Chrome Wall Lights

Choosing the finish on a chrome wall light

Every fitting on this page has a chrome finish, a bright plated surface with a clean shine. Most of our chrome wall lights are polished chrome, the bright, mirror-like version. A few have a satin finish instead, with a softer sheen that is a little more forgiving of fingerprints. Brushed metal appears on a few as well, its fine grain giving a quieter look.

Across the range, most have a modern look, and many are traditional. Many combine chrome with white, and many with black, which lets a fitting pick up colours already in your room.

Glass, crystal and fabric on chrome wall lights

We stock chrome wall lights with glass shades, crystal detail or fabric shades, and the choice changes the light a fitting gives. Opal glass spreads an even, gentle glow that suits a hallway or landing. Frosted glass hides the bulb behind a milky haze. Clear glass and crystal let the light sparkle, which is why crystal works so well in a dining room or either side of a fireplace.

Fabric shades take the glare off the bulb and give a softer, warmer pool of light, so they suit a bedroom or a reading chair. A white or cream shade keeps the look light, while a dark shade adds contrast against the metal.

Caring for chrome wall lights

Chrome is a bright plated finish, so fingerprints and water marks show on it readily. Before you clean, switch the light off and let it cool. Wipe the chrome with a soft dry cloth, or one that is barely damp, then dry it straight away so no streaks are left behind.

How the finish wears comes down to what touches it. Scourers, abrasive creams and harsh sprays can scratch or dull the plating that gives chrome its shine, so keep them away. Wipe glass and crystal with the same soft cloth, and dust fabric shades with a soft brush or a lint roller. Gentle care is what keeps chrome bright.

Chrome bathroom wall lights and IP44

Some of our chrome wall lights carry an IP44 rating, which means they are protected against splashing water. If you are after chrome bathroom wall lights, these are the ones we recommend, perhaps as a pair either side of the mirror. Every other light on this page is for dry rooms, such as living rooms, bedrooms, hallways and dining rooms.

Where an IP44 light may go depends on its distance from the bath or shower, so ask your electrician to confirm the spot before you buy. Steam and splashes leave water marks on chrome quickly, so give the fitting a dry wipe after a shower to keep the shine clear.

Bulbs and integrated LED in chrome wall lights

We stock chrome wall lights that take E14, G9 or E27 bulbs, and many with integrated LED. E14 is the small screw cap, often for candle bulbs, G9 a compact capsule, and E27 the larger screw cap. A few take GU10 bulbs, which give a more focused beam. Integrated LED is built into the fitting, so there is no bulb to choose.

Unless a listing says a bulb is included, plan to buy one with the cap it names, and keep to the maximum wattage it gives. Most of the range is dimmable. Some are not, so check the listing, which may also ask for dimmable bulbs or a particular dimmer, such as a trailing edge type.

Warm or cool white from a chrome wall light

We stock chrome wall lights in warm white, the cosy tone that suits a living room or bedroom. A warm white of 2700K has a soft, golden feel, while 3000K is a touch fresher and still warm. Some of ours are cool white, such as 4000K, which feels crisp in a hallway or beside a dressing mirror. A few let you switch between warm and cool white.

With a bulb fitting, you choose the colour: fit a warm white bulb in a bedroom and a cooler one where you want clearer light. With integrated LED, the colour is part of the fitting, so check its colour temperature in the listing before you buy.

Matching chrome wall lights to your ceiling light

A room feels settled when its fittings share one finish, so pair chrome wall lights with chrome ceiling lights, pendant lights or chandeliers, and with chrome switch plates and sockets where you can. Match the sheen as well as the metal: polished chrome sits best beside polished, and satin beside satin.

Wall lights look their best in pairs either side of a bed, mirror, fireplace or picture, fitted at the same height. Many of ours suit hallways, where it pays to check the projection, how far the light stands out, so it clears passers-by. Most of ours suit a living room, where they add a soft layer of light alongside your ceiling light, floor lamps and table lamps.