Curved Arc LED Bedside Wall Light

Bedside lighting has a surprisingly hard brief. It needs to be bright enough to read by, soft enough not to keep you awake, and compact enough not to crowd a nightstand that is already holding a phone, a glass of water and a stack of books. Wall mounted bedside lights, from swing arm sconces to slim LED lines, solve the space problem by lifting the light off the table altogether.

The Curved Arc LED Bedside Wall Light takes a sculptural approach to that idea. A curved arc of light mounts on the wall beside the bed and throws a soft line of light up the wall rather than straight into the room. It comes in three lengths, in left and right facing versions for a mirrored pair, and its LED sits behind an acrylic diffuser, so the glow is one smooth line.

What makes the curved arc light special

The curve is the design idea and the practical one. Light that travels up the wall is gentler on the eyes than light pointed at your face, which matters in the last half hour before sleep. The wall itself becomes a soft glowing surface, and the bedroom feels calm rather than lit.

The diffuser finishes the effect. The LED is integrated behind acrylic, so you see one continuous line of light rather than a row of bright dots, and there is no bulb to buy or change. The body is aluminum, iron and silicone, and at 5.9 inches wide and just 2.4 inches deep, it sits close to the wall.

Then there is symmetry. Many sculptural wall lights come in one direction only, which makes a matching pair impossible. This one is sold facing left or right, so you can mirror two either side of a bed and have them genuinely match. That symmetry is what makes a bed wall look designed.

The wall color changes the effect, too. On a pale wall, the line of light reads bright and crisp; on a darker painted wall or wood panelling, it glows more softly and feels more intimate.

Where it looks best

• Either side of a double bed. A mirrored pair frames the headboard.
• Beside a single bed. The shortest length suits a guest room or a teen's room.
• Behind a wide headboard. The longest length makes a statement wall.
• A reading nook. A soft line of light beside an armchair.
• Hotel style bedrooms. Clean, symmetrical lighting with a clear nightstand.

It suits modern, minimal and hotel inspired bedrooms, where a clean line of light looks at home against plain walls, panelling or an upholstered headboard.

Choosing the length, side and placement

There are three lengths: 23.6, 31.5 and 39.4 inches. The fixture is 5.9 inches wide and projects 2.4 inches from the wall. Choose the length to suit the bed and the wall around it:

• 23.6 inches for a single bed, a narrow wall or a small guest room.
• 31.5 inches for most double and queen beds.
• 39.4 inches for a wide headboard or a dramatic feature wall.

Each fixture faces left or right, so for a pair either side of a bed, order one of each. Fit it above the nightstand so the light falls where a book is held, and keep both lights at the same height so the pair lines up. The measurements are listed in the Dimensions section above.

It is wired in, so turn the power off at the breaker before starting, and have an electrician run a supply to each spot if there is nothing there already. Planning both positions at once makes the job simpler. Before drilling, tape a strip of painter's tape on the wall in the length of the light, then sit up in bed and check that it sits where you expect.

Layering it with other lighting

In a bedroom, the arc lights provide the soft evening layer. Pair them with a ceiling light for bright, general light when you are cleaning or getting dressed, and switch to the wall lights alone for reading and winding down. With the ceiling light off, the lines of light up the wall make the room feel calm and warm.

Browse the swing arm sconces collection for other bedside wall lights, or the bedside lamps collection if you prefer a lamp for one side of the room. Freeing the nightstand from a lamp also means more space for books, a glass of water and a phone charger.

If you share the bed, ask your electrician to put each light on its own switch, so each person can read on their side without lighting the whole room for the other.

Is the curved arc bedside light right for your room?

It is a strong fit if you:

• Want a soft, glare free light beside the bed.
• Like a matching pair either side of the headboard.
• Want a clear nightstand without a lamp on it.
• Can have a wired fixture installed by an electrician.

It is not the right choice if you need a plug in light with no wiring, or a directed spotlight for detailed reading. For those, a bedside lamp or an adjustable reading light will suit better.

Every order ships free across the US and most arrive in 6 to 9 business days. Unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery, and questions about lengths are answered at info@norafurnish.com.