Wall Sconce Buying Guide

The lighting in your home influences how you experience each room, as well as your outside living spaces. It’s important to get it right. Wall sconces are a popular choice for bathrooms and hallways but can also be used as a nice accent in living spaces, bedrooms, patios, and pool decks.

Oftentimes, for larger rooms or outdoor living spaces, wall sconces may not be the best choice to serve as the primary light source. In those instances, wall sconces are best as a secondary illumination option to supplement other light fixtures in the space. These secondary lighting fixtures also add a touch of style to the interior decor of the room. 

When considering buying indoor or outdoor wall sconces for your home, you’ll find there are many different types, styles, and designs available. To help you find the best wall sconce for your home, we’ve compiled the following buying guide with all the main factors you should consider as you go through the buying process.

What Is A Wall Sconce, Anyway?

A wall sconce is a light mounted to a wall, as the name implies. The key feature of a wall sconce, however, is that they are shaded or diffused in order to provide a functional decoration, offering enough light to see by without being angled to provide a painful glare. A wall sconce is usually made up of three recognizable components: the backplate, arms, and shades.

Sconce Backplate 

The sconce backplate is the piece that mounts to the wall, either indoors or out, and can come in different shapes, from rectangular to a simple circle. The backplate will also often be a reflective surface, to help add to the amount of light in the area. 

Sconce Arms 

The sconce arms are what supports the light fixture away from the backplate. Some sconce arms are purely decorative and quite short, while others can be longer, functional arms that can fold up, retract, or bend to allow the light to be positioned in specific directions. 

Sconce Shades 

The sconce shades are the lamp shades that help diffuse and spread the light, amplifying it to cover a larger area than it might otherwise if it were left as just a bare bulb. Shades can be made from many materials, from glass (clear, frosted, seeded, or many other options!) to a fabric lamp shade. Sconce shades may also be crafted from metal or resins in order to create shapes that add decorative shadows to the room. 

Wall Sconce Directional Options 

When considering buying a modern or traditional wall sconce, you are quickly faced with making one fairly simple yet important decision: what direction do you want the light to go? 

Many wall sconces are designed to specifically cast light upward or down at a tabletop or counter area, while some can be installed either way based on your preference after purchase. While they are less common, you will also discover that there are some wall sconces that are both up lighting and down lighting, designed to illuminate in both directions.

Up-Lighting Sconces

Up-lighting describes any sconce designed in a manner that the light coming from the fixture points up towards the ceiling. These are often beneficial at casting more, brighter light, as they are likely to reflect off the ceiling. Up-lighting is a popular option because it makes the rooms appear bigger. Some wall sconce types, such as candle-style, only work with up-lighting. 

 Down-Lighting

Down-lighting is exactly what you would think: the fixture points the light down towards the floor. Down-lighting is also a popular option, as these fixtures can help make rooms feel a little cozier and more grounded. It’s also a good choice for any space where more focused illumination is needed. For example, a wall sconce placed over a desk can make it easier to see what you’re working on.

Sconces Provide All-Around Lighting

The direction of the light can depend on the type of shade that a particular wall sconce is designed for. With so many different types of wall sconces available, you’ll be able to find one that will provide all-around lighting for your home. These lamp fixtures provide ambient lighting across a wider area, rather than more focused, direct lighting. These are often available as ceiling flush mount lights, or even chandeliers. Choose all around lighting for a dark hallway, highlight artwork in your home, showcase architectural elements indoors or out, and more.

Shade Types 

Light shades serve multiple purposes, the most frequent uses being to darken the light spread, diffusing it to make the room brighter, or alternately as decoration through color, material, or even by causing shadows in strategic parts of the room. The shade is one of the defining features of the wall sconce style, whether it is classic and traditional or fresh and modern. There are three main shade types that work to help direct the cast of light from wall sconces, specifically. 

Cylindrical Shades

Taller, narrow cylindrical shades are found on both indoor and outdoor wall sconces. They are especially common in bathrooms or powder rooms, installed between or around mirrors to help cast balance and flattering light. The light from these wall sconces is usually directed from both ends of the cylindrical, tube-like design. They may be all one color, such as a single cylinder of frosted glass, or they may have very clear sides, with identical shades on both sides of the fixture. Some cylindrical shades may even be clear glass or resins with etchings or bubble-like designs for added character.

 Curved Shades

For more decorative purposes, the wider shape of curved shades demands more attention and should be used intentionally to accentuate the room’s design. These sconces beautifully combine decorative elements and functionality. They can be wide and cover the light entirely, with the curve of the shade being used to bend light to reflect back on the wall as well as spread out. Or they may be more artistic and stylized, utilizing hard lines and creating direct shadows, such as a grid screen shade or one with lantern posts and designs.

