Plaster Wall Lights: Our Expert Guide
- by Michael Brain
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A quick guide on the type of plaster wall lights, why they are a better option than ceramic, are plaster wall lights led dimmable, can they be painted, are they suitable for bathrooms, which rooms are recommended and can you use smart led bulbs with them.
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Types of Plaster Wall Lights
Plaster lights come in various shapes and sizes, these include large or small, rectangular, half-moon, up-and-down, wall washer light, cylinder, and round and curved wall lights. You can also find lights that are suitable for ceiling, plaster in (wall recessed), and wall (surface) and they typically come as white plaster wall lights.
Plaster Lights vs Ceramic Lights - Which is better?
Plaster lights have several advantages over ceramic lights which make them a better choice for the following reasons:
Are plaster lights or ceramic lights paintable?
Plaster and ceramic lights can both be painted. Plaster is the same material as most walls so it can be painted with regular emulsion paint or PVA solution.Ceramic lights require special paint and primer to achieve the desired finish, which can be difficult to match to wall paint.
Look & Finish
Ceramic wall lights are more difficult to mould than plaster, so their edges are more rounded and not as sharp. Up close, their look and colour can be disappointing and also have a beige shade instead of white. Ceramic lights also have a very hard surface which ultimately means the finish can be rough and uneven.
Plaster lights are easy to shape and sand, giving more design options and a polished, even, silky texture. Plaster lights also come in a pure white finish which is very suitable for white walls.
Are Plaster Wall Lights LED Dimmable?
All plaster lights will either have the option to use an LED dimmable bulb such as a G9, E14 or E27 bulb or have an integrated dimmable LED strip inside the fitting. Both offer significant energy savings with their long-life span, higher efficiency, and lower heat output.
We recommend using a warm white 2700-3000K or 4000K Neutral White colour temperature bulb for most wall lights. 2700-3000K warm white bulb will offer a cosy yellow light output, similar to the old incandescent bulbs. 4000K Neutral white will be a crisp white light output - more suitable for offices, waiting rooms etc.
Please note: LED dimmable bulbs and wall lights require an LED Compatible Dimmer Switch to be used for the dimmable plaster wall light to dim correctly. This is due to the small amount of load an LED bulb or strip will send to the dimmer switch. Non-Dimmable dimmer switches will not operate correctly.
Are Plaster Lights Suitable for the Bathroom?
We do not recommend using plaster lights in bathroom rooms, shower rooms, outdoors or in any environments where the light may get water or there is moisture in the air. It is likely the light will rust and also will suffer electrical damage due to being an open fitting. Plaster wall lights are IP rated to IP20, the minimum for bathroom zone 2 is IP44.
Which rooms are recommended for Plaster Lights?
Plaster lights are a perfect addition to most domestic and semi-commercial applications, for example, a living room, bedroom, breakfast room, conservatory, garage, stairwells, corridors, hallways, waiting rooms, offices, receptions and meeting rooms.
Are Plaster Lights Smart Compatible?
Plaster lights can be used with most domestic smart led bulbs such as Philips hue and Google and Alexa compatible bulbs. Please check bulb length against product dimensions to confirm suitability.
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