Overhead lights like chandeliers and recessed lights can create ambiance, while table and floor lamps are perfect for task or accent lighting. Did you know that a third lighting option can serve all three? Adding sconces to any room in your home can solve your lighting woes, yet people often overlook these fixtures because they assume an electrician must install any wall-mounted light. Before you turn your back on sconces, learn more about how they can enhance your décor and illuminate a space’s shadowy corners.
RELATED READ: Bedrooms with Standout Bedside Sconces
Look to the Past
If you thought sconces were some old-fashioned way people put candles around the room before electricity, you are not wrong. The use of sconces dates back to ancient times, making them the ultimate vintage home accent. Over time, sconces became more ornate and sometimes incorporated mirrors to reflect the flame and brighten dark spaces. Of course, candles and oil lamps have given way to electricity, and today’s lighting options even include smart bulb technology you can control with a phone app. Sconces may go in and out of style over the years, but one thing never wavers: they have a place in any interior design style or scheme.
Know Your Angles
Before you choose bathroom sconces or wall mounts for either side of your fireplace, consider what you need from these light fixtures. Sconces can provide uplighting for an ambient glow in a hallway or bathroom. If you prefer downlights to illuminate a counter, sink or walkway, sconces can do that too. Another option is a swing-arm sconce; this adjustable version is best for a reading nook or bedside light that you can direct for task lighting or leave against the wall for atmosphere or accent lighting. Sconces are incredibly versatile and surprisingly handy, another good reason to think about them for your home.
Learn Your Options
Like chandeliers or lamps, wall sconces come in all shapes, sizes and styles. Look for the sconces that complement your interior style, from traditional wall-mounted half-moons to modern wallchieres. Barn lights are a natural for modern farmhouse style, while eclectic vintage fixtures look amazing with granny chic or mid-century modern design. No matter which style speaks to you, remember to hang or install it higher or lower than eye level to enjoy extra lighting without a direct glare.
Do It Yourself
Committing to a wall-mounted sconce can intimidate some homeowners because they may require hardwiring. Unless you are a DIY warrior, you may not want to undertake an involved and potentially hazardous electrical project. Hiring an electrician makes more sense, especially if you have a minimal, unclutters style or want to use a sconce as an accent.
On the other hand, you may prefer the flexibility of a plug-in wall sconce. These light fixtures have a visible power cord, but you can hide it behind furniture against a wall, so it doesn’t stand out or detract from your room’s overall look. Plug-in sconces are also convenient if you frequently rearrange your space or do not plan to stay in your home for a long time.
With a little searching, you can even locate battery-operated sconces or puck lights to use in sconces that would normally require hardwiring. This option may work best if you do not rely on your sconce for daily use, unless you have an unlimited supply of batteries at yout disposal. If you tend only to use sconces when entertaining, consider battery-powered lights as an easy way to set the tone in any room.
Spot the Right Location
Where do you want to put sconces in your home? A thoughtful tour of your rooms can spark some ideas of where to enhance or change your lighting. Start at your front door or entryway; those wall-mounted lights outside are sconces! Think about what these exterior sconces do for your curb appeal and contemplate updating them if they seem out of style or rusty.
Scan your foyer, stairwell or hallways next. Do they seem dim and shadowy? Incorporate sconces over a console table or spread out along a corridor to brighten up an underlit area or dark corner. Better lighting is not only more inviting, but it’s also safer, especially for guests who may not be as familiar with your home’s layout.
If you want to continue room to room, these areas naturally lend themselves to sconces:
Dining room
Incorporate wall sconces in your dining space for soft peripheral lighting to coordinate with a chandelier or create a warm glow.
Living or family room
Use sconces to add accent lighting or balance to a fireplace or downlight a bookcase
Powder or bathroom
Replace lighting over a vanity with a bathroom sconce or two to add soft lighting beside a mirror.
Bedroom
Complete your modern or minimalist décor with bedroom wall sconces instead of nightstand lamps. With swing-arm sconces, you can read in bed or add an ambient radiance bedside.
Highlight Your Artwork
Show your art a little love with a picture or display sconce to make any painting or print a focal point in your room. Mount these slim, understated sconces above a frame to downlight art on your walls and make it stand out. Choose from battery-operated picture lights or plug-in wall sconces; you can hide the cord behind the frame, so it does not draw attention away from the painting.
Explore the collection of sconces at Chairish to see which styles speak to you. We have unique styles that can enhance your lighting with subtle sophistication or eye-catching radiance. Shop by style or era to find the perfect sconces to light up your life.
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Lead image design by Liz Caan & Co. / Photo by Eric Roth Photography