Directional Shades

Some wall sconces have a longer arm so that the light can cover more distance, or even reflect further off the backplate, while others have an arm reach that can be aimed more directly to one area. These are used to aim the light at a specific feature, such as an art painting or a wall alcove. They keep the light splay narrower and more focused, often pointing the light back on the wall the light is mounted to, and are designed to not cast light around or behind the shade.

Styles of Wall Sconces 

What all wall sconces have in common is that they’re light fixtures designed to be affixed to a wall. Beyond that, decorative wall sconces come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and types. Here are the common types of wall sconces you will be choosing from.

 Candle Sconces

Candle wall sconces combine the old-fashioned style of candle-lit light fixtures with modern-day safety. They tend to be more useful as a decorative accent in a room that already has another source of lighting, rather than serve as the primary light source. Candle sconces typically use a smaller bulb, so it’s not uncommon to find models designed to hold more than one bulb to help provide more light.

Corner Wall Sconce 

A corner wall sconce is constructed to be installed in a joined corner between two walls. Most of these will be designed to fit in a 90-degree angle and still spread light out. The mount is specifically designed to nestle into corners, as well.

Floodlights

Most floodlights are found as outdoor lighting options. These outdoor wall sconces are a vital part of a building’s overall safety because they provide a large amount of light in a designated space. Many floodlights are motion-activated, so they’ll come on as soon as they detect someone walking or driving up to the property. They often have adjustable timers and sensitivity settings, so they can be adjusted to ensure you never have to walk up to a dark property.

Flush-mounted or Half-moon Sconces

Provide a minimalist look with flush-mounted and half-moon sconces. These sconces feature a partial moon shape with a flat back that mounts directly to the wall. The shades of flush-mounted wall sconces typically direct the light up or down, with shades that diffuse the light out all around.

Lantern Sconces

Inspired by the traditional oil lamps of the old world, lantern sconces have become a popular choice for illuminating the inside or outside of a building, especially those that have historical significance. The shades surrounding these fixtures are in keeping with the design of traditional lanterns. You can maintain the historic look of a home’s design or architecture by choosing a lantern sconce with candle-inspired light bulbs that flicker with light to resemble the look of a true flame.

Outdoor Wall Sconces

Outdoor wall sconces are one of the most popular lighting choices for yards and patios. Outdoor wall sconces are usually categorized separately from indoor wall sconces in stores and on websites, to help you make sure you pick a light rated for and built to withstand the environment of an outdoor space. They’ll need to be made of more durable materials than indoor lights, to account for the changing weather conditions they’ll encounter. 

Commonly used as a porch light, it’s important that the outdoor wall sconces are bright enough to illuminate what’s likely to be a larger, more open space than any room inside your home. You can easily find wall sconces designed with landscape lighting in mind and made to answer the specific challenges that come with exterior lighting. Just like indoor wall sconces, outdoor wall sconces come in a range of different styles and sizes to choose from, making it easy to find one that will suit every need around your space.

Picture Lights

Bring a gallery look to your home when you illuminate your favorite paintings and photo walls with picture lights. These specially designed indoor wall sconces provide a down-facing wash of light that will make your favorite pieces of art appear in the best light possible. Picture lights come in a range of different sizes, making it easy to find one that’s appropriately sized for any piece of art hanging in your home.

Recessed Sconces 

When you want to illuminate a stair well, dark hallway or narrow path without having a light that juts out into the space, recessed sconces are a fantastic solution. These sconces mount into the wall so they don’t protrude into the space. They can be mounted high on the wall to brighten a hall or room, or low on the wall to illuminate just the walkway.

Sign Lights 

Popular in commercial settings, sign lights are a type of light sconce that’s very similar to a picture light. It is specifically designed to illuminate a sign, billboard, or other important wall hanging so it’s easy to read. They are popular mounted over wall menus for this reason. Sign lights are available in both indoor and outdoor wall sconce versions, giving you the freedom to use them anywhere around your property.

Swing-Arm Wall Sconces

Swing-arm lights are a type of adjustable fixture that allows you to move the light source in various directions. You can “swing” out the light when you need to illuminate something, and then “swing” it back towards the wall when you don’t. Because they add some flexibility to how you can focus the light to help you improve your work area, these sconces are a great choice for desks, studios, or other workplaces where task lighting is important.

 Wallchiere Wall Lamps

A wallchiere fixture is a wall lamp that is designed to resemble a more traditional floor lamp, often looking like a fancy torch. They are usually very stylistic and ornate, found alongside bathroom mirrors or along hallways for accent lighting. Wallchiere wall lamps are usually shaded to cast the light directly up (up lighting) or to spread the light out in all directions.

