While the vast majority of room lights are usually affixed to the ceiling, wall lighting fixtures are not.  They are, instead, attached to the walls.  These types of light fixtures are called wall sconces.  Ceiling lights which are attached directly to the ceiling or which hang from it as pendants (or as chandeliers, which are highly decorative pendant lights) are designed to cast light over large areas.  Where they once held candles, they now contain decorative globes or use bulbs that are plainly seen.  Small, flame shaped incandescent bulbs are popular in ceiling lights with multiple bulbs.  Many of these bulbs contain faceted glass enclosures to give the effect of twinkling candle flames.  Somew of them also have multiple filaments that light in an alternating fashion, which also gives the effect of a candle flame.

In contrast, most wall sconce lighting fixtures do not openly display the bulb.  Instead, the bulb is concealed and only the light itself is seen.  Wall light fixtures are designed to cast light upwards, downwards, or in both directions.  The word sconce originates from a Latin verb meaning “to hide” or “to conceal,” and so it is apparent that sconces have always held light fixtures in this manner.  Wall mounted light fixtures are often meant to provide modest backlight, or to draw attention to the wall itself.  This is often the case with outdoor wall lighting fixtures.

Because the light from a sconce is more diffuse than overhead lighting, the style is often found in bathrooms over vanities or above mirrors where bright light would be considered jarring.  Most wall sconces use incandescent or LED bulbs for this same reason.  Halogen, Xenon or Krypton bulbs are generally considered too bright to be used in a setting where a sconce would be appropriate.

Wall sconces are generally grouped in one of three types: candle sconces, swing arm sconces and reading or task wall sconces.  Candle sconces, as the name implies, are made to resemble (or actually hold) candles.  Swing arm sconces are affixed to the wall plate by means of a levered arm.  They can be positioned close to the wall or, at need, swung out into the room to provide additional lighting.  Swing arm sconces generally have shades attached to them.  Reading sconces or task sconces are sometimes attached with flexible or multi-positional arms so that they can be aimed in a certain direction, or positioned directly over a reading seat.  Equally often they are attached in a fixed position by a bar or arched support.  These are the types of wall sconce found in bathrooms.  Sconces that are fixed directly to the wall, directing light up or down along the plane of the wall, are also considered to be reading or task sconces.

In today’s marketplace, the choice of modern light fixtures is nearly limitless.  You have choices in styles, choices in materials, choices in colors, and choices in the types of bulbs you put in the fixtures.  With a dimmer switch you can even choose how much light to have emitted on any particular occasion.

For your style of light, you can choose from ceiling lamps, pendants, portable lamps, track lights, recessed lights, wall sconces or skylights.  Not all of these are appropriate for every décor or setting, but ultimately it is your own choice.  Ceiling lamps are attached to the ceiling and focus light downwards and out.  They are the most common style of room light and light large areas evenly.  Pendant lighting also attaches to the ceiling. They differ from ceiling lights because they hangs down from the ceiling on the end of a long bar, wire or similar device.  Pendants mainly focus the light downward onto a specific area.  Pendants are very useful over dining tables or over work areas.  Portable lamps encompass any lamp that can easily be moved.  They are most commonly found on desks, tables and bedside stands, but also include tall floor lamps and reading lights.  Track lights, which were very popular in the 1980s, are making a strong comeback in contemporary lighting styles.   They are extremely useful when you wish to highlight a certain room area, or illuminate a particular feature.  They are popular modern lighting fixtures because of the minimalism of their design.  Many modern track light styles consist of a simple pair of wires upon which rest movable contact points.  Wall sconces are another hugely popular option for lighting.  Sconces attach directly to a wall and light the room by sending shafts of light upwards, downwards or in both directions.

The choices of materials for a modern light fixture have never been greater.  Lights are created from glass, metal, plastics, composites and even paper.  The choice of materials depends entirely upon your personal tastes and needs, because lamps constructed from any of these materials can be found for almost any décor of your home.  Colors, of course, are largely dependent upon the material selected for the light fixture.  Metals come in a wide variety of finishes, such as antique, washed bronze, silver, nickel, copper, brass, gold, aluminum, polished chrome, etc….  Glasses and plastics are manufactured in every imaginable color.

Standard incandescent bulbs come in several distinct styles such as natural light, white or soft white.  These descriptions have to do with the amount of yellow or blue light put out by the bulb, and again are a matter of personal taste.  Many people feel that the natural light option emits a spectrum more reminiscent of sunlight, hence the name.  Fluorescent bulbs are also becoming very popular, due to their improved output and lower energy consumption.

