Wall Sconces
How to Choose a Wall Sconce
A wall sconce draws on the wall as well as lighting the room. Its beam might spread toward the ceiling, fall across a bedside book or leave a narrow outline around the fixture itself. Modern wall sconces range from a small disc close to the surface to a shade held out on an articulated arm. An articulated wall lamp can leave its joints and stem in view. An up and down wall sconce casts light in both directions, making the wall part of the composition. A single light can mark an alcove; a double wall sconce gives its branches and shades a more prominent place.
Material becomes especially visible when the light comes on. Glass wall sconces can expose the bulb through a clear shade or soften its outline behind opal glass. A fabric shade diffuses light through its weave. The opaque hood of a brass wall sconce can direct the beam through an opening. Against a pale wall, a black wall sconce draws a darker outline. Ceramic wall sconces bring the curve of a fired shade and the color of its glaze into view. Grain can follow the arm or run across the backplate of a wood wall sconce. When its finish permits painting, a plaster wall sconce can merge with the wall. Stone has its own possibilities: translucent alabaster can glow through the shade itself.
A sconce's position gives it a relationship with the furniture and architecture nearby. Living room wall sconces can frame a fireplace or put reading light beside a chair without another base on the floor. Beside a bed, an adjustable arm brings the light toward the page and leaves the nightstand clear. A pair flanking a bathroom mirror lights the face from either side. A picture light above a painting or print directs attention to the work. A row of hallway wall sconces carries light along a passage; in an entry, a fixture can mark the edge of a doorway. These arrangements need different heights and clearances. A shade that looks settled on an open wall may crowd the space beside a mirror.
Do wall sconces need to be hardwired?
No. Plug-in wall sconces are usually the simplest choice for renters with an outlet nearby. The cord remains part of the arrangement, so its length and the position of the switch matter. A hardwired wall sconce connects to the home's electrical system. An electrician should install this type of wall light fixture. A battery wall sconce offers another option where a cord would be awkward, though batteries need replacing or recharging.
What size wall sconce do I need?
Judge the fixture against the wall space it will actually occupy. Beside a mirror, its width matters as much as its height; a broad shade can crowd the glass even when the backplate fits. In a passage, check how far the fixture extends into the walking space. A paper outline at full size helps you see its proportion against a headboard or doorway. An extended arm also needs room to swing.
How high should wall sconces be?
A commonly published starting point is 60 to 66 inches from the finished floor to the center of the fixture. Treat that as a first mark on the wall. A tall shade or an offset arm can put the actual light source well above or below it. Look at the wall light from where you will stand or sit, then adjust the height around the fixture's purpose and the architecture beside it.
How high should bedside sconces be?
For a bedside wall lamp, sit in bed in your usual reading position before settling the height. The light needs to reach the page without putting an exposed bulb in your sightline, and the switch should be reachable without sitting forward. Swing-arm wall sconces let you move the shade over the book, so allow for their reach as well as their mounting position. A swing arm wall lamp also needs room to fold back when it is not in use. Mattress height and the way you sit matter more than a fixed distance from the floor.
Where should sconces go beside a bathroom mirror?
Place bathroom wall sconces on either side of the mirror, near face height, for more even light across the face. A widely published starting range is 60 to 65 inches from the floor. Check the fixture drawing: the backplate center and shade center may differ. Mirror width and shade size determine the lateral position. If space only allows a vanity light above the mirror, look for a spread of light that reaches the face. Check the specific bathroom sconce's damp or wet rating with your electrician against the room and local code.
How far apart should wall sconces be?
For a hallway, 8 to 10 feet between fixtures is a convention several lighting specialists publish. It is a starting point for a run, rather than a rule for every pair. A doorway interrupts that rhythm, and a narrow beam leaves different gaps from a broad shade. Beside a bed or mirror, spacing follows the object being lit. For a stairway wall sconce, judge the light from the steps and landings rather than copying the hallway interval.
Are wall sconces dimmable?
Some are; check the specific fixture before choosing a dimmer. Dimmable wall sconces need a compatible light source and control, including the driver in an integrated LED fixture. Dimming changes brightness; color temperature is a separate choice. For a warm living-room light, 2700K to 3000K is a useful range to compare. A 2700K source looks more amber, while 3000K looks a little whiter. Compare it with the other lights visible in the room.