Pick the finish before you pick the shape. A beautiful wall light in the wrong metal fights your tapware, door handles and cabinet pulls every time you walk past it. Brass, black, chrome and copper are the four finishes that come up most often, and each one looks, wears and pairs differently once it is on the wall.
Which wall light finish should you choose?
Start with the metal already fixed in the room. Tapware, handles and pulls are expensive to change, and a wall light is not. Match the light to them, or pick a finish that sits comfortably beside them.
| Finish | Look | Hides fingerprints | Changes over time | Best rooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brushed brass | Warm, soft gold | Well | Depends on the coating | Bedrooms, living rooms, hallways |
| Matte black | Sharp, graphic | Well, shows dust a little | Very little | Entries, hallways, modern kitchens |
| Chrome | Cool, mirror-bright | Poorly | Very little | Bathrooms, rooms with chrome tapware |
| Copper | Warm, pink-orange | Moderately | The most, if raw | Feature walls, retro and eclectic rooms |
Brass: warm and easy to live with
Brass throws a golden tone that suits timber floors, stone benchtops and warm white globes. It sits happily in a Hamptons hallway and in a pared-back modern bedroom.
Know which brass you are buying. Polished brass is bright and close to gold. Brushed or satin brass is softer and reads almost as a neutral, which is why it suits most Australian homes better. Then check whether the fitting is solid brass or a brass finish over another metal. Solid, unlacquered brass slowly darkens and picks up a patina. A brass finish is designed to hold its colour, and should be cleaned gently so the coating is not worn through. Our guide to how brass ages goes into the detail.
In our range, the Alba and Petalo pair a brushed brass finish with hand-carved alabaster, and the Orbis is available in a matte brass finish. The Aurum uses brass as the whole look, a slim tube in a brass finish. See them together in brass wall lights, or read the brass wall lights buyer's guide.
Black: modern and the easiest to mix
Matte black is the finish most likely to get along with whatever else is in the room. Against a white wall it reads as a clean graphic line by day and almost disappears at night, so you notice the light rather than the fitting.
It also hides fingerprints better than any polished finish, which helps in entries and hallways where lights get brushed past. The catch is scale. A large, boxy black fitting can feel heavy in a small, pale room, so in a compact bedroom or apartment choose a slim profile. The Solara comes in a black glaze if you want the colour in ceramic rather than metal.
Chrome: cool and bright, best used on purpose
Chrome is cool-toned and highly reflective. It belongs in rooms that already have chrome tapware, towel rails or mirror frames, which in most Australian homes means the bathroom. Dropped into a room full of brass or black hardware, a lone chrome fitting stands out for the wrong reasons.
Because it reflects so much, chrome can bounce glare around if the light source is exposed. Pair it with a frosted or opal shade. And whatever the finish, a light going into a bathroom needs the right IP rating for its zone. Our IP ratings guide explains what each zone needs, and our own indoor range is designed for dry areas only.
If you like the cool tone but want less shine, look at brushed nickel. It sits close to chrome in colour without the mirror finish, and the Orbis is available in nickel.
Copper: warm, distinctive and the most changeable
Copper is warmer and pinker than brass, closer to orange than gold. Raw copper is also the most reactive finish on this list. It darkens over months and can turn green, faster in humid or salty coastal air. Lacquered copper holds its colour longer, until the lacquer wears.
If you want the colour without the upkeep, a copper-tone finish is the easier option. The Remy pairs a copper-tone body with smoky brown glass for a warm, retro glow.
How many finishes can you use in one room?
Two, as a rule. One dominant finish carried through the wall lights and door hardware, and one accent finish used in a single place, such as matte black on a staircase or a statement pendant. Three or more metals in one room tend to look accidental.
A few quick checks before you buy:
- Match the finish to the tapware and handles already in the room.
- In high-touch spots, choose matte black or brushed brass over polished chrome or bright copper.
- In humid rooms, avoid raw copper and unlacquered brass.
- Look at the finish in daylight and under a warm globe. Brass and copper look noticeably warmer at night.
Pair the finish with the right globe colour too. Warm white around 2700K to 3000K flatters brass and copper, and our warm white vs cool white guide explains why.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular wall light finish in Australia?
There is no official figure, but brushed brass and matte black are the two you will see most often in current Australian renovations. Brass suits warm, natural interiors, and black suits modern homes and mixes easily with other metals.
Does a brass finish tarnish?
Solid, unlacquered brass slowly darkens and develops a patina. A brass finish over another metal is designed to hold its colour, so clean it gently with a soft, dry cloth to avoid wearing the coating.
Can you mix black and brass wall lights?
Yes. Use one as the main finish through the room and the other as an accent in a single spot. Two finishes per room is a good limit.
Is chrome a good finish for bathroom wall lights?
Chrome suits bathrooms with chrome tapware, but the finish does not make a light safe for a bathroom. Check that the fitting has the IP rating its bathroom zone requires.
Does copper wall lighting change colour?
Raw copper darkens and can turn green over time, especially in humid or coastal air. Lacquered and copper-tone finishes hold their colour much longer.
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