Your house should feel like a home, and what better way to achieve this than with some great lighting? If you’re debating whether to place your LED lights on the ceiling or wall, then this article will help you out!
Pros of LED Ceiling Lights
Practical Placement
You can light up an entire room with even overhead lighting by placing your LED lights on the ceiling. This is a practical choice since it’s less prone to glare and is perfect for illuminating corners. Definitely ideal for your work-from-home space!
Safer from Liquids
This is helpful to keep your power sources at a safe distance from water fixtures. For example, you can place LED ceiling lights in the bathroom so they won’t be near the sinks and showers.
Variety of Styles
From chandeliers to pendant types, and many more, we’re pretty sure there’s an LED ceiling light in the style that you want. Here are some examples:
Power cords, begone! Nothing says sleek and modern like a lighted ceiling with no messy cords. If your house has a dropdown or a coffered ceiling, hidden LED strip lights might work best.
Cons of LED Ceiling Lights
Unflattering on Some Room Designs
If you have rooms with low ceilings, then some LED lights might not be your best option. Chandelier and pendant types tend to make the room feel smaller.
It’s better to go for recessed or flush mount types of LED ceiling lights. These will fit right against your ceiling and open up more space.
The same goes for your hallways—unless they’re wide enough that all types of LED ceiling lights will look suitable.
Takes Over the Room’s Focus
An eye-catching LED ceiling light makes an impressive statement. At the same time, it might take away the focus from other aspects of the room. For example, you might have a great bookshelf you’d want to display. In this case, we recommend a more subtle ceiling light fixture.
Hassle of DIY Repairs and Cleaning
Every time a bulb might need replacing, you’ll need a sturdy ladder as well as other repair tools. An assistant or two won’t hurt either, especially if your ceilings are higher than the standard of nine to ten feet.
Generally More Expensive
LED ceiling lights are efficiently designed to cover a large room with just one or two bulbs. So, they’re priced higher than other types.
No Switching!
Are you the type of person who wants to shake up the decor every once in a while? That might be a tad inconvenient once you’ve already chosen and installed an LED ceiling light.
However, if you’re up for the challenge and a little extra cost, we say there’s always room (pun intended!) for improvement.
Pros of LED Wall Lights
Highlight Certain Spots
Did someone say drama? With LED wall lights, you can easily come up with a dramatic effect for your room. You can use it to highlight paintings, collections, or even mirrors. Dimmable LED wall lights will go a long way to achieve this effect, too.
So, if you’re working on a mini-library or a lounge area, then you can never go wrong with LED wall lights to set the ambiance.
The same goes for certain spots around your house where you’ll need more focused lighting. Your vanity mirror for applying make-up and food preparation counters are some examples.
We call this task lighting, by the way!
Easily Customizable
It’ll be easy to just reach out with your hand to adjust your LED wall light. You can do this when dealing with angle, focus, and brightness. All three are keys to setting up the perfect accent lighting. Remote-controlled LED wall lights aren’t a bad idea either, if within your budget.
More Cost-Efficient
Compared to LED ceiling lights, LED wall light fixtures are generally cheaper. That’s because they emit lower brightness.
Saves Space
You can brighten dark corners and narrow hallways without the use of a floor lamp or a ceiling light. This leaves more space on the floor and overhead, making your house feel more open and welcoming. Perfect for when guests come over!
Great for Outdoor Use
LED wall lights are usually encased in a protective covering made of plastic, metal, or both. This casing helps protect the light source from the elements. It also makes them an excellent choice for outdoor areas, such as:
- Gazebos
- Arches/Arbors
- Terraces
- Patios
- Trellises
Thus, LED wall lights are ideal for setting the tone if you’re having a little garden party or enjoying any outdoor activity—especially at nighttime!
Cons of LED Wall Lights
Glare
You might get some glare in your eyes with LED wall lights. That’s because the illumination directs itself outwards instead of downwards. So, we suggest you go for dimmable LED lights to reduce glare.
Low Brightness and Coverage
Some LED wall lights are more suited for decoration than anything else. Strip lights and sconces are some examples of this. If you plan to spend lots of time working or reading in a certain room, then we suggest foregoing LED wall lights.
Either that, or you can have multiple LED wall lights installed instead. That way, the light covers the whole room. A great lamp never hurt, either.
Some Installations Are a Bit Complicated
You’ll need to consider wall drilling and precise height requirements for installation. This won’t be a problem if you’ve had some practice, but in general we recommend hiring a professional.
Our other suggestion is to choose plug-in LED wall lights. This way, you won’t need an electrician to tap into your main power supply, which will save you some extra dollars too.
Must Be near Outlets
If you go for plug-in LED wall lights, you’ll have to position them near an outlet. An extension cord can also make placements easier, but be sure to hide the wires properly. Nothing ruins an aesthetic more than an untidy space!