Creating ambiance in your home can be accomplished with wall sconce lighting. This type of lighting is produce by installing a decorative light flush to a wall. Depending on the height of your ceilings the sconces can be positioned to provide adequate light for an entire room. Sconces have such versatility, unlike some other lighting fixtures. They can be placed just about anywhere light is needed and still look very nice. People use them as outdoor lighting, lighting for hallways and lighting for bedrooms and personal libraries. You can choose the type of wall sconce lights that will suit your décor.

There are a number of different wall sconce light fixtures. The first deciding factor when choosing your sconce is the type of material that the sconce is made from. You can purchase a wall sconce made from such materials as metals, woods, clays and glass. The metal sconces are very elegant and depending on the type of finish some people like to use these sconces on the outside of their homes. Glass and clay sconces are very unique and the glass sconces reflect light very nicely. There are so many materials that you can choose from when selecting a sconce for your home lighting.

Another factor to consider to when selecting wall light sconces is the type of lighting style you desire. Wall sconces come with a number of different lighting styles. Some sconces include clear, frosted or even Tiffany styled shades. Other sconces include multiple light holders that can be sued to hold individual bulbs. There are even some scones that are capable of holding lit candles. A very popular sconce style is that of the cup sconce which places a bulb inside the cup in order to produce light. There are even lighted wall sconces that have lighting mechanisms that have bulbs positioned vertically and horizontally thus providing light across a greater area.

One of the other features that makes using a wall sconce light so unique is the ability to choose your lighting. The sconce itself is basically contained the type of bulb that you can use. A sconce allows the owner to place fluorescent bright lights in the sconces on the front of home for easy visibility. Similarly, if you want dimmer lights for a bedroom or a hallway then you could use a frosted bulb to produce this effect. Many people like wall sconces because instead of providing a harsh direct light provide a reflection of light from the wall to other areas of the room. The light is still bright but soft and not at all overpowering which makes it a good lighting choice.

The installation of a lighted wall sconce may or may not require some electrical work. If you have a pre-existing sconce and are merely interchanging the sconces then the electrical work may not be too complicated. However, if you have decided to place a new light fixture in a room and want the sconce to be the decorative holder for the bulb you may have to do some electrical hardwiring. You can perform this hardwiring yourself or you can contact a qualified electrician who will assist with the new lighting and installation of your wall sconces.

By using wall sconce lights you can change the lighting effect in the room. A wall sconce is a type of fixture that is used for lights that is attached to the wall. The type of lighting used can be either a standard electric bulb light or a candle. For hallway lighting wall light sconces can create a nice subtle lighting effect. The brightness and dimness of the light itself will depend on what type of bulbs you choose to use in the fixture. A candle will create a shadowy elongated effect when placed in a hallway wall sconce.

The type of lighting effect you get with lighted wall sconces also depends on how many you use and how they are placed. A single sconce will create a very dim or low light effect, while many wall sconce light fixtures placed a few feet apart will have a much more dramatic effect. Many types of public businesses such as museums, libraries and art galleries use the wall sconces to create this type of dramatic low light effect.

A wall sconce light can come in several different styles and designs. There are some that have pendant light hanging attachments or chandelier type attachments added to them. This type of design can add an extra bit of elegance to an area that doesn’t have a lot of attraction to it. Such as a living room that is styled in a more Victorian type of design. Choosing to use wall sconce lighting with more period type homes adds the element of authenticity to the home’s overall design. These types of lights are also very popular for use outdoors. They are often used as accent lights for the garage area and front door entrance area of the home.

When measuring for the placement of wall sconces it’s best to keep in mind that they are generally placed at a height of 66 – 72 inches above the floor. This is the optimal area for the lighting they give off. When considering the use of these types of lights you need to take into consideration the style and design of the room, hallway or outdoor area they will be mounted in. The lights are extremely decorative fixtures and since they are placed on the wall, they are at a level where they are seen as people pass by them. If you have a room with a lot of warm colors or wood, then you might want to choose a warm colored wall sconce such as brass or gold to accent the room.

It will pay for you to shop around at lighting fixture stores and talk with the experts about what the different types of wall sconces are that are available. This is especially important if you intend to use candles with the sconces, a sconce with a metal fixture is more prone to becoming hot to the touch with a candle than a wooden fixture would be.