Sconces Set Latest Trend in Sophistication,
Style
The latest look in decorative lighting has
hit the wall. Sconces, light fixtures attached
to the wall halfway between the floor and
ceiling, get thumbs-up approval for adding
sophistication to a space.
“The most significant current trend
in sconces is the extraordinary variety of
styles that have appeared in the marketplace,”
says Joe Rey-Barreau, AIA, IES, CSI, architect,
educational consultant for the American Lighting
Association and professor of interior design
at the University of Kentucky. “It seems
as if every conceivable material, finish and
style is available. This is a trend in the
lighting industry in general, but sconces
have significantly proliferated as a category
in the last three to four years.”
“Trends are all over the board,”
agrees Dave McKee, chief operating officer
of west coast retailer Seattle Lighting, with
15 showrooms in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
“Everything from petite colored sconces
to ornate, oversized ones; from traditional
design to contemporary.”
While traditional brass sconces continue to
rate raves, there has been an increase in
painted metal, and nickel or pewter finishes.
Hand-forged steel offers rustic appeal. Post-modern
styles emphasize simple sconces with modernist
lines and shapes but with some variety in
the details and the ornament.
Sconces range in size and shape to fit any
wall. While the average indoor sconce is about
12 inches tall, some are as long as 30 inches
and quite slender.
“People are increasingly looking for
sconces with a clean, architectural look,”
says Brandon Levin, vice president, sales
for Justice Design Group, in Los Angeles.
“Brushed nickel and dark bronze are
popular finishes which work in a wide variety
of applications.”
Most exciting is the availability of shades
made of glass, fabric and other materials.
Rey-Barreau says, “Traditional sconces
with exposed lamps designed to simulate the
appearance of a candle tend to be glaring,
since the filament of the light bulb is exposed.
“Shades help soften the look.”
Sconces add tremendous comfort to a space
because they bring attention to the perimeter
of a room. Added to soaring spaces, they offer
a method of creating a more human scale. When
controlled by a dimmer, they are extremely
valuable in places such as family rooms, media
rooms and living rooms as a means of controlling
the mood of the space.
“We see sconces as wall art,”
says George Chandler, chief executive officer
and designer of Vermont-based lighting manufacturer
Hubbardton Forge. “It’s the sconce
itself, as well as how the light and shadows
play on the wall. We try to design a certain
amount of sculpture into each piece we do.”
From their perch on the wall, sconces create
a play of light and shadow that changes as
the evening darkens. Add a dimmer to control
the light quality of a sconce, and a room
can be modified to create unique and varying
moods.
Technically, a sconce is a term used to define
wall-mounted fixtures that are installed on
the inside of a home. The use of wall-mounted
fixtures on the exterior of a home is a common
detail, but these fixtures are more commonly
called outdoor fixtures or wall lanterns.
They serve the same purpose as interior sconces,
but are designed to withstand exposure to
varied weather conditions.
For More Information:
The American Lighting Association is a not-for-profit
association of leading manufacturers, retail
lighting showrooms and sales representatives
in the United States and Canada dedicated
to expanding public knowledge about lighting.
Tips for Choosing the Right Sconce
Sconces lend ambient light to a room and
offer a soft glow which complements ceiling
fixtures, portable and recessed lighting.
The splash of light on a wall that only sconces
provide creates a distinctive look to any
setting. Because they are often accent lighting,
sconce selection ranks as mostly an aesthetic
decision.
“Sconces are generally chosen to complement
the primary fixtures of a house,” says
Joe Rey-Barreau, AIA, IES, CSI, architect,
educational consultant for the American Lighting
Association and professor of interior design
at the University of Kentucky. “Therefore,
the main finishes, colors and textures for
a room can help guide your selection.”
When shopping for sconces, the American Lighting
Association suggests the following tips to
help you find the right fixture for your home.
Survey the Situation:
To determine the right style sconce for your
home, begin by surveying the room. What color,
material or trend is predominant in room’s
decor? How do you want to enhance that statement?
Traditional homes can command more ornate,
decorative sconces, while modern abodes demand
a less-is-more philosophy in design.
Design Savvy:
Visit lighting showrooms armed with a photo
or sketch of space you are trying to light,
fabric and color samples. “If we know
the size and shape of the wall, color and
fabrics of the furniture and drapes, then
we can really help in the process,”
says Dave McKee, chief operating officer of
west coast retailer Seattle Lighting, with
15 showrooms in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
Plan Ahead:
Sconces can be used in any space and in any
type of home or style. However, it is often
difficult to install them in existing homes
where the walls have not been pre-wired to
accept the sconce. It is much easier to plan
and install sconces in new home construction
where the wiring has been installed before
the finished wall is up.
