Sconces

Although sconces have been around for many years, they remain one of the most popular light fixtures on the market. By using a wall sconce, you can not only illuminate a part of the room that overhead lighting might not reach, but you can provide a beautiful design element that brings your entire room to life.

What is a Wall Sconce?

A wall sconce is a light fixture that's mounted to the wall and typically faces upward. They are a carryover from the days before electricity when similar fixtures were used to hold candles and torches.

Today, sconce light remains an integral part of almost any home, providing cozy and convenient lighting in situations where overhead lighting simply doesn't cut it.

Wall light sconces come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, with new designs emerging every year.

Wall sconce lighting is unmatched in how it can create a more ambient feel in any room. Unlike ceiling lights that can sometimes be overwhelming, a sconce can instantly set a more casual mood and provide more balanced lighting. With the wide range of unique designs of indoor wall sconces, they will remain an essential part of any home design for many years to come.

Types of Wall Light Sconces

One of the best things about lighting wall sconces is that there's an abundance of styles and types that you can choose from. No matter what type of design you might strive for, you can find the perfect match to suit and complement your home.

Let's look at some of the most popular options below.

Flush-Mounted

A flush-mounted wall sconce lighting fixture might be the most popular one out there. Although it's typically smaller, it offers a broad light exposure, which can be very useful both indoors and outdoors.

Lantern

Lantern electric wall sconces are a throwback to when actual lanterns were used for lighting. They are much more common for the outdoors, although they can look great in certain indoor situations as well.

Picture Light

If you want to illuminate a picture, painting, or other wall art, the picture light is the perfect sconce for the job. There's a wide range of designs that you can choose from, and although the primary purpose of a picture light is purely functional, it can serve as an additional source of light and be an excellent addition to your overall design.

Candle

Another classic type of sconce is the candle sconce. As these sconces look like traditional candle holders, they create a classic look that can provide your home with a vintage feel. The main drawback of these types of wall sconces is their lack of light, but work perfectly for smaller areas that need targeted lighting.

Swingarm

Swingarm indoor wall light fixtures are becoming more popular and for good reason. They provide additional flexibility, as you can move around the arm and achieve different lighting. These are great for rooms that need lighting for specific tasks such as reading or writing.

Outdoor Sconces

Outdoor wall sconce lighting not only brings warmth and interest to your home’s yard or patio, outdoor sconces can help you find your way around your house or to your front door when it is dark. Outdoor sconces can also provide added security measures with motion-sensor activation. Make sure to select low wattage lights that are rated for the outdoors and wet locations to avoid weather damage.

How to Install and Where to Place Sconces

In order to get the most out of what indoor wall sconces have to offer, it's essential to understand the underlying principles of their installation and placement.

The assembly and installation of the sconces themselves will depend on the type of sconce that you use. As such, we'll go over the placement options so that you know what to consider.

When installing the sconce in a hallway, it's best to keep them at around six feet high, so that they provide adequate lighting and look appealing. Keeping an eight to ten feet distance between scones also helps create balance and even illuminations.

Have a vanity that needs extra lighting? Place two sconces on either side of a vanity or an entryway mirror, between sixty and sixty-five inches off of the floor, for an extra pop of light that can be reflected across the room.

If you're using sconces in the bedroom, place two sconces above nightstands on either side of your bed, about thirty to thirty-six inches above the top of the mattress. This way, the light won’t be obstructed, and you will have a pleasant light for reading.

When using a sconce as a secondary light in a living room, place two sconces on either side of a set of windows or a TV, about two thirds of the height of the windows or TV on each side. Make sure that the light actually serves a purpose and increases the functionality of your room.

Light Up Your Design

Sconces are an incredible light source in any home. Alone or in combination with overhead lighting, they create a moody ambiance that is hard to match. Check out the selection of sconces offered by Lulu and Georgia and find the perfect option for your needs