As a rule of thumb, 60 to 80 centimetres from the wall for ordinary ceiling light, and 30 to 40 centimetres if you actually want to light up the wall or a cabinet. The distance to the wall decides something different from the spacing between the spots: that second one decides whether the light is even, this one decides whether your wall gets a patch of light or not.
Why too close to the wall shows
A spot right along the wall throws a half circle of light onto it. On a smooth white wall that is not much of a problem, but on textured render, structured wallpaper or a plastered wall with a slight wave in it, every imperfection is magnified. The light hits it at a shallow angle, and then every bump casts a shadow.
The other way round shows too: too far from the wall and the top of it stays dark, making the room look lower than it is.
The rules of thumb
- General light: 60 to 80 centimetres from the wall. Far enough not to light the wall, close enough not to leave the corners of the room dark.
- Wall washing: 30 to 40 centimetres. Here you want that stripe of light. Works on a bookcase, a fireplace or a wall with a nice finish, and only if that wall is smooth.
- Above a worktop: directly above the front edge. Not above the middle of the worktop, because then you stand in your own shadow.
These figures are guidelines, not a standard. They depend on your ceiling height and on the beam angle of the spot. With a higher ceiling you move further from the wall, with a narrow beam closer.
The beam does half the work
A spot with a wide 60 degree beam spreads the light over a large circle and therefore tolerates more distance from the wall. A narrow 36 degree beam lays down a tighter pool of light and is better suited to lighting something deliberately.
The Lyvo has a 60 degree beam and is therefore a general light spot. The Lesto and the Cavo have a narrower 36 degree beam and put down a more focused area.
Lighting a painting or a cabinet
Here the angle counts as much as the distance. Put the spot directly above a painting and you get a reflection in the glass and a hard shadow from the frame.
What does work: the spot about 30 to 40 centimetres from the wall, and tilted so the light falls on the canvas at an angle. For that you need a tiltable spot, such as the Faro, or a track spot you can still adjust after hanging. When tiltable makes sense and when it does not is in Tiltable or fixed spotlights: which do you choose?
Mark it out first
A hole in a ceiling cannot be undone. Put the measurements on paper or stick round stickers on the ceiling before you pick up the hole saw, then walk through the room to see whether it works.
The spacing between the spots is a separate calculation, and that is the measurement that decides whether the light is even: How far apart should ceiling spotlights be? How many spots you need in total is covered per room in the lighting guide.
The range is at recessed spotlights and surface-mounted spotlights.
How far should a spotlight be from the wall?
For ordinary ceiling light, 60 to 80 centimetres. If you want to light the wall deliberately, 30 to 40 centimetres. These are rules of thumb that move with your ceiling height and the beam of the spot.
Why do imperfections in the wall show up under spotlights?
Because the light hits it at a shallow angle, and then every bump casts a shadow. On a textured wall you therefore keep more distance.
How do you light a painting with a spotlight?
Put the spot about 30 to 40 centimetres from the wall and tilt it, so the light falls on the canvas at an angle. Directly above gives reflections and a shadow from the frame.