Most Australian homes are lit by one downlight grid and nothing else, which is why they feel like offices after dark. Wall lights fix that room by room. Here's where they work, at what height, and where we'd honestly tell you to spend the money elsewhere.
Hallway
The best room in the house for wall lights, and usually the most neglected. Hallways have no furniture to light and no task to perform; all they need is warmth and rhythm. One fitting every 2–3 metres, mounted 152–170 cm from the floor to the centre of the fixture, staggered or aligned depending on door positions.
Go hardwired here. A cord running down a high-traffic wall will annoy you daily, and hallways rarely have a power point where you need one. Up/down fittings like The Volta or the travertine Strata throw light both directions and make a narrow space feel taller.
Living room / lounge
The mistake people make in lounge rooms is trying to light the whole room from the walls. Don't. Wall lights here are the evening layer: two fittings at 160–170 cm, switched separately from your downlights, bright enough to talk and pour a drink by, soft enough that the TV doesn't fight them.
Place them on the wall behind or beside the sofa rather than facing it, so nobody looks into a light source. A glowing material earns its keep here more than anywhere — stone and ceramic fittings like The Terra or The Solara are objects in their own right when lit.
Bedroom
Bedside wall lights at 90–100 cm above the mattress top, one each side, centred to the pillows. This replaces table lamps and frees the nightstand — we made the full case in our bedside lights vs table lamps guide. If the room has a blank feature wall, a single sculptural fitting like the alabaster Petalo at eye level does more than any framed print at the same price.
Dining room
Wall lights play support here, not lead — the pendant over the table keeps that job. One or two fittings on a side wall at 160–170 cm stop the room falling into darkness at its edges and let you dim the pendant lower during dinner. Brass and copper fittings like The Aurum pick up candlelight and table settings well.
Entry and outdoors
The front door sets expectations for the whole house. One fitting beside or above the door, and it must be outdoor rated — look for IP65, which seals against rain and dust. Our Luma travertine and Orb are both IP65 and built for exactly this spot. Indoors at the entry, mount at 160–170 cm as in the hallway.
Where to think twice
Bathrooms: Australian wiring rules divide bathrooms into zones with specific IP requirements depending on distance from water. It's genuinely a job to spec with your electrician, not from a blog. Ask them which zone your wall is in before buying anything.
Kitchens: task lighting under cabinets and good ceiling light do the real work. Wall lights only make sense in a kitchen with a dining nook or a clear feature wall.
Quick reference: mounting heights
| Location | Height (floor to fixture centre) | Spacing |
|---|---|---|
| Hallway | 152–170 cm | Every 2–3 m |
| Living room | 160–170 cm | Two per room, balanced |
| Bedside | 90–100 cm above mattress top | One per side |
| Dining | 160–170 cm | One or two on a side wall |
| Entry / outdoor | 160–170 cm | One per door side |
These are starting points, not rules. Tape a paper template to the wall and live with it for a day before you drill. And if you're unsure whether a spot works, email hello@battii.com.au with a photo — we'll tell you straight.
Frequently asked questions
How high should wall lights be mounted in Australia?
152–170 cm from floor to fixture centre in hallways and living areas, 90–100 cm above the mattress at bedsides. Adjust for ceiling height and who lives there.
How far apart should hallway wall lights be?
Every 2–3 metres. Closer creates an airport-runway effect; further apart leaves dark gaps between pools of light.
Do outdoor wall lights need a special rating?
Yes — IP65 or higher for walls exposed to weather. The rating means the fitting is sealed against dust and water jets.
Can wall lights replace ceiling lights entirely?
In hallways and bedrooms, often yes. In kitchens and work areas, no — you still need overhead task light. Most rooms are best with both on separate switches.
