How to light a chimney breast and alcoves
Quick answer
To light a chimney breast and alcoves, either fit a matched pair of wall lights on the face of the chimney breast, either side of a mirror or painting, or put one light at the top of each alcove to wash down over shelves. Keep both lights at exactly the same height, route cables in the safe zones, and use warm bulbs on a dimmer.
Many older British houses have a chimney breast in the main rooms, with an alcove on each side. It is the natural focal point of the room, and it is made for symmetry, a principle that goes back to the Georgian period [1]. Lighting it well makes a room feel finished. This guide covers where to put the lights, how high, how to run the cables, and what to avoid.
Should wall lights go on the chimney breast or in the alcoves?
Both work. Lights on the face of the breast frame a mirror or painting and make the fireplace the star; this is the classic Georgian and Victorian arrangement. Lights in the alcoves make the shelves glow and widen the room. In a large room you can do both, on separate switches.
- On the breast: best with a mirror or painting over the mantelpiece; set each light a hand's width or more outside the frame.
- In the alcoves: best with shelves or cupboards; centre each light in its alcove, near the top, or above the cupboard.
- Both: best in a big living room; switch the two pairs separately.
How high should chimney breast wall lights be?
A common starting point is about 1.6 to 1.8 metres from the floor to the centre of the fitting, or level with the middle of the mirror. What matters most is that the two lights are at exactly the same height and the same distance from the centre line of the breast; the eye notices even small differences. Wall light height and spacing has more detail.
Where can cables run on a chimney breast wall?
Hidden cables should run in recognised safe zones: within 150mm of the top of the wall, within 150mm of a corner, or straight up, down or across from a switch, socket or light [3]. The corners of a chimney breast count as corners, which makes them convenient routes. The chimney breast itself is part of the building's structure, and the Planning Portal notes that removing one always needs Building Regulations approval [2]; do not cut deep chases into it without advice.
- 1A zone within 150mm of the ceiling, where hidden cables are expected.
- 2A zone within 150mm of each corner, including the corners of the chimney breast.
- 3Cables running straight down from a wall light are in its own vertical zone.
- 4A matched light on the other side, at exactly the same height.
- 5Never cut into the breast near the flue without advice: it is part of the structure.
Wall light installation is a job for a registered electrician; some electrical work in England and Wales is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations [4]. If the wall is already decorated, battery wall lights avoid chasing altogether; see battery wall lights that look hardwired.
Which wall lights suit a chimney breast?
Choose a shape that suits the period of the fireplace. Shells, fans and leaves suit Georgian and Victorian rooms; stepped and sunburst shapes suit a 1930s fireplace; simple rounded forms suit a modern room.
These designs from our Shrewsbury studio all work in pairs. Each comes as shade only, battery LED with a remote, or UK mains hardwired.
Alcove shelves and wall lights work best when planned together. This step-by-step build shows how alcove shelving is measured and fitted, so you can decide where the lights should sit before the shelves go up [6].
Video: JP Makes, “How to Make Shelving for an Alcove”, via YouTube.
What should you avoid?
- Lights at different heights, or one closer to the breast than the other.
- Lights so close to a mirror that the bulb reflects in it.
- Bright, cool bulbs, which flatten period plaster; use warm white of about 2700K, chosen by lumens [5].
- Fittings that stick out so far that you knock them in a narrow alcove.
Choose
Decide between lights on the breast, in the alcoves, or both.
Measure
Mark both positions at the same height and the same distance from the centre line.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Chimney breast | The part of a wall that projects into the room to hold the flue. |
| Alcove | The recess on each side of a chimney breast. |
| Safe zone | An area of wall where hidden cables are expected to run [3]. |
| Part P | The part of the Building Regulations covering electrical safety in homes [4]. |
| Wash | Light that spreads evenly down a surface, such as alcove shelves. |
For more ideas, see layered lighting in a living room and Georgian wall lights.
Good to know
Common questions
Where should wall lights go on a chimney breast?
Either side of a mirror or painting on the face of the breast, a hand's width or more outside the frame, at the same height.
Should I put lights in alcoves?
Yes, if you have shelves or cupboards. One light near the top of each alcove washes light down over them.
Can I chase cables into a chimney breast?
Only with care. The breast is part of the structure and the flue runs inside, so ask an electrician and avoid deep chases.
Can I avoid chasing walls?
Yes. Battery wall lights with a remote need no wiring.
Sources
References and further reading
Harvard style. Web pages were checked on the access date shown.
- National Trust (n.d.) Georgian style house interior design. National Trust. Available at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/georgian-interior-design (Accessed: 27 October 2026).
- Planning Portal (n.d.) Do I need permission to remove chimney breasts? Available at: interactive.planningportal.co.uk/faqs/do-i-need-permissio... (Accessed: 10 November 2026).
- DIYWiki (n.d.) Safe zones for electric cables. Available at: wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/Safe_zones_for_electric_cables (Accessed: 10 November 2026).
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2013) Electrical safety: Approved Document P. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-appr... (Accessed: 8 October 2026).
- Energy Saving Trust (n.d.) Energy saving light bulbs and lighting. Available at: energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/lighting/ (Accessed: 8 October 2026).
- JP Makes (n.d.) How to Make Shelving for an Alcove [Video]. YouTube. Available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRn8KYQqizk (Accessed: 10 November 2026).
How to cite this article
van Locke, J. (2026) ‘How to light a chimney breast and alcoves’, The Flare Journal. Flare Studio UK. Available at: https://flarestudio.uk/blogs/journal/lighting-a-chimney-breast-and-alcoves (Accessed: 15 November 2026).
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