Wall sconces are the cherry on top of your lighting design. They are versatile fixtures that not only provide illumination but also serve as decorative elements. Sconces are great for casting a warm and inviting glow and can work as ambient, task, and accent lighting – the same sconces can be used in multiple places, which proves to be budget-saving, and super-efficient for designers and homeowners.
All said and done, not all types of sconces suit all design styles and rooms. This buying guide will help you determine which wall sconce you should go for different rooms to create a ravishing glow in them.
How Should You Select Wall Sconces?
1. Style and Aesthetics
Like all fixtures and decor items, sconces and wall lamps follow your main design style. Mixing and matching may work in some cases, but a safer bet is to follow suit with your sconces. Apart from design style, consider decor and architectural elements in the room, and ensure the sconces complement them. For a contemporary style, sleek and minimalistic sconces are great. Similarly, for traditional decor, decorative and vintage-inspired sconces work best.
2. Room Functionality
Based on how you use each room, the tasks you do, and the mood you want to create, you choose your sconces. For the living room, you need a mix of ambient and accent lighting, since your main agenda is to relax and create a warm and inviting ambiance, while also highlighting any art or decor pieces you’re most proud of – say a family heirloom, a brilliant artwork, sculpture, a stunning sofa, etc. Choose wall sconces with warm light and dimming capabilities, to create versatile lighting scenarios. For task-oriented areas like the home office and kitchen, go for sconces with a slightly whiter light with anti-glare properties.
3. Size and Scale
Oversized sconces might overpower a small space. Similarly, a tiny sconce may have little to no effect in a large space. Compare the scale of the room, to the scale of other fixtures in the room, and buy sconces that match their size.
4. Placement and Installation
Keep these wall lights at eye level to create a flattering illumination. Measure the space thoroughly and get sconces to cover the entire space evenly, so as to spread them out and prevent dark spots, or shadows. Another crucial aspect of placement that some designers miss is the power source. It’s understandable that you can’t have a unique power source for each sconce, but ensure you spread them out and have dedicated power sources for each section of these wall-mounted sconces. Hardwired sconces may come in handy if the house is going to be inhabited for a while. Get a professional electrician to install it for you. It might get tricky if you choose to take up sconce installation as a DIY project. If it’s going to be flipped or it’s a rental property, plug-in wall sconces are lifesavers, as they give you flexibility and help you move them easily.
Read also – The Ultimate Guide to Home Lighting Fixtures
5. Lighting Direction
Wall sconces can be used as direct light, uplights, or as downlights, or in multiple directions and influence the mood and functionality of the room.
Direction of light | Effect created |
| Upward facing | Soft, ambient glow ideal for creating a relaxing mood |
| Downward facing | Task areas, home offices, and reading nooks |
6. Material and Finish
As with all other design features, the sconces need to be synchronous with the design style you’re going with. Sconce exteriors come in a variety of materials – metal, clear glass, and fabric. For a modern and industrial look, go for matt black or brushed nickel finishes. To create a vintage charm, opt for antique brass or bronze finishes.
7. Dimming Capability
Want to use one set of lights to set different moods and transform the place? Dimmers are important. Especially for sculptural and functional lights like wall sconces. This dimming capability comes in handy in dining rooms and bedrooms. If you’re working with a small space but want to make the place look luxurious with good wall lights, investing in quality wall sconces with dimming capability will take the weight off your shoulders, and make your place versatile.
8. Energy Efficiency
LED sconces consume less energy than others. If you’re using them as multi-purpose lights and they’re switched on for the most part of the night, you need LED sconces to save you a hefty power bill. Their initial cost may be more, but when you compare their lifespan and efficiency, the investment is well worth it.
Place Wall Sconces Right in Different Rooms
Wall Sconces for Living Room
The focal point of your home is the living room. That’s because it’s where you relax, watch movies, entertain guests, spend quality time with family, etc. Place the wall sconces above the furniture if you want subtle lighting in your living room. When you do this, you get the appeal of natural light in the room, making perfect ambient lighting. You can also install sconces in the living room above bookcases, which we’ll talk about in a minute.
