Looking to buy the right wall lights to provide the finishing touches to your room? Here are eleven tips for choosing, and using, designer wall lights…
How to choose designer wall lights, in brief: decide what the light is for (gentle ambient light, focused task light or accent light on a feature), then choose a style that looks good at eye level, because that's where it will sit: around 1.5 to 1.7m from the floor. Use pairs to frame a bed, mirror or fireplace, space them roughly 2.5 to 3m apart along a corridor, and match the finish to your pendants and switches. Fitting them to a dimmer gives you the most flexibility.
How to choose designer wall lights
1) Pick wall lights suited to your lighting purpose
Wall lights can be primarily for practical use, or they can be mostly decorative. If you want them to provide general light (ambient lighting) in a hallway or sitting room, then go for translucent shades or glass which will give a nice diffuse light.
Firefly wall light in antique brass with an alabaster globe
But for task lighting (for example in the kitchen) you might prefer wall sconces that offer more of a direct spotlighting effect. Adjustable articulated wall lights are especially useful here. If you want to highlight a particular feature (accent lighting) such as an attractive alcove, then you'll need a light that's around three times stronger than the room's ambient lights.
2) Work out how much light you will need in the room
When choosing the type, positioning and number of wall lights, take into consideration the amount of light from other sources, including natural light, and work out how much light you'll need your wall lights to provide. As all interior designers know, it's always a good idea to give yourself lots of options for creating different moods in a room by having multiple sources of light, and it's well worth investing in dimmer switches. Our guide to layering light in the home explains how to balance them.
3) Pick a wall light that will look good at eye level
As a general rule of thumb, the right height for wall lights is about 1.5 to 1.7m above the ground, though this can vary according to the proportions of your room. So you should make sure you choose a light that looks good in the particular room if the top of it is at eye level. If you're flanking something (a mirror, a bed or a piece of art), keep the pair at the same height and symmetry will do the rest. Our guide on how to position wall lights goes into more detail.
18cm straight empire pendant shade in kingfisher - with lacey wall fitting in chrome. Shop here
4) Match wall lights with the room’s style and décor
Lamps are the interior designer's secret weapon, both for creating an atmosphere with the light they give, and for providing those important little finishing touches in a room's décor. If you need wall lights for an industrial style kitchen, for example, you might want to go for something like this:
Goliath IP44 wall light in antiqued brass and glass with hat
5) Pair up wall lights for a stronger effect
Some wall lights work really well when paired. This could mean placing them right next to each other in the middle of a wall so that they form a single, strong feature (and provide plenty of ambient light). Or how about spacing them slightly apart in a hallway or entrance area for an attractive design feature that also provides useful task lighting? In a sitting room, a pair either side of a fireplace, sofa or bookcase is a classic look. You'll find more ideas in our living room wall lighting ideas.
6) Use multiple wall lights to light a corridor
If you have a long corridor to illuminate, a series of identical wall lights makes a great, atmospheric alternative to overhead lights. As a rule of thumb, space them roughly 2.5 to 3m apart for optimum effect. Browse our hallway wall lights for options.
7) Use unusually-positioned wall lights to highlight room features
How about placing wall lights lower than expected, to highlight the best features of a room such as a particularly lovely side table display? This designer wall light, for example, is doing the job of a desk light. Although it’s not as flexible (and therefore as practical) as a desk lamp, it’s a very effective way of drawing attention to the feature: 
8) Use wall lights as alternative bedside lamps
Paired wall lights on either side of a bed can do the job of bedside lamps, and won’t take up space on your bedside table. Browse our bedroom wall lights, or see our bedside lighting ideas for inspiration.
Pooky wall lights at Shepherd's Hut, Artist Residence Oxfordshire hotel. Image: Artist Residence.
9) Use glass wall lights to add a dash of colour in a minimalist room
A coloured, hand-blown glass wall light can be a clever way to introduce a dash of colour if your room has a minimalist style. And when lit, they'll cast an interesting coloured light onto a white (or whitish) wall.
Tiddly Pomme wall fitting in brass and green glass
10) Match wall lights with pendant lights
Keep your room's style consistent by ensuring your wall lights match overhead pendant lamps, or carry a theme across spaces and rooms in your home, for example, by matching hallway wall lights with sitting room pendant lights.
Stanley in petrol blue with "elbow" wall fitting in a chrome finish - shop here 
Stanley pendant in petrol blue - shop here
11) Select fittings to go with your decor
It's not just about the shade. You can choose from all sorts of fittings, from vertical torchiere style ones to adjustable arm style ones, and in all sorts of colours and materials. Have a browse through our wall light fittings here.
Wall lights aren’t just functional objects – they’re a great tool in designing a beautiful room... Browse Pooky’s lovingly-chosen selection of wall lights here.
FAQs about designer wall lights
How high should wall lights be?
As a guide, mount wall lights so the shade sits around 1.5 to 1.7m from the floor, which is roughly eye level when standing. Bedside wall lights usually sit a little lower so they're easy to read by, and pairs should always be at the same height.
How far apart should wall lights be?
Along a corridor or hallway, space wall lights roughly 2.5 to 3m apart for an even wash of light. Pairs framing a bed, mirror or fireplace should sit an equal distance either side of the centre, usually just outside its edges.
How many wall lights do I need in a room?
It depends on the size of the room and what else is lighting it. Most sitting rooms and bedrooms work well with one or two pairs alongside lamps and a ceiling light, while long hallways need a series spaced 2.5 to 3m apart.
Do I need an electrician to fit wall lights?
Hardwired wall lights should be fitted by a qualified electrician, especially if new wiring is needed. If you'd rather avoid that, our rechargeable wall lights simply mount on the wall and run on a battery you recharge via USB-C.
What bulb do I need for a wall light?
Most wall lights suit a small warm white LED bulb, such as a golf ball or candle shape. Choose a clear filament bulb if it will be on show and a pearl bulb if a shade hides it. Our guide to choosing a lightbulb covers fittings and brightness.