Wall sconces are used to great effect in lighting the home. As sconces are available in a wide choice of styles, colors, shapes and designs there is something for everyone. What do you look for when choosing wall sconce lighting? There are three basic points to consider lighting type, placement and style.
| How to Choose Wall Sconces? : Effect |
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| Wall sconces come in many different shapes and sizes to create different effects with light. That's why you should consider what kind of effect you want the light to have on your room. Do you want your room to look bigger, cozier, more balanced? These four types of wall sconces are able to change the look and feel of a room by diffusing and contouring light in their own way. |
| How to Choose Wall Sconces? : Uplight |
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| Uplight wall sconces direct light towards the ceiling, creating a wash of lightthatdraws attention upwards. The further down the wall an uplight wall sconce is positioned, the more the light will be able to spread along the upper half of the wall. Uplight sconces are perfect for making the room look larger than it really is. |
Lighting type
This is what kind of light you will be using the sconce for. Sconces can be candle lit, electrically powered or battery operated. You would use wall candle sconces where you have no power available. The sconce can be a standalone unit used to light dimly lit areas such as hallways on occasions that you need it. A candle sconce will also be a wall feature in its own right. If you are renovating or building a house and changing the wiring then this is the best time to install electric wall sconces. There is little additional cost and all redecorating will happen after. For areas where candle may pose a safety risk battery operated candles or light can be used on the sconces to great effect.
Placement
How you position your sconces can affect how they long and how well they light the room. For general room lighting; sconces need to placed no lower than 5ft 6inches from the ground. The actual height will depend upon the overall room height and the height of the tallest person in the house. For higher ceilings move the sconces up to get reflection from the ceiling, but not so high that the down light is lost. The other positioning to consider is that of along the wall, usually sconces are used in pairs or more.
The sconces need to be spread along the wall to balance the wall and any features you have, sconces look best when they are placed at equal distances from each other. Candle sconces are usually placed according to how they look- rather like hanging a picture- and as easy! A single candle sconce will be a feature on a wall and should be placed accordingly.
Style
| How to Choose Wall Sconces? : Downlight |
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| To give your walls a downward wash of light, use a downlight sconce that allows light to only escape from the bottom of the fixture. The higher you place this sconce, the more light will be cast down onto the wall. Downlight sconces will ground your space, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. |
| How to Choose Wall Sconces? : Up/Downlight |
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| Up/downlight sconces will give your walls an even wash of light in both directions. Because these types of sconces allow light to shine through the top and bottom of the fixture, they can be positioned according where you want the most light. These sconces will give your room a more balanced feel with its even distribution of light. |
Wall sconces are available in so many styles, shapes, sizes, material and colors, that everyone should be able to find a sconce to suit their decor. Outdoor wall sconces can be used in the yard, brass wall sconces can add a nice touch to a nautical theme.
| How to Choose Wall Sconces? : Candle Style/Low Wattage |
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| As you can tell from the name, candle wall sconces are meant to resemble original wall sconces that held real wax candles. These types of sconces are usually low-wattage and cast minimal light to give a room an intimate ambiance. Their main function is for aesthetics and decoration, so you won’t want to use them as a main source of light. |