Read also – 18 Top Home Design Trends 2023 To Decor Your Home
Wall Sconces for Bathroom
Your primary bathroom may be a wet zone, where you shower, brush and bathe. It tends to get messy. If you have a linen-covered sconce on either side of the vanity mirror, the covering is going to break with constant moisture exposure. Instead, go for long bar lights or sconces that are water resistant and emit the most amount of light, and mount them on top of the vanity mirror. Long bar sconces come with 3 light bulbs and a white glass lens and prevent glares.
| Olga Gomes, Registered Interior Designer for OG Design Studio says, “Wall sconces are the most underused design feature, in my opinion. They’re pretty standard when it comes to bathrooms, but they deserve so much more attention. They’re versatile, and can be used across the house. “ |
Powder Bath
A powder bath is usually used when you host parties, and guests just want to touch up their makeup or refresh themselves. Nevertheless, you need perfect lighting to make the powder bath inviting. If it’s a slightly larger hall bath, you need a lot of light, so have a dimmer switch regardless of which wall sconce you plan to install. Get a beautiful flush mount and have sconces next to the mirror.
Hall, Stairway, and Fireplace
The shade of the sconce covers the light source to give you the right, relaxing glow. If you have long hallways, and entryways with bright lights, walking through them will feel painful, especially at night when you get up for a glass of water.
If you have long, winding staircases, go for a three-arm wall sconce, depending on where your landing spots are and where you need the most light. Break up the plain walls of the stairway by hanging sculptural wall sconces. If you have paneling or wainscoting on the stairway walls, consider bringing in a sweep arm wall sconce to give the space an organic movement.
Read also – 25 Different Types of Rooms in a House and Their Usage
| Jessica Bennett, Design Principal, and Suzanne Hall, Senior Designer at Alice Lane Interiors say, “Round and oval shades are all the rage now, and the best part is they’re timeless too. If you’ve just bought rectangular shades, don’t worry. You can get them custom-made for an affordable price. Your best bet would be to get a fabric separately, and then take it to a sconce repair store and get it fitted onto the sconce. However, make sure you take a flashlight to the fabric store and backlight the fabric you choose, cause that’s how your light fixture will look at home. Custom shades can be made at $60 a lamp, so it’s worth the effort.” |
Picture Lights for Artwork
Just because you have a series of artwork all across your hallway, you don’t have to put a wall sconce over every piece of art. On the main hallways, or wherever you turn a sharp corner and you have a beautiful wall at the end of the hallway, hang a special artwork that draws attention, and install a wall sconce to highlight it. If you’re hanging two art pieces, use the same sconce for both. Use the space between the art light and the frame, so that the light comes down and illuminates the artwork completely. Remember, the bigger the art piece, the longer the sconce.
Wall Sconces for Bedroom
You don’t need nightstands, and reading lights in the bedroom if you have a beautiful, adjustable wall sconce to do the job for you. Kids or pets can topple or disrupt other lighting fixtures, but sconces are different. Get a lovely swing-arm wall sconce, and you can read your bedtime story in peace, while also having the room lit with a calming glow.
Bookcases and Reading Nooks
A small wall sconce can turn bookcases into an architectural detail.
✅ Built-in bookcases look amazing with wall sconces above them
✅ Add them to the front of the bookcase for a better aesthetic
✅ Affix wall sconces above benches and make sure they’re adjustable for the reader
How to Choose the Right Wall Sconce For Different Rooms? Using Foyr Neo
Given that your home’s floor plan is unique, how do you know which sconce will work in your space and which won’t? You figure it out by visualizing your home with your favorite wall sconces and ruling out the ones that don’t fit in.
How can you visualize every space of the room, and every lighting fixture without leaving anything to chance? With an advanced tool like Foyr Neo.
Here’s what you can do:
Step 1: Sign up for Foyr Neo’s 14-day trial.
Step 2: Go on to the Neo mood board and curate everything you’d love to have in your home.
Step 3: Create the floor plan of your home on Neo.
Step 4: Choose from 60,000+ 3D decor materials, and a vast ocean of wall sconce choices and simply drag and drop them into the interior design.
Step 5: Get wall sconces in any color scheme, texture, shape, or pattern and truly customize your home.
Step 6: View the makeover in 2D and 3D, from all possible angles and lighting conditions.
Step 7: Render your design in a few minutes and witness your home in all its glory.
That’s all it takes! With 24/7 support and live chat, we’re here to help you if you ever get stuck anywhere. You can find tutorials on how to design on Neo all over the internet, so you’re never truly alone when you design using Neo.
What are you waiting for? Start curating your mood board for your home, sign up for Foyr Neo’s 14-day free trial today.
FAQs
By considering the color temperature, intensity, and distribution of light from other sources in the room.
Wall sconces with a sleek, low-profile design are often ideal for hallways to avoid obstructing traffic flow.
Consistency in design, placement, and light output among the wall sconces helps achieve uniform lighting.
Yes, decorative shades or diffusers can soften and diffuse light, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in residential and hospitality settings.
Yes, wall sconces can be recessed or surface-mounted within shelving units to provide task lighting or showcase displayed items.