Like many people, I have a serious aversion to overhead lighting. It’s not just that it casts the most unflattering shadows, it’s just that it feels all wrong. If the Big Light is on, everything feels off. It makes me twitch. I know I’m not alone in this. Tell me I’m not alone in this.
Table lamps are my No. 1 décor weakness and I have more vintage ones than is reasonable for one apartment. My other antidote to harsh overhead lights: a wall sconce. I love that they draw your eye to art and can make even the most unremarkable rooms look a touch more thoughtfully designed. I also love that they allow me to keep table surfaces free for other things.
What I don’t love is everything involved with the installation of hardwired sconces. Hiring an electrician means the cost of labor can far exceed the price of the sconce, and the cleanup costs even more money. The installation of a sconce invariably requires making Swiss cheese of your walls — and once the fixture has been installed, you must deal with fixing all the holes, something that’s also best done by a professional. (I’m fairly DIY-savvy, but not savvy enough to patch walls seamlessly.)
This is why I sing the praises of plug-in sconces to anyone who will listen. Not just a great option for renters, these babies are ideal for homeowners who want to add atmospheric lighting without the cost of hiring a professional or three. My walls are solid brick, so hardwiring anything involves a level of construction work that just is not worth it to me. I was also able to add lighting to a newly added closet without any electrical costs. Here, you’ll find the wall sconces I’ve used in several areas of my own home — and a few I’m eyeing too.
There’s something about a picture light that elevates a space — and ever since I put this fixture in my home, it’s received a ton of compliments. It’s diminutive, so it works great over smaller pieces of art and accommodates an incandescent bulb, so you can get a nice level of warmth. Sure, you could get one of those chargeable LED picture lights, but in my experience, not one of those has ever given off a remotely tasteful temperature. It was easy to install myself — I just used a drill with wall plugs and screws, even on a solid brick wall — and the cord can be arranged so that most of it lies relatively flat behind the art. (Just note: Given the cord is white, this one works best on white walls.)
This black sconce is such a bargain it’s almost rude not to buy it. It comes in a set of two, and you can install them vertically or horizontally, depending on the needs of your space. I placed one horizontally above a living room leaning-floor mirror with an outlet behind it, so the cord is hidden behind the mirror, and I added oversize bulbs for a more exaggerated look. Given it comes in a pair, this style is ideal for placement vertically either side of the bed, if space is at a premium on your nightstands.
I installed this little sconce on drywall in a newly built walk-in closet, and it’s been a year and I’m still not sick of it. This one is an absolute cinch to put up — it just slots onto a screw or nail. I didn’t even use wall plugs since it’s very lightweight. The design is simple, but not so basic that it’s boring; it has an au courant shape, but it’s not so trendy that you’ll one day look at it and say, Wow, that’s so 2024!
This circle sconce stopped me in my arrow-guided tracks on a recent wander around Ikea. Not dissimilar to Pablo Designs’ Bola Disc sconce, the proportions of the Simrishanm are slightly different but equally as lovely. It can even be utilized as a table lamp. God, I love Ikea.
How fun is this li’l tubular chunker? The Jolie is made by Mitzi, a spinoff brand from New York–based lighting company Hudson Valley Light. Out of all the plug-in sconces I’ve perused, the shape of this one is by far the most visually unique. Put this in your most basic and boring room and let that tubular curve bring some fun into the mix.
With the Leif, you’re getting a touch of mid-century elegance with your wall sconce. The bottom rod rotates so you can position it in different ways, and the shade comes in a dreamy, creamy sand and a gorgeous grayish blue.
The seagrass shade on this one screams “summer sunsets and beachy breezes” — but it would feel just as at home in a city space mixed in with mid-century vintage pieces.
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