When we hear the LED wall washer lighting, it is misleading to think that it is the elixir for washing the wall and so on. A wall washer is actually a solution for outdoor lighting, which refers to the light effect of a wall washer. They enhance the look by accentuating the texture and unique patterns of the walls.
But how choosing wall washer lighting for exterior walls is challenging because there are different technologies and variations for lighting walls. A variety of lights can create a wall-washing effect. So, this article is all about wall washer lighting and how to find the best one for your lighting project.
What is a Wall Washer Lighting?
A wall washer is a lighting fixture used to illuminate vertical areas of a building. Wall washers can be used by anyone who wants to use vertical, indirect lighting at a distance and angle from the wall to create a smooth “wash” effect. These lights give a color-wash effect to walls and accentuate unique objects or textures.
The wall washer is suitable for various styles of outdoor walls. Especially suitable for architectural lighting, landscape lighting, museum lighting, and art museum lighting to highlight cultural relics or works of art.
What is LED Wall Washer Lighting?
LED Wall Washers lighting use LED technology to illuminate walls. LEDs are great for wall washing because of their bright, durable, and versatile lighting options.
The throw distance of the LED wall washer lighting is about 1-10 feet and can extend up to 20 feet. Therefore, they are ideal for decorating both indoor and outdoor areas. You can install it on hotel facades, building outlines, walls, clubs, etc.
Main Types of LED Wall Washers
According to the overall structure, LED wall washers can be divided into two categories. Rigid LED wall washers and flexible LED wall washers. Next, we introduce in detail as follows:
Rigid LED Wall Washer
A rigid LED wall washer is a traditional form of light, commonly known as flood light. Rigid LED Wall Washers are basically tiny LED lights mounted in long, sturdy aluminum strips to create a wall-washer effect. However, they are very rigid in appearance, unable to bend, and inflexible.
Flexible LED Wall Washer
The flexible LED wall washer is the most modern approach to wall washer lighting. They are very flexible and can be bent, curved and designed for both indoor and outdoor areas. So, with these lights, you can illuminate your walls without worrying about edges and corners.
In addition, the flexible LED wall washer is also waterproof and has a variety of color temperatures for you to choose from. They also have strong adhesive tape on the back to stick them firmly to the wall. Therefore, these bendable wall washers are suitable for installation on curved surfaces.
Flexible LED Wall Washer Vs. Rigid LED Wall Washer – How to Choose?
Let’s compare the advantages and disadvantages of flexible LED wall washers and traditional rigid LED wall washers. And the desired lighting effect for the following reasons:
- Appearance: The length of the traditional rigid LED wall washer is fixed, usually 1 meter/pcs. So it doesn’t fit all walls. The maximum height of the flexible LED wall washer is 5m. So, you can customize the size of your flexible LED wall washer.
- Flexibility: Rigid LED Wall Washers are rigid and inflexible. You can’t change its shape at will. However, the flexible LED wall washer is super flexible and bendable. You can shape them into your project without worrying about damaging them. It allows you to bend it up and down at the same time.
- Cuttable: Rigid LED wall washers cannot be cut because they are wrapped in hard profiles. While the flexible LED wall washer can be cut. They have cut marks with minimum length units.
- Cost: Rigid LED wall washers are made of heavy materials, so their packaging and transportation costs are relatively high. In contrast, flexible LED wall washers are cheaper and easier to transport.
- Installation: LED flexible wall washers are lightweight, you can just stick them with adhesive backing directly, and the installation is very convenient. The rigid LED wall washer is very heavy, and it needs to be installed with accessories to install the buckle. Otherwise, it is easy to fall off.
In conclusion. If you have a flexible, long lighting surface, consider rigid LED wall washers. On the other hand, if you need to adapt to curved or irregular surfaces and get creative lighting possibilities, then a flexible LED wall washer might be a better choice.
What Are the Colors of the LED Wall Washer Lighting?
LED wall washers are available in a variety of colours. You can choose the appropriate color temperature according to the effect you want. The colors available for LED wall washers are as follows:
Single Color
Single-color LED wall washers 2700K-6500K are available for your choice. These single-color temperature LED wall washers are widely used in homes and offices and so on.
Tunable White
The adjustable white LED wall washer provides you with variable color temperature options 2700K+6500K, and others also support customization. You can get various shades of white from warm to cool. This light is great for experimenting with wall lighting effects.
RGB
RGB LED wall washers combine the colors red, green, and blue to create a variety of light tones. Three different colors are used in a single chip, and the RGB bracket can also produce white light. So you can get multiple wall-washing effects with a single RGB LED wall washer.
RGBW
RGBW is a 4-in-1 LED chip that combines red, green, blue, and white colors. It has a single white chip, which results in a more precise and purer white tone than RGB chips.
