Picture Light Guide

Picture lights are a stylish way to highlight your favorite artwork or other types of wall decor. They add a sense of warmth and charm too.

I have always loved the look of picture lights for their practical and timeless appeal. This picture light guide will help you with everything you need to know from choosing the right size, bulb type, mounting height and types of picture lights.

When I found this antique painting at a Paris flea market; I knew it needed a stylish picture light. This was the finishing touch this artwork needed.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. This blog post contains affiliate links, I may earn commission on any sales from links in this post.

Picture Light

I teamed up with Lowe’s Home Improvement to showcase some of their amazing picture lights that can be purchased in-store or easily on line with shipping directly to your home or easy curbside pickup.

Where to Install Picture Lights

Picture lights are a subtle but powerful way to bring focus to your favorite artwork or gallery walls, but they can also be installed elsewhere. Add one to the top of a bookcase, or down a narrow hallway and above a shelf displaying your favorite dishes.

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Types of Picture Lights

Picture lights are usually hardwired, but there are three different types of picture lights that will work for you.

Hardwired Picture Lights – These types are wired directly into the wall and controlled by a light switch. They have a clean and professional look and are perfect for displays that are more permanent. They offer a seamless appearance with no visible cords too which is a plus.

Plug-In Picture Lights – These type of picture lights attach to the wall or the frame and plug into a nearby outlet. They are easy to install but have visible cords.

Battery-Operated Picture Light – These are cordless and are very easy to install. They can literally be installed anywhere because you do not have to access any power. They also include a remote for easy use and have built in timers. Batteries have to be changed and have limited brightness.

I chose a battery operated picture light for this location for easy install and it looks and works great.

Correct Dimensions

Choosing the correct size picture light helps create balance. Select a picture light that is between 1/2 – 1/3 the width of the artwork. This is a good guideline, but just like any design…sometimes rules are meant to be broken. I prefer to play with scale and find what I like.

Artwork that is at least 30″, select a picture light that is closer to 18″. Anything that is smaller, select something that is about half the size.

siting room with painting and light above

How High to Hang a Picture Light

The key to a picture light is to gently highlight your piece without casting a harsh shadow or creating a glare.

Install the picture light in the center of the picture and between 6-7″ above the art piece you are lighting. You want the light to evenly spread over the art you are trying to illuminate. Tilt the light to be at a 30-35 degree angle.

If your piece is larger you may need to hang the light a little bit higher to properly illuminate the piece of art.