A feature wall that is not lit is just a differently coloured wall. The paint, the panelling, the stone, the artwork: none of it does anything after dark unless light is falling across it. That is the whole job of feature wall lighting, and most people skip it and then wonder why the wall looks flat at night.
The good news is it takes two or three fittings and one decision about beam direction. Here is how to get it right.
Grazing or washing: which one does your wall need?
This is the only technical decision that really matters, and it comes down to how far from the wall you mount the light.
Grazing puts the light close to the surface, usually within about 15 to 30 cm, so the beam runs almost parallel to the wall. Every bump casts a tiny shadow, so texture leaps out. Use it on stone, brick, timber panelling, board and batten, or heavy render.
Washing puts the light further out, around 60 to 90 cm, so the beam hits the wall at a wider angle and covers it evenly. Texture flattens and colour comes forward. Use it on smooth plaster, painted walls, wallpaper, or a wall of artwork.
Getting this backwards is the single most common mistake. Grazing a flat plaster wall shows up every roller mark and patch of filler. Washing a textured stone wall throws away the reason you chose stone.
| Grazing | Washing | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from wall | 15 to 30 cm | 60 to 90 cm |
| Shows | Texture and relief | Colour and evenness |
| Best on | Stone, brick, panelling, render | Plaster, paint, wallpaper, art |
| Reveals flaws | Ruthlessly | Forgivingly |
How many fittings does a feature wall need?
More than one, almost always. A single sconce in the middle of a wall reads as an afterthought and creates one bright patch surrounded by dark. The effect people actually want comes from rhythm.
As a starting point: two fittings on a wall up to about 3 metres, three on a wall up to 4.5 metres, and space them evenly with roughly half a gap at each end. So on a 4 metre wall with three lights, that is one at 0.66 m, one at 2 m and one at 3.33 m.
Our spacing and quantity guide has the working for other room shapes.
What height?
For a general feature wall, 150 to 165 cm to the centre of the fitting. If the wall is behind seating, keep it above seated eye line so nobody looks into a light source from the sofa. If you are lighting artwork specifically, mount above the top of the frame rather than beside it.
Which fittings suit a feature wall?
Two different jobs, so two different answers.
If the wall is the feature and you want the light to disappear into it, choose something that throws light up and down without drawing attention to itself. The travertine Strata and the Luma both do this, and our guide to up and down wall lights explains why that beam shape suits walls.
If the fitting is the feature and the wall is just a backdrop, go the other way and pick something sculptural enough to hold the space on its own. The ceramic Solara sunburst and the marble Marquise are objects first and light sources second, which is exactly what an empty wall wants.
Browse the full range in living room wall lights and natural stone wall lights.
Three things that ruin a feature wall
Cool white light. Nothing kills a warm stone or timber wall faster than a 4000K globe. Stay at 2700K to 3000K, and see our colour temperature guide for why.
Wiring it to the same switch as the downlights. The entire point is being able to run the feature wall on its own in the evening. Ask your electrician for a separate switch, and put it on a dimmer while you are at it.
Uneven spacing. The eye is very good at spotting a fitting that is 20 cm out of line. Measure, mark, and check from the doorway before anyone drills.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between wall grazing and wall washing?
Distance. Grazing mounts the light 15 to 30 cm from the wall so the beam runs almost parallel and every texture casts a shadow. Washing mounts it 60 to 90 cm out so the light covers the wall evenly and flattens texture.
How many wall lights does a feature wall need?
Two on a wall up to about 3 metres, three up to 4.5 metres, spaced evenly with roughly half a gap at each end. A single fitting in the middle reads as an afterthought.
How high should feature wall lights be mounted?
150 to 165 cm to the centre of the fitting for a general feature wall, kept above seated eye line if there is seating in front of it.
What colour light is best for a feature wall?
Warm white, 2700K to 3000K. Cooler light drains the warmth out of stone, timber and textured render, which is usually the exact quality you built the feature wall for.
Should feature wall lights be on their own switch?
Yes. The point of a feature wall is being able to light it on its own in the evening with the main lights off. Wired to the downlight circuit, it can never do that.