Wall Washers

Wall washers are a directional wall sconce designed to illuminate an entire wall. You can use them to highlight architecture, create a focal point, or bring accent lighting to a dark corner of the room. Wall washers specific type of wall sconce is available in both indoor and outdoor versions. Outdoor wall washers can be used around the perimeter of the home, particularly in landscape lighting, so the whole house is visible at night. Making the exterior of your home so visible can enhance safety, as well.

Factors to Consider When Buying Wall Sconces 

Not all wall sconces are created equal and, more importantly, some styles are better suited to certain areas and uses than other styles. As you browse your options, here are a few of the main factors to keep in mind.

The Style 

For most customers, when it really comes down to it, how your wall lamp looks will be the most important factor. You want a wall sconce that will both fit the style and decor of your home, as well as be something you enjoy seeing in your home.

Wall sconces come in just about every style you can think of, including: 

• Contemporary 
• Rustic 
• Transitional 
• Retro 
• Art Deco 
• Modern 
• Industrial 

If you know you need a wall sconce that suits a specific type of style to match the rest of the room’s decor, then hone in on the sconces made in that style as you browse your options. If you’re mainly concerned with finding a sconce that you like the look of, do some browsing around to find the particular style, design, or finish that leaps out at you as the perfect fit for your home.

The Room & Placement 

Wall sconces are commonly installed in bathrooms, along hallways and stairwells, and to illuminate outdoor spaces. The area where you plan on installing your wall lamp will have an important bearing on the sconces you decide to purchase. It needs to fit well in the space – both physically and stylistically – and provide the right amount of light based on how you use the area. 

As a rule, you want to have an idea of the specific location where you’ll be putting your wall sconce, or any other light fixtures, before you make your final choice. This gives you the chance to measure the area and compare those measurements to the dimensions of any wall sconce you buy, ensuring it will fit in the space. Be sure to take into consideration questions like whether the light fixture should be installed to provide up lighting or down lighting, or if it will be installed indoors or outdoors. Even wall sconces installed in bathrooms need to be rated to tolerate damp conditions safely.

The Size & Number

Indoor wall sconces usually don’t provide enough light on their own to be the only light fixture in a room. In most cases, customers will want to buy multiple sconces, or use them as supplemental light in a room that already has some lighting. Consider how many wall sconces you’ll want for the space before you begin your search as this will help guide you in determining how much brightness they need to emit and how many you can afford.  

You should also take the time to measure the space the sconces will be installed in and compare those dimensions against the size of the wall sconces you’re considering. If you buy a wall sconce online, it can be easy to misjudge its size based on a picture, so look at the measurements provided in the specs to make sure you take actual size into consideration. That way you don’t end up with any inconvenient surprises.

The Materials

The type of materials your wall sconces are made of can influence both how they look and the level of quality they offer. Brass, wood, and iron are common for the light fixture, while glass, fabric, and plastic are all common choices for wall sconce shades.

In most cases, once a wall sconce is installed, it won’t receive much wear and tear, so can usually be counted on to last you a long time no matter what material it’s made of. Keep in mind where your wall sconce will be and whether or not it might be worth investing in a product a little more likely to offer long-term durability. Outdoor wall sconces have to contend with different challenges than indoor locations, from more moisture in the air, to wind, and even drastic temperature changes that can cause damage over time.

The Ease of Installation

One of the first tests every wall sconce undergoes after purchase is installation. You may love the look of your wall sconce, but if it’s a pain to install you may find yourself second-guessing your purchase soon after you receive it. Customers tend to be quick to mention how easy or difficult a wall sconce is to install in their reviews, so it's a good idea to check out what other people are saying about a sconce as you browse.

Another consideration to keep in mind up front is whether you will need to hire someone to install the fixture after you purchase it. For instance, a hard-wired wall sconce may require tapping the fixture into your home's electrical work in addition to simply mounting the lamp on the wall, which can be a daunting task. If you’ll be hiring someone, you still want to try to look for a wall sconce that’s easier to install in order to save on labor costs if you’re hiring a professional by the hour for installation.

While some homeowners may find it to be less hassle to have their local electrician tackle the project, for some it may be reasonably easy to install a wall sconce on their own. If you’ll be installing the sconce yourself, try to find an online user manual that provides step-by-step instructions, and check the product reviews for your favorite design as you make your choice so you know it's a project you can safely go the DIY route with.

Hardwired wall sconces aren’t the only option. Plug-in wall sconces feature a long cord that can travel to a nearby outlet. These fixtures mount on the wall much in the same way you would hang a piece of art. Plug-in wall sconces are a fantastic choice in rentals where you don’t want to alter the wiring to accommodate a new wall lamp.

Choosing Your Wall Sconce

Think of how many times you flip your light switch in any given day. The lights in our home play an important role in how we experience the space. When you find the right wall sconce, you’ve found something that provides a useful function and adds beauty to your life. That’s a lot for a simple, affordable lighting fixture to offer. Now get out there and find the best one for your space.