Specialty Electric installs picture lights and art lighting across San Diego County. We hardwire a picture light to an electrical box set in the wall above the frame, so no cord shows, and add a switch or dimmer. For a wall of art, we install adjustable recessed or track lights aimed at each piece. Hardwired picture light installation labor starts at $495, and quotes are free.
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Hardwired picture lights, no cord showing
A plug-in picture light leaves a cord running down the wall. A hardwired picture light connects to an electrical box in the wall above the frame, so nothing shows but the light. We run power to that box from a nearby circuit and add a switch or dimmer where you want it.
Some picture lights need a particular box. Visual Comfort Modern's Kal picture light, for example, doesn't fit a standard 4-inch box and needs a 2x4 box. We read the light's install guide before we cut the wall, so the box is right the first time.
Lighting a portrait or a gallery wall
For a single portrait or painting, a picture light over the frame is the classic answer. For a wall of art, or art that gets rehung, adjustable recessed or track lights aimed at each piece give you more freedom. See recessed lighting and LED conversion and lighting design and installation. To put art lighting on a scene with the rest of the room, see smart home electrical.
Will LED light damage the art?
The Canadian Conservation Institute found that LED lamps with good-quality light (a CRI over 90) cause no more light damage to artwork than halogen or incandescent lamps, and that light damage depends on how bright the light is and for how long. Choosing a high-CRI LED picture light and putting it on a dimmer covers both.
Picture lights from Fan Diego
Fan Diego carries hardwired picture lights from brands including Kichler, WAC Lighting, Kuzco, Visual Comfort, ET2 and Quorum, in brass, nickel and black finishes and in widths for small frames up to large canvases. Buy the light there and we'll install it.
Kichler Midi
Kichler Caillier
Kuzco Vega
WAC Hemmingway
WAC Hudson
WAC ReedWhat to expect
- Permits
- Ask us about permits when we quote. Whether your job needs one depends on the work.
- Time on site
- It depends on the job. Most jobs are done in a day or less.
- Price
- Hardwired picture light installation labor starts at $495, with no cord down the wall. Light is extra, and we can help you find the perfect one at ILLUMINATE Fan Diego. Longer wiring runs, a new switch or dimmer, or plaster and tile walls cost more. Every job is quoted before we start, and quotes are free.
- Guarantee
- We guarantee our labor for life. Period. Products bought from Fan Diego come with a 180-day in-home product warranty. Ask us about extended parts coverage on products from Fan Diego.
- Trade program
- Designers, builders and contractors save on select brands when our electricians install. See the trade program.
Bought it at Fan Diego? We'll pick up your fixtures and bring them on install day. Need it there on a specific date? We'll schedule delivery and installation together.
Not sure what size, or what will look right?
Book an in-home design consultation. An electrician comes to you, measures the room, checks the ceiling and wiring, and recommends exactly what you need. The consultation is $195, and $145 of it goes toward your installation when you book within 60 days.
Text (858) 229-4772 to book a consultation or message us on WhatsApp
Frequently asked questions
Can a picture light be installed with no cord showing?
Yes, if it's a hardwired picture light. We set an electrical box in the wall above the frame, run power to it from a nearby circuit, and mount the light on the box, so nothing shows but the light. Plug-in picture lights are the ones that leave a cord on the wall.
Do I need a new switch for a picture light?
Not always, but most people want one. We can put a hardwired picture light on its own switch or dimmer, or tie it into an existing switch or a lighting control system. A dimmer also helps protect the art, because light damage depends on how bright the light is and for how long.
Will an LED picture light damage my painting?
Not more than older lamps. The Canadian Conservation Institute found that LED lamps with good-quality light, a CRI over 90, cause no more light damage than halogen or incandescent lamps. Light damage still depends on brightness and hours of exposure, so a dimmer and a timer are worth having for valuable work.
What electrical box does a picture light need?
The light's install guide says. Many mount to a standard box, but not all: Visual Comfort Modern's Kal picture light, for example, needs a 2x4 box rather than a standard 4-inch box. We check the guide before cutting the wall so the box and the light line up.
Should I use a picture light or recessed lights for my art?
A picture light suits one portrait or painting that stays put. Adjustable recessed or track lights suit a gallery wall, very large pieces, or art you rehang often, because you can re-aim them. We can show you both options when we quote.
How much does picture light installation cost?
Hardwired picture light installation labor starts at $495. Light is extra, and we can help you find the perfect one at ILLUMINATE Fan Diego. Longer wiring runs, a new switch or dimmer, or plaster and tile walls add to it. Every job is quoted before we start, and quotes are free.
Do I need a permit for picture light wiring in San Diego?
In the City of San Diego, adding to or altering your wiring needs an Electrical Permit, and the City issues it only to a licensed contractor or the property owner. Specialty Electric holds California C-10 license #1113915. Whether your job needs one depends on the work; ask us when we quote.