Living Room Wall Sconce Ideas for a Focal Point
A well-placed living room wall sconce can provide the perfect focal point to elevate your decor. Strategically using sconces as accent lighting draws attention to artwork, mirrors, architectural details, and other design elements you want to highlight. Sconces also deliver task lighting for reading nooks and ambient glow for setting the mood. With so many options for shapes, sizes, finishes and styles, living room wall sconces allow you to add visual interest and personality to your space.
Wall sconces cleverly maximize lighting in small living rooms and apartments. They conserve space occupied by floor and table lamps, while sculpting light onto specific areas. For sprawling great rooms with high ceilings, properly positioned sconces provide human-scale illumination. Sconces flanking a fireplace or stairway make these features the focal point. Their strategic placement eliminates dark corners and brightens seating areas with reading light. Whatever your living room size and layout, wall sconces give you flexibility to customize the lighting.
Illuminate Your Living Room's Decor With Wall Sconces
One of the main reasons to install living room wall sconces is their ability to showcase decor. An art light sconce positioned above a favorite painting or mounted horizontally over a console highlights these displays. Sconces on either side of a mirror magnify its visual impact. They add symmetry and balance to living room designs.
For homes with interesting architectural elements, like textured walls, ornate moldings or exposed brick, sconces amplify their textures and dimensions. You can use them to illuminate and accent built-in bookshelves, cabinets and display units. Their focused beam creates display case-style lighting.
Living room wall sconces also provide excellent accent lighting to showcase your personal style. Crystal and glass sconces add elegance to formal spaces. Wrought iron, brass and bronze sconces complement industrial and rustic rooms. Nautical rope, shell and driftwood sconces convey coastal charm.
Consider the overall aesthetic of your living room when selecting sconces. Formal, elegant spaces call for ornate glass sconces with delicate details. For contemporary lofts or modern rooms, sleek metallic sconces with clean lines enhance the decor. Farmhouse inspired living rooms deserve vintage lantern-style sconces for a cozy feel.
Enhance Mood and Ambiance with Living Room Wall Sconces
Beyond just visual appeal, living room sconces set the mood and atmosphere. They wash walls with a soft, ambient glow for a cozy feel. Dimmer switches allow you to control sconce brightness. Lower light levels create intimacy for reading nooks. Brighter settings provide lively illumination for entertaining.
The color temperature of sconce lights also affects ambiance. Warm white bulbs exude comfort and relaxation. Cool white lighting has an energizing effect. Use smart bulbs to adjust color and brightness. Set the mood with dimmable, tunable LEDs controlled by remote, voice or app.
Sconces positioned by furniture provide task lighting. Lights near a sofa illuminate end tables for tasks like reading. Sconces by a chair or loveseat allow for hobbies like knitting or puzzles. Their glow limits eyestrain from close-up work. Add interest with sconces that swing or pivot to direct light.
For more versatility, consider installing sconces on dimmers. This allows you to create bright, inviting light for entertaining or a soft glow for relaxation. Dimmers also extend bulb life. Programmable smart bulbs take lighting versatility even further with app and voice control options.
Maximize Living Room Wall Sconce Uses and Placement
Take advantage of all the ways living room wall sconces can elevate your space. First, determine your lighting priorities - do you want to accent decor, create ambiance or enable tasks? Recommended sconce placement depends on your goals.
Flanking a fireplace or mantle provides balanced illumination. Position reading sconces near seating areas 18-24 inches above eye level. For artwork lighting, mount sconces about 6-12 inches above. Use plug-in sconces or install additional wall outlets where needed.
In narrow living rooms, space sconces evenly down the longest wall. Cross-room lighting avoids dark corners in open floorplans. Mark intended sconce locations with painter's tape before installation.
When it comes to sconce style, you can mix and match or choose one fabulous focal point piece. Varying metal finishes, like brass and nickel, adds nice contrast. Size also affects visual weight - small sconces balance large ones.
Pay attention to the scale of the living room when selecting and placing sconces. Oversized sconces can overwhelm a small space. For large rooms with high ceilings, appropriately sized sconces provide human-scale lighting. Place sconces at seated eye level in conversation areas.
Select the Right Bulbs and Fixtures for Living Room Sconces
Once you've mapped out sconce placement, choose fixtures and bulbs to meet your lighting needs. Check wattage limits and bulb types compatible with the sconces. LEDs last longer than incandescent and use less energy.
For close task lighting, look for adjustable sconces, gooseneck styles and swing arm options. Seek frosted or textured glass for soft, glare-free ambient light. Pick clear glass or exposed bulbs when you want to create a sparkling focal point.
Control light direction with shades and reflectors. Consider smart lighting options like color-changing bulbs and app/remote-controlled sconces. Finally, decide between plug-in and hardwired sconces based on your goals.
Select the right wattage bulbs for your sconces based on how much light you need. Reading nooks and task areas need brighter bulbs around 60 watts. For ambiance, 25-40 watt bulbs are recommended. Dimmable bulbs allow you to control brightness as needed.
Design a Cohesive Living Room Sconce Decor
Tie your living room sconce selections together for a cohesive feel. Matching metal finishes creates flow, even on varied sconce styles. repeating design elements like candlepin bases also unifies the look. Just take care not to make the sconces too matchy.
Complement your wall colors and furniture finishes with metal and glass tones. Brushed nickel, dark bronze and black metals enhance bold hues. Polished brass, chrome and clear glass suit lighter palettes. The bulb's glow interacts with the sconce colors, so choose smart bulbs wisely.
When selecting living room sconces, consider the overall room decor. Formal spaces deserve elegant sconces with Lisbon details. Bold, modern rooms call for geometric mid-century sconces. Farmhouse, cottage and rustic living rooms are perfect for vintage lantern sconces.
To create a cohesive look, choose sconces with finishes that complement each other. Mixing metals like brass and nickel can add nice contrast. Repeating design elements like candlepin bases also unifies the sconces.
Take scale and proportion into account - a tiny sconce may get lost on a large wall. Layer smaller sconces with some statement pieces for visual interest. Place sconces to balance focal points like over a sofa or flanking a fireplace.
Looking to add some fun and unique flair with your living room sconces? Get creative with these innovative lighting ideas.
Picture light sconces are perfect for showcasing your favorite art pieces. Position the lights above your wall hangings to really make them pop. Go for adjustable picture lights to get the illumination just right.
Install swing arm sconces that pivot to direct light right where you need it, without taking up table space. They work beautifully by chairs and sofas for task lighting. Go for plug-in swing arm sconces to avoid hardwiring.
Remote control sconces with batteries offer flexibility for placement. Stick them anywhere without worrying about outlets. Use removable adhesive to mount them to walls without nails or wiring.
For soft, ambient lighting try textured linen or fabric drum shade sconces. The material diffuses the bulb's light for a cozy glow. These look great flanking a window or above bedside tables.