Wall Sconces: Light That Frees Up the Floor
Wall sconces solve the situations nothing else can: a narrow hallway, a headboard with no room for a nightstand, a living room wall already crowded. Mounted high, a sconce leaves floors and surfaces completely clear, and its beam — thrown up, down, or both — gives a room depth that an overhead fixture never does.
Mounting height depends on the job. In circulation spaces such as hallways, stairs and entryways, sconces usually sit 63 to 71 inches off the floor, spaced six to ten feet apart. Flanking a bathroom mirror, drop them to eye level, around 63 inches, so faces aren't lit from above. Over a headboard, 22 to 28 inches above the mattress lets you read without glare.
Check your wiring before you choose: with no junction box in the wall, a plug-in sconce or a table lamp is the simpler route. These fixtures also appear in our hallway and bedroom selections.
