Still not common by any standards, wall lights can add a real touch of class to a room, especially when combined with a dimmer switch. You may think that you have to hire a professional electrician for a job like this but it is something that can be done DIY with the right tools and some effort. In this 2-part article we will talk about how to fit wall lights, beginning in this part with fitting the lights and continuing in the next talking about switches and powering your lights. Before you begin any electrical work in your home make sure you fully understand the rules and regulations set in place by the ODPM. You should check the New Rules for Electrical Safety in the Home, and Approved Document P – Electrical Safety.
Safety First
Before you even think about touching those wires, shut off the power. Although this may seem pretty obvious, a lot of people still fail to remember this essential (and potentially life-saving) step. Turn your electricity off at the mains, and to be extra safe, take out the fuse for the circuit you will be working on as this will prevent any accidents.
Fitting the Lights
The most common place for wall lights is on either side of a chimney breast or in some sort of alcove in the room. When choosing where to put your wall lights, you will also need to consider where you will run the wires from. Usually the wires will be run from the ceiling circuit, but in some cases where there happens to be a decorative feature in place at the top of your chosen wall, you may find it easier to run wiring from the floor instead.
Once you have chosen the spot for your lights, you will need to fix them to the wall and run wires through the ceiling. To do this, chisel out a path from the plaster on the wall (being careful to avoid damaging any wires you may find) and carefully drill a 10mm hole in the ceiling. If taking the wiring from the floor, you may have to lift a floorboard or two to access the wiring, but the process is essentially still the same.
Once you have fitted the wall lights and wiring, simply plaster back over the groove for a nice smooth finish with no visible wiring.
Continue to the next part to connect your new lights to the power…