DMX512 RGB & RGBW
DMX512 is a lighting control protocol that helps standardize stage lighting control. The DMX512 RGB or RGBW LED wall washers can form a variety of colors and light patterns. They look fun and lend a funky look with an automatic color scheme.
How to Choose the Right LED Wall Washer Lighting?
LED wall washers are ideal for illuminating the texture of exterior walls. How to choose the ideal LED wall washer. Then you need to consider the following points:
Brightness
Different LED wall washers have different LED brightness. Our flexible LED wall washers offer high lumens in different color temperatures. You can choose the correct brightness according to your lighting project.
Beam Angle
Different beam angles are suitable for different viewing effects. Moreover, different patterns and surface sizes require different beam angles. Our wall washer has a variety of beam angles ranging from 15°/30°/50°/2035°/1820°/20*55°.
Color Temperature
Color temperature can add mood to your exterior decor. If you want a warm and comfortable feeling, please choose warm colors 2400k –3000k. At the same time, between 5000k and 6000k is fine if you want to bring a crisp, calm style to your lights.
Color Rendering Index
A higher color rendering index (CRI) rating ensures better color accuracy. Therefore, when judging an LED wall washer, its CRI rating must be considered.
Low-Voltage
We suggest that 12V and 24V low-voltage wall washers should be used for outdoor lighting. They are easy to install, inexpensive and safe for small indoor and outdoor wall lighting.
Of course, in order to decorate large or commercial buildings such as shopping malls or museums, you must use high-voltage wall washers (100V – 265V). To determine your lighting purpose and choose the correct voltage for your wall washer.
Waterproof Level
LED Wall washers are intended for exterior installation, so weather resistance is a must-have feature. This weather ability of LEDs is measured by their IP rating. The higher the IP rating, the more resistant the lamp is to extreme weather conditions.
How to Install LED Wall Washers?
After choosing and purchasing the LED wall washer, now we need to consider the issue of installation. It has 4 installation methods as follows:
Aluminum clip
Aluminum profile
Installation with Adjustable angle clip + aluminum clip
Installation with adjustable angle clip + aluminum profile
Why Choose LED Wall Washer for Outdoor Lighting?
Choosing LED wall washers as your outdoor lighting solution offers several compelling advantages. It can give your walls an elegant and visually pleasing look. And it also boasts a variety of other features that make it one of the ideal options for enhancing your outdoor decor. Here are the key reasons why LED wall washers are the first choice for outdoor lighting:
- Improve building design:
LED wall washers easily enhance architectural designs and accentuate unique outdoor structures. Effectively attract the attention of tourists. Their adaptability allows you to highlight various forms such as statues, artwork, and stone or brick walls, creating captivating visual effects through the use of colour, light patterns, and washout illusions. - Excellent Weather Resistance:
High-quality LED wall washers are built to withstand harsh weather conditions and remain resilient even when exposed to the elements. The addition of a higher IP rating ensures it is water, heat, and dust resistant, making the LED Wall Washer the perfect choice for any exterior lighting project. - High energy efficiency:
The LED wall washer uses advanced LED technology. So very energy efficient, thus saving a lot of energy. Leaving these wall washers running all night will have minimal impact on your electric bill, alleviating concerns about excessive energy consumption.
Why are LED wall Washers Important for Exterior Walls?
LED wall washers play a vital role in enhancing the appearance and impact of buildings and structures of all kinds. Designed to provide even and consistent illumination of façade surfaces. In doing so, they accentuated the building’s architectural character, lines, and textures, making it stand out both during the day and at night.
Plus, proper facade lighting with LED wall washers can improve safety around buildings. By illuminating exterior areas, potential hazards and obstacles are more visible, reducing the risk of accidents. Additionally, a well-lit facade deters criminal activity and makes buildings less vulnerable to vandalism and theft.
In Conclusion
Overall, LED wall washer lighting is essential for exterior walls. Because they not only enhance architectural beauty but also create a visually appealing impact. They also offer a variety of practical benefits that contribute to the overall aesthetics and functionality of buildings. We are a manufacturer of LED strip lights and LED neon flex, if you have any needs, please contact me.
FAQs
The LED wall washer fixtures are designed to distribute light evenly across a surface. They are usually mounted on an exterior wall or ceiling and have specific optics to provide a wide beam angle.
The LED Wall washers enhance the aesthetics of space by emphasizing architectural details, creating a sense of depth and making a room appear more spacious. The same ground also highlights the characteristics of the building and attracts people’s attention.
When choosing a wall washer, we need many factors, such as brightness, space size, required beam angle, color temperature, and waterproofing.
The LED wall washer should be kept at a sufficient distance from the wall to ensure uniform lighting. Test placement and test for proper brightness before permanent installation.
Yes, our wall wash fixtures are all compatible with dimming systems. So all you have to do is pair it with a compatible controller, allowing you to adjust the light intensity as needed.