Check It Out:
Before buying a sconce, take time to really
examine the fixture. The detail, finish and
castings should be high-quality, neat and
trim. Shades or other attachments should fit
properly.
Right Light:
How the sconce produces light is a very important
consideration. If you plan to use the sconce
as a major source of light in a space, choose
one with a shaded bulb and a minimum wattage
of 75 watts to reduce glare. If the sconce
is strictly decorative, wattages less than
75 are sufficient, but shades or shielded
bulbs are still preferred.
“If the sconce is to be placed in a
two-story space, it’s important to identify
if the viewer will be able to see into the
sconce when standing on stairs or looking
down into the space,” says Rey-Barreau.
“Some sconces have shields that don't
allow a view into the fixture when seen from
above.”
Seek Guidance:
If the choices are not clear, it's always
best to rely on the help of a lighting consultant
in a lighting showroom to help guide the decision.
Lighting consultants often have design backgrounds
and help move you in the right direction.
Sconce Sense
Sconces bring decorative demeanor to any
room. In today’s newer homes, high windows,
walls and soaring ceilings increase the need
for supplemental lighting. Older or historic
homes were often designed with sconces in
mind.
Once de rigeur in home interior, sconces are
gaining in popularity. “Sconces can
expand a space and decor visually by lighting
the perimeter of the room,” says retailer
Dave McKee, chief operating officer of west
coast retailer Seattle Lighting.
Sconces make themselves at home today in any
room. Look for them over beds and behind bathroom
doors, framing mirrors, marching down fences
and lining great rooms.
“They can be used in any room, and when
used with dimmers can add significantly to
the decor and mood of a space,” says
Joe Rey-Barreau, AIA, IES, CSI, architect,
educational consultant for the American Lighting
Association and professor of interior design
at the University of Kentucky. “The
main obstacle to using sconces is simply not
thinking enough about using them.
To help you get en-sconced, the experts at
the American Lighting Association offer these
tips on why you should use sconces and where
they should go.
It’s Elementary:
Look around the room. Coordinate sconces to
detail already established. “If your
fireplace has a lot of scroll work in it,
for example, pick up that element in your
sconce design,” says McKee.
For Art’s Sake:
Sconces can be as visually important as any
other wall-hung art. In addition to their
shape and form, consider the sconce’s
play of light on the wall as a design element,
too.
“Use a sconce anywhere you don’t
have to over-light,” suggests George
Chandler, CEO and designer of Vermont-based
lighting manufacturer Hubbardton Forge. “Sconces
make great accent lighting.”
Space Saver:
Unlike portable lamps, which need a table
or floor on which to roost, sconces are space
efficient, attaching directly to the wall.
Display Stand:
Standing sentry at entry ways, flanking fireplaces,
lining hallways and climbing the wall alongside
stairways are some common spots for sconces.
Ditto over a piece of furniture, like a sideboard
in the dining room or a sofa in the living
room.
“When you consider sconces and the shadows
they create as wall art, these light fixtures
can really go anywhere,” says Chandler.
The Right Height:
Wall placement is very important, and it is
generally recommended that the sconce not
be mounted less than 5 ft. 6 in. from the
floor. As a room increases in height, it is
useful to increase the mounting height so
that the sconce is in a more proportional
relation to the wall.
Installation Station:
Sconces are most easily and economically installed
when the walls are open during a remodel if
wall junction boxes do not currently exist.
Junction boxes can be installed in existing
rooms, but this is a bit more involved. For
temporary applications (like juvenile-themed
sconces in a kid’s room,) consider mounting
the fixture to the wall and have a cord extend
from the bottom that plugs into a regular
outlet.
Alone or Together?:
Sconces are generally used to complement other
elements in a room and are almost always installed
in pairs. But don’t discount solo sconces.
”Sconces often make effective stand-alone
applications,” says Brandon Levin, vice
president, sales for Justice Design Group,
in Los Angeles. “A sconce works alone
on a wall near a reading chair or sofa to
provide functional light. Or a single sconce
can be used in a short hallway to provide
additional light.”
Don’t stop at one or two. Multiple sconces
can effectively light long hallways, large
rooms and home theaters.
Night Bright:
Outdoor sconces are becoming increasingly
common, and are frequently used near the front,
rear and garage doors. At night their light
illuminates the home’s exterior wall
features, provides security light, and makes
a distinctive statement in the neighborhood.