Whether they're guiding you safely up your driveway on a winter's evening or lighting up your patio for a summer garden party, wall lights are an essential garden fixture, whatever the season. As well as serving a practical purpose, they're incredibly stylish, allowing you to experiment with your favourite décor styles outside. However, wall lights come in various shapes and sizes, and two can look and work completely differently from one another.
From traditional brass lantern-style wall lights to stainless steel solar-powered LEDs with motion sensors, there is a whole range to choose from. It always helps to be armed with a little knowledge before diving in, which is exactly why we've written this buying guide. We'll walk you through everything you need to consider, then we'll show you ten of the best outdoor wall lights in the UK.
It's not too difficult to find a decent wall light, but if you want one that'll truly take pride of place in your garden, you'll need to put a little more effort in. Read on for our buying guide, where we'll tell you everything you need to consider, from dimensions to bulb type.
You may be surprised to hear us ask where you might like your outdoor wall light to be mounted — after all, wall lights are surely fixed to the wall, right? Well, that is usually the case, but some can also be fixed to the ceiling. While these may not technically be wall lights, they are incredibly useful for outdoor entryways or gazebos.
Things differ a little more when it comes to exactly how a wall light is mounted. Most of the time, a wall light will feature an independent base that can be screwed to the wall, but others are fastened via the shade or bulb housing itself, and some can be attached using double-sided sticky tape. Depending on your intended space for your light, this is certainly something worth checking.
Outdoor lights differ slightly in their function from their indoor counterparts, and you can activate them in various ways. Naturally, there's the classic manual switch that'll allow you to turn your light on and off when you wish, but there are also a few other solutions.
Outdoor lights are only needed at night, and therefore it makes sense that many of them activate automatically when dusk falls. There's something particularly satisfying about watching solar lights turn on at night, powered by the sunlight they've absorbed throughout the day.
Then there are motion-activated lights that switch on when they detect nearby movement. These are a great choice if you don't want a constant light but prefer it only when you nip out to water the flowers or empty the bin. These types work particularly well as security lights - a strong beam is sure to deter intruders, be they man or beast!
Wall lights can be made from a variety of materials. Unless you're buying from a non-reputable source, it's not your job to worry about whether your wall light will be able to endure the great British weather, as any decent wall light should be able to do so. Instead, focus on picking a light made from materials that appeal to you visually.
The most common material used for wall lights is aluminium as it's durable and affordable. However, wall lights can also be made from plastic and other metals, such as copper, if you're after a more luxurious option.
Finally, it's worth looking at the glass that houses the bulb, as this can vary drastically in both size and appearance. While some wall lights feature small amounts of glass, others feature large round casings that form most of the light. Ensure you take a good long look at the product images before you buy, and you can't go too wrong.
As with any light, outdoor lights can be powered by several different types of bulbs, the most common being LED. This is primarily because they're highly energy-efficient, but they're also able to display a variety of colours while shining nice and bright.
Then there are halogen bulbs, which, while compact and affordable, tend to run quite hot and are not nearly as energy-efficient as their LED counterparts. There are also a few lesser-known bulbs, such as the warm Edison bulb or the incredibly bright G9 bulb.
While we'll always recommend LED bulbs for their versatility and energy-saving properties, if achieving another type of glow is important to you, bulb type is something you'll want to consider.
You're now armed with everything you need to find the perfect outdoor wall light, but first, allow us to save you some time by introducing ten of our favourites. From motion-activated security lights to traditional Scandinavian designs made of copper, there's something here to suit every home.
