15 Ways to Use Reading Wall Lights in a Maximalist Home

In a maximalist home, reading wall lights do two jobs at once: they put focused light exactly where you hold a book, and they act as another layer of pattern, colour and craft on walls that are already full. The most successful approach is to choose adjustable fittings with character, place them at shoulder height beside seating or beds, and let their finish and shade join the conversation rather than hide from it.

Maximalism is not about clutter. It is about collected, considered abundance, where every object has a reason to be there. A good light earns its place in the same way. Our reading wall lights UK range includes swing arm, plug in and rechargeable designs in brass, black and coloured finishes, and they sit within our broader modern lighting UK sale collection. Here are fifteen ways to use them.

1. Frame a Velvet Armchair

A deep, saturated armchair in velvet is a maximalist staple. Mount a swing arm reading light on the wall beside it so that the head can be pulled across the shoulder when reading and pushed back flat when not in use. Position the base of the light around 110 to 130 centimetres above the floor, which typically clears the top of the chair and sends light down onto the page.

2. Mount Lights Directly onto Wallpaper

Bold wallpaper does not need to be left untouched. A light with a small round backplate sits neatly over a pattern, and a brass or black arm reads as a graphic line against florals, chinoiserie or stripes. Choose a fitting with enough contrast to be seen: a pale light on a pale paper simply disappears.

3. Light the Bookcase, Not Just the Reader

Shelves packed with books, objects and small artworks are the backbone of many maximalist rooms. A pair of reading lights mounted on the wall either side of a tall bookcase lights the spines as well as the chair in front of it. If you are adding shelving, our modern bookcases UK sale collection includes open designs that suit this kind of display.

4. Use Coloured Shades as Accents

A fabric or enamel shade in a strong colour can tie a room together. Pick up a colour from a cushion, a rug or a painting, and repeat it in the shade of a reading light. This is a small way of making a busy room feel intentional, and it is easy to change later if your scheme evolves.

5. Create a Reading Corner Around a Chaise

A chaise longue invites lingering, which makes it a natural spot for reading. Fix a light on the wall at the head end, angled across the length of the seat. Our lounge and chaise chairs UK range includes shapes that sit well against a wall, leaving room for a fitting above.

6. Pair Lights Either Side of a Bed

In a maximalist bedroom, bedside tables are often crowded with books, plants and treasured objects. Wall mounted reading lights free that surface. Fix them about 30 to 40 centimetres above the mattress top and slightly outside the width of the headboard, so each sleeper can direct light without disturbing the other.

7. Mix Metals Deliberately

Maximalist rooms can carry more than one metal, as long as the choice looks considered. Brass reading lights alongside black picture frames and an antique bronze mirror can feel rich and layered. The trick is repetition: use each metal at least twice, so it reads as part of the palette rather than an accident.

8. Set Lights Against Dark Walls

Deep greens, inky blues and oxblood reds are common in maximalist schemes. Against a dark wall, a reading light casts a strong, intimate pool of light that makes a corner feel like a room within a room. Brass and gold finishes glow particularly well against these shades.

9. Light a Window Seat

Window seats are wonderful for reading by day but can be gloomy at night. A compact reading light fixed to the reveal or the wall beside the window extends their use into the evening. Choose a design with a shallow projection, so it does not interfere with curtains or blinds.

10. Learn from How People Already Read

Many people read beside a lamp in the living room, and reading wall lights simply move that light onto the wall to free floor space. If you are deciding between a floor lamp and a wall light, our survey of how UK households use floor lamps is a useful look at reading habits at home.

11. Hang a Light Within a Gallery Wall

A gallery wall full of frames can absorb a reading light surprisingly well. Plan the light as one of the pieces, leaving a gap in the arrangement where it will sit. With the light switched off, the fitting becomes another object in the composition; switched on, it lights both the art and the chair below.

12. Choose a Characterful Flex

Plug in reading lights often come with a braided fabric flex. Rather than hiding it, let it become part of the decoration. A coloured or patterned flex looped neatly down a wall to a socket can add a crafted detail. Keep it tidy with discreet cable clips and make sure it does not trail across a walkway.

13. Take Cues from Classic Lamp Design

Many reading wall lights borrow from the history of floor and desk lamps: articulated arms, cone shades, counterweights. Leaning into these references suits the collected feel of a maximalist room. Our brief history of the floor lamp for UK homes traces some of the shapes that still inform lighting today.

14. Use Rechargeable Lights Where Wiring Is Awkward

Maximalist homes are often older properties with solid walls, ornate plasterwork or wallpaper you would rather not cut into. Rechargeable reading lights avoid the need for wiring altogether. Many detach from a magnetic plate for charging, so they can be placed precisely where the light is needed.

15. Keep Every Light Purposeful

In a room full of things, it is tempting to keep adding. Before installing a reading light, ask where someone will actually sit and read. A light beside every chair can become noise; one well placed light beside the chair people return to every evening is worth far more. Edit, then commit.

Getting the Practical Details Right

Whatever the style, a reading light needs to do its job. Look for warm white light, around 2700K to 3000K, which is comfortable for longer periods. An adjustable head or arm lets you direct the beam onto the page and away from your eyes. A switch on the fitting itself, or within easy reach of the chair, makes the light far more likely to be used.

Measure projection as well as height. A swing arm can extend a long way from the wall, which is ideal beside a deep armchair but awkward in a narrow hallway or beside a door. Check that the fully extended arm will not catch on curtains, bookshelves or passing shoulders.

Finally, keep finishes in mind across the whole room. Maximalism thrives on variety, but a few anchoring threads, such as a repeated metal or a shared colour, help the eye make sense of it all. You can explore pieces that bring those threads together at Furniture in Fashion.

Planning Lights Room by Room

It helps to think about how each room is used before deciding how many reading lights it needs. In a living room, the answer is usually one per regular reading seat, plus perhaps a pair to frame a bookcase or fireplace. In a bedroom, a light for each side of the bed is the norm, though a single sleeper may prefer one light and a decorative lamp on the other side. In a snug or library, where reading is the main activity, several lights at different heights can work, provided each one serves a particular chair or corner.

Hallways and landings are often overlooked, yet a reading light above a small bench or a chair on a wide landing creates a pleasant spot to pause with a book. In a guest room, a reading light beside the bed is one of the small comforts visitors notice most.

Once you have a plan, mark positions on the wall with masking tape and live with them for a few days. In a maximalist room, where so much is already happening, this pause helps you see whether a light adds to the composition or simply adds to the noise. Adjust heights and spacing until each position feels natural, then fix the lights in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What height should a reading wall light be?

Beside an armchair, around 110 to 130 centimetres from the floor usually works. Beside a bed, about 30 to 40 centimetres above the top of the mattress is a good starting point. Sit in position and test before fixing.

Can reading lights go on patterned wallpaper?

Yes. Choose a fitting with a finish that contrasts with the paper so it reads clearly, and plan the position before hanging the paper if you are wallpapering at the same time.

Are swing arm wall lights good for reading?

They are among the most practical options, because the head can be moved to exactly where you need it and folded back when you do not.

Do reading wall lights need to be hardwired?

No. Plug in and rechargeable designs are widely available and avoid the need for new wiring. Hardwired lights give the cleanest look and should be installed by a qualified electrician.