Blog>Expert Advice>Buying guide: Helping you to choose your hallway lighting
Last updated: 24 September 2024
Buying guide: Helping you to choose your hallway lighting
We share all you need to know about hallway lighting, to help you to create a warm and welcoming entrance to your home.
Effective hallway lighting is the secret to creating a welcoming and functional entrance to your home.
However, choosing hallway lighting can sometimes feel completely overwhelming. What lighting is best for a hallway? How many lights do you need? And how big should hallway lights be?
In this post, we explain the different types of hallway lighting to help you make the best selection for your home.
The importance of hallway lighting
When you open your front door to guests and visitors, the first thing they see is your entrance hallway. So it's important to make a good first impression.
Hallways are transitional spaces and often limited in size, so clever lighting choices have the potential to make a huge impact on the overall look and feel of the space. The right lighting can make a hallway appear larger, lighter, brighter, and more spacious.
But as well as helping to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, hallway lighting has a functional purpose.
A well-lit hallway can help prevent trips and falls (especially after dark), improve your home security, and help you complete certain tasks, e.g. a quick mirror check before leaving the house.
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Types of hallway lighting and their uses
With so many types of hallway lighting fixtures available, it can be hard to narrow down your choices.
When selecting lighting for any part of your home, it can be helpful to remember the three key roles that lighting plays:
General lighting: provides good, overall illumination, e.g. ceiling downlights or pendants
Task lighting: helps to complete a specific task, e.g. wall lights next to a mirror
Accent lighting: highlights specific features and creates ambience, e.g. a table lamp on a console
A good lighting scheme typically includes a blend of all three types of lighting.
With this in mind, let's look at the most popular types of hallway light fixtures, and how they're used across hallway ceilings, walls, stairways, and the upstairs landing.
1. Recessed ceiling downlights
Recessed ceiling lights, also known as ceiling downlights or spotlights, are set into the ceiling to provide widespread, even illumination.
Best for: Narrow or dimly lit hallways or where ceiling height is a limiting factor; modern homes looking for a sleek and unobtrusive aesthetic.
Why choose downlights: Downlights are great for low ceilings where pendants would be impractical. Their recessed design also means they're subtle - providing good, overall lighting without detracting from the internal decor.
2. Directional spotlights
Directional spotlights are either a single fixture or up to four spotlights on a track or bar - spotlight heads can be tilted to direct the light where it's needed.
Best for: Hallways containing specific design features you wish to highlight, e.g. wall panelling, artwork, or architectural elements
Why choose directional spotlights: Directional spotlights offer the flexibility to direct the light exactly where needed, making them ideal for adding depth and interest to a hallway.
3. Flush ceiling lights
Flush (or semi-flush) ceiling lights sit directly against the ceiling and give an ambient glow.
Best for: Small hallways where space is a premium and/or hallways with a low ceiling.
Why choose flush ceiling lights: Flush ceiling lights are available in a wide range of styles ranging from simple to ornate. Their sleek profile makes them a good choice for low ceilings, where there might not be enough room for a hanging pendant.
4. Pendant lights
Hallway pendant lights hang from the ceiling and are often chosen as a decorative form of general lighting.
Best for: Larger hallways, or those with higher ceilings.
Why choose pendant lights: Pendant lights can act as a dramatic focal point in a hallway, for example, using an elegant chandelier.
5. Step lights
Step lights run along the stair tread or the skirting board to illuminate the path ahead.
Best for: Staircase lighting in a contemporary home or where added safety would be beneficial.
Why choose step lights: Step lights are a type of stylish accent lighting, providing a gentle glow that can improve safety too.
6. Wall lights
Wall lights and wall sconces are mounted on the wall to provide soft, ambient lighting or to highlight specific areas of a hallway.
Best for: Narrow hallways where floor space is limited.
Why choose wall lights: Wall lights and wall sconces add warmth and character, especially in (but not limited to) traditional or period properties.
7. Table lamps
A lamp on a console table is both a practical and stylish addition to an entrance hallway.
Best for: Larger entrance hallways with enough space for furniture.
Why choose a hallway table lamp: Table lamps are a decorative feature that gives an ambient glow.
Hallway ideas: All the trends for any type of welcome
Transform a narrow, dingy hallway into a beautiful transitional space with our hallway ideas guide. With tips for modern, small, dark and bright hallways.
How to choose the best hallway lighting for your home
Your home interior style, hallway size, and ceiling height will impact the type of hallway light fixtures you choose.
Style and design
You may wish to complement your property style, be it traditional, contemporary, or rustic. Or perhaps you prefer to create contrast:
Traditional homes suit timeless and versatile styles including brass, copper, or glass fixtures
Contemporary properties suit eye-catching designs using bold colours and striking shapes
Modern homes look great with metallic finishes - or matt black designs for an industrial edge
Cottage or rustic settings are complemented by wooden or bamboo light fixtures
These suggestions should act as a guide only. Your hallway lighting isn't typically something you change often. So opt for a timeless design that you're drawn to.
Hallway size and ceiling height
The size and height of your hallway will determine how much lighting it needs and which type of light fixture is best suited to the space.