£18.10
Mounting | Screw |
---|---|
Placement | Wall |
Activation Type | Manual |
Material(s) | Aluminium, glass |
Bulb | LED |
Dimensions | 6 x 7.8 (base diameter) x 15.5 (projection) cm |
£21.99
Mounting | Screw or double-sided tape |
---|---|
Placement | Wall |
Activation Type | Manual, motion-sensor |
Material(s) | Plastic |
Bulb | LED |
Dimensions | - |
£60.00
Mounting | Screw |
---|---|
Placement | Ceiling |
Activation Type | Manual |
Material(s) | Metal, glass |
Bulb | LED |
Dimensions | 26 x 20 cm |
£36.98
Mounting | Screw |
---|---|
Placement | Wall |
Activation Type | Manual |
Material(s) | Aluminium, glass |
Bulb | G9 |
Dimensions | 10 x 10 x 10 cm |
£15.99
Mounting | Screw |
---|---|
Placement | Wall |
Activation Type | Manual |
Material(s) | Stainless steel, glass |
Bulb | LED, halogen |
Dimensions | 16.3 x 6 x 7.3 (base diameter) cm |
£75.00
Mounting | Screw |
---|---|
Placement | Wall |
Activation Type | Manual |
Material(s) | Steel, glass |
Bulb | LED |
Dimensions | 28 x 28 x 14.2 cm |
£109.99
Mounting | Screw |
---|---|
Placement | Wall |
Activation Type | manual, timed via app |
Material(s) | Aluminium |
Bulb | LED |
Dimensions | 10.1 x 25.4 x 8.8 cm |
£19.99
Mounting | Screw |
---|---|
Placement | Wall |
Activation Type | Activates at dusk |
Material(s) | Plastic - polycrystalline silicon |
Bulb | LED |
Dimensions | 9 x 5 x 9 cm |
£22.00
Mounting | Screw |
---|---|
Placement | Wall |
Activation Type | Manual |
Material(s) | Aluminium, glass |
Bulb | LED, Edison bulb |
Dimensions | 29 x 16.4 x 19.4 cm |
£80.00
Mounting | Screw |
---|---|
Placement | Wall |
Activation Type | Manual |
Material(s) | Copper, glass |
Bulb | LED, halogen |
Dimensions | 25 x 26 x 42 cm |
Image | 1 ![]() Nordlux | 2 ![]() Argos Home | 3 ![]() KMASHI | 4 ![]() Philips Hue | 5 ![]() John Lewis & Partners | 6 ![]() Long Life Lamp Company | 7 ![]() OOWOLF | 8 ![]() John Lewis & Partners | 9 ![]() Claoner | 10 ![]() Knightsbridge |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Luxembourg Outdoor Wall Light | Indira Grey Outdoor Cage Wall Lantern | Solar Fence Lights | White and Colour Ambiance Nyro LED Smart Outdoor Wall Light | Potter Double Wall Light | Outdoor Stainless Steel Wall Light | G9 Bulb Aluminium Wall Lights | Vintage Globe Flush Outdoor Light | Solar Motion Sensor Security Lights | Black Adjustable Wall Light |
Features | Get That Scandi Look With This Pure Copper Wall Light | Industrial Chic and a Warm Vintage Glow | Solar-Powered Light All Year Round | Set the Mood With This Colour-Changing Light | Turn Heads With This Abstract Double Wall Light | A Sleek Cylindrical Light to Guide You Home | Illuminate Your Home in Cutting Edge Style | Cast Down a Warm Glow With This Vintage Globe Light | Low-Maintenance Security Lights for Home Protection | A Simple and Affordable Patio Option |
Price | £80.00 | £22.00 | £19.99 | £109.99 | £75.00 | £15.99 | £36.98 | £60.00 | £21.99 | £18.10 |
Mounting | Screw | Screw | Screw | Screw | Screw | Screw | Screw | Screw | Screw or double-sided tape | Screw |
Placement | Wall | Wall | Wall | Wall | Wall | Wall | Wall | Ceiling | Wall | Wall |
Activation Type | Manual | Manual | Activates at dusk | manual, timed via app | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual, motion-sensor | Manual |
Material(s) | Copper, glass | Aluminium, glass | Plastic - polycrystalline silicon | Aluminium | Steel, glass | Stainless steel, glass | Aluminium, glass | Metal, glass | Plastic | Aluminium, glass |
Bulb | LED, halogen | LED, Edison bulb | LED | LED | LED | LED, halogen | G9 | LED | LED | LED |
Dimensions | 25 x 26 x 42 cm | 29 x 16.4 x 19.4 cm | 9 x 5 x 9 cm | 10.1 x 25.4 x 8.8 cm | 28 x 28 x 14.2 cm | 16.3 x 6 x 7.3 (base diameter) cm | 10 x 10 x 10 cm | 26 x 20 cm | - | 6 x 7.8 (base diameter) x 15.5 (projection) cm |
Link |
Our knowledge isn't limited to outdoor wall lights only. Whether you're looking for solar lights to illuminate your garden path or a night light for your toddler, allow us to throw some light on the buying process by checking out the articles below.
You now have all the knowledge you need to get out there and find an outdoor wall light that's perfect for your garden. They may be small and simple, but we believe that the right one can truly transform your outdoor space. Don't take our word for it - buy one and find out for yourself!
Author: Ben Willimett
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