Wall Reading Lights

Wall Mounted Reading Lights: Bedside Sconces for Comfortable Evenings With a Book

Reading in bed should be a pleasure, yet most of us do it with a ceiling light that is too harsh or a table lamp that throws a shadow across the page. A wall mounted reading light puts the beam where it belongs: close to the book, over your shoulder, and out of your partner's eyes. As a bonus, the nightstand is free for a cup of tea and a phone charger.

This collection holds 51 fixtures, and nearly all are made for the bedroom, with the living room and home office close behind. Materials run from wood and brass to glass, travertine, iron, aluminum and rope, in modern, Scandinavian, minimalist and vintage styles. A bedside wall sconce can be a quiet shape that disappears or the jewelry of the room.

What Makes a Good Reading Light

Three things matter. First, enough light: aim for about 400 to 600 lumens at the page, which a standard 40 to 60 watt equivalent LED bulb delivers. Second, direction: the beam should fall on the book, not into your eyes, so a shade, a hood or an adjustable head is a big help. Third, color: warm white at 2700 to 3000 K is comfortable at night, while 3500 K can work in a study if you read for long hours.

Glare comes from a visible bare bulb or a shiny surface right in your line of sight. Choose frosted glass, a fabric shade or a spot with a slim, angled head. If your lamp has a swiveling or folding arm, you get the best of both worlds; see our swing arm wall sconces for those designs.

How High and How Far Apart to Mount

Placement decides comfort. For bedside sconces, mount the fixture about 52 to 60 inches from the floor, which puts the light roughly 20 to 24 inches above the top of the mattress. Hang a pair 6 to 12 inches beyond the sides of the bed or 24 to 30 inches from the center of the headboard.

For a reading chair, the light should be slightly behind and above your shoulder at about 60 to 66 inches high, and for a desk it should be to the side of your writing hand. Our detailed guide on how high to mount wall sconces covers every room.

Controls: Switches, Pull Chains and Dimmers

A reading light is only useful if you can turn it off from bed. Look for an on-fixture switch, a pull chain, a touch control or a remote. We keep a separate page of wall sconces with switch for exactly this reason. A Scandinavian pull chain model is a charming, simple choice.

If you want to go from reading bright to sleep soft, pick a fixture that works with a dimmer. Only one fixture here is dimmable by design, so for more choice browse dimmable wall sconces, or use a dimmable LED bulb with a compatible wall dimmer. Our note on bulb bases in E26 vs E12 bulbs helps you buy the right one.

Bulbs and Power: What Is in the Collection

Twenty-four fixtures take a standard E26 bulb, nineteen have an integrated LED, three use G9 capsules, and a few use E12 or GU10. E26 gives you the widest choice of bulbs, and an integrated LED gives you a slimmer fixture with nothing to replace. Power is mostly hardwired (48 pieces), with two plug-in options and one battery model for places with no wiring.

For hardwired lights, switch off the breaker and test the wires before you start, and ask a licensed electrician to help if you are not sure. Renters who do not want to open a wall should start with plug-in or cordless choices, like battery operated wall sconces.

Choosing Style and Material

Wood brings warmth and works beautifully in Scandinavian and Japandi rooms. Brass adds a library or hotel mood, and glass or travertine gives a soft, sculptural glow with a solid, spa-like feel. Rope is the choice for a relaxed, coastal bedroom. Pick the finish that echoes your bed frame, your hardware or your bedside accessories.

For light that is both bright for reading and a good looker, try a bar or spot style in black metal or acrylic. If you are thinking about the whole room, our bedroom wall sconces and bedroom lighting ideas show how reading lights fit into a layered plan.

Beyond the Bedroom

Twenty pieces here are tagged for the office, and twenty-nine for the living room. A wall reading light beside an armchair replaces a floor lamp and clears the walkway, and above a desk it saves surface space. See home office lighting for task lighting ideas that go well with these fixtures.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Mounting the light too low, where the shade blocks the view of the TV or headboard.
• Choosing a bare bulb that shines in your eyes while lying down.
• Forgetting to plan the switch, so you must climb out of bed to turn the light off.
• Using a cool-white bulb that keeps you alert at bedtime.

FAQ: Wall Mounted Reading Lights

What is a wall sconce?

A wall sconce is a light fixture fixed on a wall instead of a ceiling or table. Reading sconces are made to direct light onto a page.

What is a sconce light fixture?

It is the complete wall-mounted unit: a back plate, a body or arm, the light source and often a shade. The guide on what a wall sconce is lists the types.

What is a sconce light?

The same thing, said more casually: a light that is mounted on the wall, often used beside a bed, mirror or sofa.

How bright should a bedside reading light be?

About 400 to 600 lumens at the page is a good range. A dimmer or a lower-wattage bulb lets you reduce it when you are done.

Do wall reading lights have to be hardwired?

No. Most in this collection are hardwired, but there are plug-in and battery models. Check each product page before you buy.

What color temperature is best for reading in bed?

Warm white from 2700 to 3000 K is comfortable and sleep-friendly. Avoid very cool bulbs close to bedtime.

Explore More Wall Lighting Around the Bed and Desk

Looking at the bigger picture? Browse all wall sconces, and for the lighting that sits next to your reading lights, see bedroom lighting. If you like the idea of slim, efficient fixtures, LED wall sconces are a natural next click.

In the living room, living room wall sconces pair nicely with a chair or sofa reading corner.

Why Shop Our Reading Lights

The Aftensol range is built around natural materials and quiet shapes, so a reading light looks like part of the furniture. With free shipping on every order and 30-day returns, you can find the right one without pressure.

Keep exploring: swing arm wall sconces · wall sconces with switch · wall sconces