Lighting Ideas for Upstairs Hallways

Sconces

• Sconces are decorative wall fixtures that can be used to enhance hallway lighting. They come in a variety of styles from contemporary to traditional and made of everything from metals to faux stone. If your hallway “dead ends” with a wall at its end, add wall sconces on the left and right sides of a large piece of artwork or a wall-mounted water feature for a dramatic effect. Place the sconces at least 5 feet from the floor surface to highlight the artwork and fill the hallway with light. Alternatively, you can use one or two ceiling sconces, placed at least 5 feet apart to cast a warm glow throughout the hallway space.

Recessed

• Recessed lighting is an effective way to give a hallway a contemporary, uncluttered look. They are installed into the ceiling away and cast downward directional lighting that is unobtrusive. This makes them an appropriate choice for a hallway with short ceilings and those that are narrow. The key is to avoid using too many units and spacing them too close together. That results in an overly lit hallway. Instead, space them at least 4 to 6 feet apart to create a cozy ambiance.

Track

• Hallways are often used to showcase photographs and artwork. You can turn the hallway into a mini gallery by using track lighting for an overall sleek and modern effect. For example, you might use track lights with black lamps and metal tracks to accent a collection of black and white photographs in black or silver metal frames. Track lighting works best in a long hallway so the lighting is not harsh and overbearing. To control the light level, look for units that can be used with a dimmer switch with lighting lamps you can tilt and reposition. Then you can accent particular pieces of artwork and direct the light to various spaces such as a corner or doors.

Night Lights

• Night lights are a good way to keep hallways lit and safe for use by children, seniors and guests. Use them to light the path from bedrooms to bathrooms so no one has to search with sleepy eyes to find wall-mounted light switches and to supplement other hallway lighting fixtures. Instead of basic night lights, go for styles with a bit of panache and decorative features that blend with your hallway decor. For example, if you have vacation photos of the family at the beach, look for night lights with seashell embellishments. You can even attach your night lights to timers so you don’t forget to turn them on before retiring at night.