Wall Sconces

Do you ever notice those lighting on castle walls in Victorian-set movies? Wall sconces are centuries-old style of lighting that dual as décor and set functionality. They can provide faint illumination to enhance ambient light or act as "directional" lighting that seem to lead to a festive banquet hall.

Two wall sconces can frame a vanity mirror in the bathroom and create focus on the reflection. Whatever uses you intend for a wall sconce, it adds an enchanting charm to a hallway while enhancing warmth and ambience to a home.

For functionality purposes, wall sconces are generally used to complement ambient light or existing light without having to take up much space. The different effects of wall sconce lighting highly depend on the styles and type of materials from which they were made.

Wall sconces with stained or frosted glass and those that use incandescent light tend to produce diffused light – which makes these excellent for ambient lighting in nearly all rooms. Wall sconces with xenon or halogen bulbs emit white, clean light making them ideal for task lighting.

Moreover, adding drama to a room can be easy using sconces with metal diffusers that allow the escape of light only from decorative holes (whether upward, downward, or horizontally). At the same time, a candle wall sconce exudes a romantic appeal. Candle wall sconces create a rustic appearance and, thus, are great if this is the style you desire.

Wall sconces have many other applications and can be affixed in almost all rooms in the house. They are typically used in pairs to achieve balance and harmony – whether it is to flank a fireplace, bed, or doorway.

When used along staircases and hallways, wall sconces can provide a subtle illumination for safety and establish a mysterious atmosphere. In this case, ensure that the fixtures are deeply mounted into the wall so its protrusion will not pose a hazard. You may choose "ADA" compliant sconces that protrude no longer than four inches from the wall for safety.

If you need a lighting fixture for your bathroom, a pair of decorative wall sconces can flank a mirror and radiate a dramatic effect or have one wall sconce placed horizontally on top of the mirror area to enhance it and make grooming time pleasing.

Positioning Wall Sconces

Consider these general rules when mounting sconces on the wall. Generally, wall sconces need to be mounted between 60 and 66 inches from the floor, and eight to 10 feet from each other. If you have vaulted ceilings, select larger sconces and place them higher for a striking effect.

Mounting sconces higher from the floor reduces glare as you walk along a hallway. These fixtures, when used along staircases, can be glaring when you view from a higher level. Fortunately, there are many designs of sconces with closed diffuser. Importantly, sconces should only complement and enhance (not overpower) other existing features like an artwork, architectural feature, or furniture.

Choosing The Appropriate Sconce

Scones offer ambient soft light to any room, which complements any house fixtures such as the ceiling, artwork, recessed or portable lighting. The light that sconces radiate is nothing short of dramatic and provides a distinctive atmosphere to any surrounding.

Sconces are often considered accent lighting, which means having them is purely a choice for aesthetics. Therefore, a room's fixtures, colors, and style should be your guide in your selection. You can be successful in this by probing for the size of the wall, the colors of the surroundings, the type of fixtures, and the overall style of the room.

Once this has been made, you can go ahead and gather your selection of wall sconces – and then you'll witness the magic they can bring to your home.