Stairwell Lighting

A stairwell is one of the trickiest spaces to light. It's often tall and open to two floors, and it has to be safe as well as good-looking, with no dark steps and no glare in your eyes on the way down. The best stairwells do two things at once: a statement fitting fills the void, and practical light keeps every step clearly lit.

How do I light a stairwell?

Think of it as two jobs. First, fill the vertical space with a feature, a long-drop pendant, a chandelier or a staggered cluster hung down the stairwell void. Second, light the steps themselves so they're safe, using wall lights along the run or recessed step lights. Aim for even light with no dark treads and no bare bulb shining straight into your eyes as you come down.

What hangs best over a stairwell?

The drop over the stairs is the perfect place for a statement fitting. A long chandelier or a long-drop pendant makes a real centrepiece, while a staggered cluster of pendants at different heights follows the line of the stairs beautifully. If your stairwell rises through two floors, see our double-height ceiling lighting for more ideas.

How do I keep the stairs safe and well lit?

Safety comes down to even light and no glare. Space wall lights along the run so each flight is lit, or add recessed step and riser lights for a low, guiding glow. It's also worth having a two-way switch at the top and bottom, so you can turn the stairs on and off from either end rather than climbing in the dark.

Wall lights, pendants or step lights?

• Pendant or chandelier: the feature that fills the void
• Wall lights: even, practical light along the flights
• Step and recessed lights: a safe, low guiding glow on the treads

What about changing bulbs over the stairs?

Access is the catch with any stairwell fitting, so plan for it before you buy. A rise-and-fall pendant lowers on a pulley for cleaning and bulb changes, long-life LED bulbs mean you rarely need to reach up, and for fixed fittings it's worth thinking about how you'll safely get to them over the stairs.

Buying stairwell lighting in Ireland

From long chandeliers and clusters to wall and step lights, we have everything to light a staircase safely and in style, all available to order online with fast delivery across Ireland and Europe.

Related categories

Browse pendant lights, cluster lights and wall lights, or see our double-height ceiling lighting.