5 Places to Use Wall Sconces Around Your Home

A wall sconce puts light beside a narrow bed, above a console or next to a favorite chair without taking up the tabletop. It can be useful where there is no room for a floor lamp, too.

Before choosing a finish, think about where you will sit or pass by and what you need to see. The fixture's power source matters as much as its shape. These five indoor locations offer different ways to use wall lighting.

Before you choose a spot

Match the sconce to the job. Reading needs useful light on a page; an entryway might need a welcoming glow alongside the main lighting. Check depth as well as height, and leave walking routes clear. Hardwired, plug-in and rechargeable sconces each have their own installation requirements.

1. Beside the bed

Moving a lamp onto the wall leaves the nightstand available for a book, a glass and the things you reach for in the morning. This can make a small bedside table much easier to use.

For reading, look for a sconce that directs light toward the page. It may have an adjustable head, but check the exact model. A broad decorative glow serves a different purpose.

Test the proposed position while sitting against your usual pillows. Can you reach the switch? Does the light shine into your eyes or across the other person's pillow? Check clearance above the bed and follow the manufacturer's mounting instructions.

A pair can frame a headboard, though one well-placed sconce may be enough for a single reading spot.

2. Next to a reading chair

A chair tucked into a corner does not always leave space for a floor lamp. A wall light can help, provided its beam reaches the book rather than your shoulder.

Sit in the chair with a book before deciding where the fixture should go. Check the shade direction and how far it projects from the wall. An adjustable reading light offers a different result from a fixed sconce that washes the wall.

Keep the fixture out of the route around the chair. If it has a moving arm, check that clearance with the arm extended as well.

Sedelli's wall sconce collection includes different designs and power sources. Read the individual listing rather than assuming every light in the collection has the same controls or mounting method.

3. Along a hallway

Wall lights can soften the look of a plain hallway after dark. Light washing over plaster or wood brings out texture; a downward-facing shade creates a more contained pool of light.

Choose shallow fixtures when space is tight. Check door swings and furniture, then walk the passage carrying something you normally carry, such as a laundry basket. A convenient battery does not make a projecting fixture suitable for a cramped corridor.

Decorative sconces should be part of the lighting plan. A rechargeable accent light is not a substitute for required stair, emergency or other safety lighting. The route must remain safely lit when a lamp needs charging.

4. Above an entryway console

A console can quickly fill with keys, mail and decorative objects. Putting the light on the wall leaves more room on the surface below.

Try one sconce beside the mirror or a pair on either side if the wall is wide enough. Look at the arrangement from the doorway and while standing at the console. An exposed light source reflected in the mirror can be distracting.

Match the scale of the sconce to the console and mirror. Paper templates help you compare positions before drilling. Leave access to switches, door frames and nearby cupboards.

5. Over artwork or beside a display

A picture light aims light at the artwork. A decorative sconce beside a display may mainly light the surrounding wall. Choose according to the effect you want rather than treating the two as interchangeable.

Check the direction of the light and the area it will cover. Glass-fronted frames can reflect the light source, so view the arrangement from your usual seat as well as directly in front.

A styled photograph cannot establish how a fixture will light your own picture. For valuable or light-sensitive artwork, ask a conservation professional about suitable illumination and exposure before fitting display lighting.

Choose the power and mounting method

A hardwired sconce connects to the home's wiring and may need a qualified electrician. A plug-in version needs a suitable outlet and safe cable routing. A rechargeable model avoids a permanent power cable during use, but you still need a charging routine.

Battery-powered does not mean no drilling. Follow the approved mounting method for the fixture, its weight and the wall surface. Do not substitute generic adhesive strips unless the relevant instructions permit them. Renters should check their tenancy terms before making holes.

These ideas are for indoor living areas. Bathrooms and outdoor locations require appropriate fixture ratings; never assume a wall light is suitable simply because it is cordless.

Common questions

How high should a wall sconce be mounted?

There is no one height that suits every fixture and room. Start with the manufacturer's instructions, then check eye level, light direction, reach and clearance in the actual position. Bedside reading and hallway accent lighting have different needs.

Do sconces have to come in pairs?

No. Pairs can create symmetry around a bed or mirror, but one light can serve a reading chair or a small display. Choose the number for the space and the task.

Conclusion

Begin with the corner that needs light most. Measure the space and test the position before comparing wall sconces that suit the job.

If you prefer a light you can move between rooms, see our guide to choosing a cordless table lamp.