Hallway lighting for low ceilings: If your hallway has a low ceiling, flush mount ceiling lights or recessed downlights make a good option
Hallway lighting for high ceilings: In hallways with double-height or high ceilings, pendant lights make a real statement
Long hallways: Wall sconces add both gentle illumination and a decorative element in a long hallway
Narrow hallways: Choose an oversized ceiling pendant to create more grandeur and pair with wall sconces (with a slim profile) for additional warmth and ambience
Tip: In a narrow hallway, hang a horizontal wall mirror to bounce the light around and create the illusion of more space.
Handy hallway lighting measurements
There should bea light every 8-10ft along the length of the hallway
The bottom of a hallway light fixture should be at least 7ft from the floor
There should be at least 4ft between the light fixture and each side wall, the walls at the ends of the hallway, and any other obstacles such as doorways
As a general rule, the width of the light fixture should not be bigger than half the width of the hallway
Colour temperature and lumens
The colour temperature of your light bulbs will impact the atmosphere you create.
For hallways, warm white (2,700-3,000K) is preferred, for a welcoming feel
As for brightness, aim for 100-150 lumens per m², depending on the dimensions of your hallway and the amount of natural light available
Dimmer switches make it easy to control the brightness of your lights depending on the time of day and how much light is needed
A lighting designer can help you calculate the optimal lumens needed for your hallway based on the room dimensions and your needs.
Safety and IP ratings
There are two important safety considerations when choosing hallway lights: IP ratings and fire protection.
IP ratings
IP (Ingress Protection) ratings measure a fixture’s ability to withstand moisture and dust.
The two numbers following ‘IP’ indicate the level of protection. IP20 is usually sufficient for hallway lights as they don't typically experience a lot of dust or moisture.
Fire protection
If you opt for recessed ceiling downlights in your hallway, check they are fire-rated. This means they are designed to restore the fire integrity of the ceiling by sealing off the hole where the downlight is installed.
Energy efficiency and smart technology
Energy efficiency, convenience, and safety are other factors to consider when choosing your hallway lighting.
LED bulbs
LED bulbs are the go-to option in modern homes. They use up to 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and can last 30% longer, making them a cost-effective option.
Smart technology
Smart lighting lets you manage your lights remotely, scheduling on/off times and even adjusting the brightness from an app. This is particularly helpful if you're away from home but want to give the impression that your home is occupied.
Motion sensor lights
Motion sensor lights automatically turn on and off as you enter and exit the space. This improves energy efficiency and is safe and convenient for people venturing down the hallway to the bathroom at nighttime!
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How much does hallway lighting installation cost?
The average cost of supplying and installing downlights is around £300 - £500 per project
Electricians tend to charge between £45 - £60 per hour
The cost of installing hallway light fixtures will vary depending on the scope of the work, the type of lights being installed, and whether new wiring is needed.
For an accurate quote, contact a qualified local electrician.
Do you need help from any other trades?
If you're upgrading your hallway lighting as part of a hallway renovation, we can help you find quality tradespeople to complete the job.
Whether you need a carpenter for some modern hallway panelling, a painter and decorator to refresh the space, or a flooring fitter to finish the look, we've got you covered.
Simply enter your postcode to find reliable tradespeople we've checked and approved in your area.
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Request a quote for your hallway lighting project
It's always best to hire a qualified electrician to install your hallway light fixtures and fittings to ensure safety and compliance. Get direct quotes from our approved members through our request a quote feature.
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Key takeaways
Hallway lighting helps to create the right first impression, improves your home safety and security, and makes the space feel brighter and more spacious
Choose from a selection of hallway light fixtures including recessed downlights, directional spotlights, flush ceiling lights, pendant lights, and wall sconces
Consider smart technology and motion sensors for greater convenience, safety, and energy efficiency
Always hire a qualified electrician to install your hallway lighting
Electricians tend to charge between £45 - £60 per hour
Find a qualified electrician in your area
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FAQs
What lighting is best for a hallway?
The best lighting for a hallway often combines a mixture of general, task, and accent lighting. For example, a blend of ceiling downlights, wall sconces, and a table lamp. Incorporating motion sensors or smart technology can add greater convenience too.
How to choose a hallway light?
To choose the right hallway light for your space, consider the size of your hallway, the ceiling height, and the type of atmosphere you want to create. Flush mount ceiling lights or recessed downlights are ideal for low ceilings, whereas a chandelier can make a statement in a hallway with higher ceilings. Narrow hallways can benefit from slim-profiled wall sconces. Just remember to layer your lighting to create a welcoming and functional space.
Are LED lights good for hallways?
LED lights are great for hallways - they are energy efficient, long-lasting, safe, and quick to light up.
How many downlights do I need in the hallway?
As a general rule, for bright and even lighting with ceiling downlights, install one downlight per square metre, leaving one metre spacing between each downlight and a distance of half a metre from the walls.
How big should the light be in a hallway?
As a guide, the width of the light fixture should not be bigger than half the width of the hallway.
How bright should hallway lights be?
Aim for 100-150 lumens per m², depending on the dimensions of your hallway and the amount of natural light available.
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