Three interior designers share tips for selecting the best wall sconces for your space.

When it comes to lighting, there’s the good, the bad, and, well, the ugly. Lighting can either set the mood or, for anyone who’s been faced with the harsh 

glare of a fluorescent bulb for too long, it can leave you with a blinding headache. So you want to be sure to hit the right switch, so to speak. Of the various 

lighting fixtures out there, the wall sconce is the one that is used for multiple purposes, whether it be task, accent, or ambient lighting. Knowing which one is 

right for you can be overwhelming, so we polled three designers to bring you a comprehensive guide on this luminaire extraordinaire.

As defined, a sconce is a wooden or metal bracket affixed to a wall and designed to hold candles, lamps, or other types of illumination. One of the earliest forms

of lighting fixtures, sconces first appeared in Classical antiquity (Although, it’s arguable that it was early homo sapiens who first came up with the idea during 

the Stone Age when they would wedge torches into the walls of caves.) By the by, more elaborate variations were inspired by the custom that began in the European

Middle Ages of affixing metal sconces holding candles to church walls. Now fast forward to today, there are predominately eight silhouettes to choose from: flush 

mount, armed, swing arm, candle, wallchière, half-moon, spotlight, and recessed.

Considering the myriad styles available—from utilitarian to sculptural—selecting the right one really depends on the individual’s tastes. For New York City–based 

interior designer Sasha Bikoff, whose design aesthetic leans maximalist, she opts for an avant-garde look. “Wall sconces, for me, are like jewelry of the home,” she 

says. “My recommendation when choosing sconces is the same way you would consider what earring to wear to a party. Make it sparkle!”

But if you’re going for a more traditional approach, interior designer Becky Nielsen of Nashville, Tennessee, shares a few of her practical go-tos. “I love a swing 

arm sconce by a bed, so you can move it around as needed,” she says. “I love something metal in a bathroom. It feels clean to me and easy to match with whatever 

tile or architecture you have in there. A picture light always gives warmth or helps highlight a piece of art. And something low profile with a decorative shade is an easy 

way to add a little whimsy to a staircase.”