Swing Arm Wall Lamp design
Part 1
Nine designs that move with you
I love fixtures that stretch, swivel, and follow your lead. Swing-arm wall lamps clear crowded nightstands, punch light into a book, and pull double duty as sculpture. As a designer, I lean on them whenever a room needs targeted glow and a statement line. Below are nine favorites I keep specifying right now – each one with its own attitude and reach. Part 2 will land soon with nine more.
Designer tips for choosing a swing arm wall lamp
Measure the throw. Check both arm length and vertical travel so the light actually hits your book, countertop, or art piece.
Mind the mount. Hard-wired models look clean but need planning. Plug-in versions forgive last-minute indecision (just hide the cord with a paintable raceway).
Match the vibe. Industrial steel (Petite Potence) toughens soft rooms, while opal glass (Malamata) softens sharp ones.
Think layers. Use the lamp for task or accent, then back it up with ambient overheads so the swing-arm never works alone. A stylish table lamp on your bedside or a sleek desk lamp can balance out the light and create a perfectly layered atmosphere.
Original 1227 Wall Mounted Lamp
by Anglepoise
$$
The queen of British task lighting. Compact steel shade, constant-tension springs, charming inline switch, and that unmistakable Anglepoise silhouette. I use it over banquettes and tight desks where every inch matters. Non-dimmable, but the crisp beam makes pages pop.
Tolomeo Classic Mini Wall Light
by Artemide
$$
Michele de Lucchi’s Tolomeo never quits. The Mini size costs about $430 and slips neatly beside upper cabinets. Pick surface or J-box bracket, incandescent nostalgia or efficient LED. The polished aluminum arms glide like butter, and the jointed head spins to kill shadows on a cutting board.
Type 80 W3 swing arm Wall Lamp
by Anglepoise
$$$
A newer Anglepoise with a long, triple-jointed reach and color-matched junction box. Wire it to a wall switch, aim it across a hallway, and let the precision machining show off. I love the subtle halo vent cut into the shade – it glows softly backward so the wall never feels dead.
Bestlite BL6 Wall Lamp
by Gubi
$$$
Born in 1930, still looking fresh. The Bauhaus-leaning arm slides up and down its stem while the conical shade pivots. Hard-wired only, which keeps cords out of sight. I lean on BL6 for reading nooks where fabric headboards need a slim, graphic counterpoint.
Ginger LED Wall Light
by Marset
$$$
Joan Gaspar took a cymbal and turned it into a lamp. The thin pressed-metal disk hides the LED, throws a warm pool, and pairs with an adjustable arm. Plug-in or hard-wire options plus in-line or triac dimming. Spanish-made and smooth as a good cortado.
Malamata swing arm Wall lamp
by Luceplan
$$$$$
Two articulate arms, an opal glass orb, and a clever counterweight you slide by hand. The movement feels almost meditative – great above a sofa where you shift from chat to Netflix. Black or brass hardware, both made in Italy. Dim it down and the globe turns into a moon.
Ozz Wall Lamp
by Miniforms
$$$$
Ozz is drama. A sweeping black arc (think mini floor lamp on the wall) ends in a deep shade that pools light onto a table or armchair. It needs space – about 1,2 m projection – so give it a clean backdrop and let the curve do its thing. I’ve hung it in a restaurant booth and guests kept reaching to touch it.
Petite Potence Wall Lamp
by Vitra
$$$$
Jean Prouvé’s 1947 industrial masterpiece scaled for smaller rooms. A 103 cm lacquered steel arm pivots from a neat wall bracket, while a textile-wrapped cord loops elegantly to the socket. The LED bulb is dimmable, which modernizes the vintage vibe. Try it in a studio kitchen – instant atelier energy.
Mod 265 Wall Sconce
by FLOS
$$$$
A minimalist crane arm designed by Paolo Rizzatto in 1973. The tapered cast-iron counterweight keeps the 205 cm steel arm floating with almost no effort. Plug it in, swing it over a dining table, and dial the built-in dimmer from “espresso-bright” to “midnight snack.”
Sources
https://www.lumens.com/
https://www.2modern.com/
https://www.anglepoise.com/
https://www.artemide.com/
SAVE IT FOR LATER
