really dazzling the observer. Whereas direct light can be the focal point. Therefore, you can give your room a certain ambience depending on the light diffusion. There is another distinction here: A downlight wall lamp has its light beam pointing downwards and an uplight wall lamp has it the other way round. If you want to illuminate a certain object that hangs on the wall above or below, for example a painting, you can choose between the two. However, there are also wall lamps that shine in both or all directions. The design varies.
Material
There are many different materials for lamps, which can give a room a certain aesthetic depending on how they are used. Here you can choose between:
- Wall lamps made of metals: Stainless steel, chrome or aluminium have a long shelf life and can be recycled. However, they weigh relatively much and are susceptible to rust. Painting and surface finishing can help to counteract the latter.
- Wall lamps made of wood, rattan, fabric textiles and paper: They are much lighter and have a more natural and warm appearance. However, lamps made of these materials are very sensitive, as they quickly become dented, stained or cracked. Wood should therefore be regularly wiped with a cloth and varnished. While textiles should be washed with the right cleaning agents.
- Wall lamps made of real glass: They can create a classy image, but there is a risk that they will break more easily and need to be replaced. Translucent glass lets all the light through and coloured glass can create beautiful lighting effects.
- Plastic wall lamps: They are relatively inexpensive, lightweight and are available in all colours. Disadvantage is environmental pollution, as they take several hundred years to decompose.
Light output
The light output is crucial if you use the wall lamp as your main lighting. LED wall lamps are usually equipped with an E27 base, which can easily provide an output of 15 watts.
At least one wall lamp with 10 watts should be installed per 10 m².
Of course, there are also personal preferences here. Depending on how bright you want it in your room, you choose a certain light output for your wall lamp. The wall lamp can also serve mainly as decoration and therefore does not necessarily have to be the brightest lamp.
Design
There are endless possibilities for the design. This is where your personal preferences come into play. Depending on the room design, your wall lamp can be modern, vintage, antique or even art nouveau. The choice of style is a matter of taste. In combination with the material, the design can follow a certain style.
The designs can also have certain additional functions. Wall lamps with a remote control, a motion detector or a switch can simplify operation. A wall lamp that can be dimmed can also produce different brightness levels.
Difficulty of installation
This is about whether you can easily install the lamp yourself. Either you can install it easily yourself, because the instructions for the wall lamp are clearly worded and there are not too many complicated components. If the wall lamp has a plug, you only need to attach it to the wall and near a socket.
If it doesn’t, you should get professional help to be on the safe side, as this can be a life-threatening situation. An electrician knows exactly what to do so that no one is put in danger. However, this is associated with additional costs.
Guide: Frequently asked questions about wall lamps answered in detail
(Image source: Pixabay/ PublicDomainPictures)
What types of wall lamps are there and which one is right for me?
| Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Wall lamp with plug |
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| Wall lamp without plug |
|
|
How do I install a wall lamp?
- Switch off the power: Switch off the power for all areas that have a connection to your luminaire. Use a voltage detector to make sure that no current is flowing through it. Only then can you begin with the installation.
- Mounting: First detach the luminaire from the mounting bracket. Then fix the mounting bracket of your wall lamp to the wall with dowels and screws according to the instructions.
- Connect the connecting cable: First check that no current is flowing through the wall connection cables. You will find three different cables at the power connection: a black one, a blue one and a yellow-green one. The yellow-green one is the earth wire. If you see one of these, you have to connect it. First, strip 0.5 centimetres of insulation from the cable with a wire stripper. There is a luster terminal that has 3 holes. Connect the earth cable (yellow-green) to the middle hole and screw it tight with a screwdriver. For the other two openings, it doesn’t matter which one the blue or black cable goes into.
- Attach the lamp base: Tighten the lamp base to the mounting bracket with two screws on the side.
- Insert the bulb: Finally, insert the corresponding bulb. Then you can turn the power back on and switch on the lamp. Done!
However, please make sure that you connect the lamp at your own risk. If you do not feel safe, please seek the help of a qualified electrician.
At what height should I install a wall lamp?
As a rule, we assume a height of between 1.70 and 1.80 metres.
If there is a seat near the wall lamp, be careful. You don’t want to be dazzled from there either. Therefore, you should simply align the wall lamp according to the current situation in the room.
(Image source: Pexels/ Ingo Joseph)
How much electricity does a wall lamp consume?
If you are looking for an energy-saving lamp, you should look for energy-saving lamps, halogen lamps and LED wall lamps. Such lamps consume significantly less electricity and you can certainly save quite a bit on electricity costs.
What are the alternatives to a wall lamp?
| Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiling lamp |
|
|
| Floor lamp |
|
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| Table lamp |
|
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Each type has endless designs and style possibilities. Which design you choose is a matter of taste and depends on how your room is designed.
Image source: Hoda/ 123rf.com
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