Piano Lights

Why We Love Piano Lights

Designed many decades ago, as a task light specifically for the purpose of reading sheet music, piano lights have made their way into the contemporary home as functional and beautiful task lighting. They’re ideal for crowded desks or workspaces because, like a wall sconce, they’re installed on a wall. Unlike a wall sconce, however, these lights were designed to provide a bright, but relatively warm task light. This also makes it ideal for highlighting a piece of artwork. Whether it be a framed painting, sculptural piece, or otherwise, piano lamps cast the perfect downward shine for painting them in their best light. And, of course, piano lamps are perfect for pianos.

Why Use a Piano Lamp

There are many reasons to use a piano light. It goes without saying, that if you are trying to play music in a dark or inadequately lit room, you’ll face some challenges. Piano lights for a grand piano are perfect for both hobbyists and composers alike. They’ll provide a bright enough light to read sheet music but not so bright that it’s uncomfortable to look at. But, you can benefit from these fixtures, even if you don’t play the piano. Use a grand piano lamp to illuminate family portraits or expensive artwork. Their simple silhouette won’t take away from the subject, and their directional light makes easy work of highlighting interesting features.

Favorite Piano Light Colors & Finishes

Although piano lights are traditional fixtures, that hasn’t stopped contemporary designers from adding some modern features. Each and every one of these lights features a narrow silhouette in order to prevent distractions from the subject of the light. Where you’ll find the most differences is their colors and finishes. Gold and brass pieces feel so effortless and classic, that you can’t help but love them. These are traditional fixtures after all, so why not embrace their vintage side. We understand if you want something that has a more modern appearance though. So, for contemporary piano lights choose a fixture with minimal accents and a polished, silvery appearance.

How to Choose the Best Piano Light

Depending on the size of the subject that you want to light up, you’ll have a different ideal piano light. In some cases, a piano floor lamp might be a better option, but in every other situation, you’ll need to take account of your available wall space and the width of the thing you want to light up. For paintings, portraits, and photos, we recommend a light that’s slightly smaller than the width of the frame. This is because the light spreads outward as it leaves the bulb. So, with a slightly smaller fixture, you’re able to effectively and precisely light the entire subject.

Other Considerations

Piano lights are beautiful and functional, but that doesn’t mean they’re always the right choice. They do need to be hardwired during installation, which can make things more complicated. Wireless picture lights are the easiest way to light up any wall art, with a super simple installation that doesn’t require power tools. Picture lights accomplish a similar task but lack the impressive physique of piano lights. So, if you want something super minimal, these lights are the way to go.