It’s a surprisingly hard feature to find though, so another great option is to use smart bulbs.

Choose lights with dimmers (or get smart bulbs!)ĪLL lighting should be adjustable and dimmable, so always look for this option when searching for fixtures. Light shades reduce glare and diffuse light more evenly, so you’ll notice that most of the fixtures below are shaded, with the shades ideally covering the entire light bulb. NOTE: Even frosted exposed bulbs are uncomfortably bright, and should only be used on low/dim settings. This can work in a dining room or bedroom, but they should never be used for primary illumination. Exposed bulbs MUST be on a dimmer and are only comfortable on VERY low settings. GLARE - Exposed bulbs are BRIGHT and will sear your poor little eyeballs, while also giving you a headache. There are sooo many gorgeous exposed-bulb fixtures out there, but they’re generally impractical for two reasons:ĭUST - Dust will find and cling to those glass fixtures, and it’s really obvious with all that light shinin’ through! Things to consider when browsing for plug-in sconces Choose lights with shades No problem! These handy peel & stick cord covers can be attached directly to your wall, and then painted to blend in. On another note, wall sconces are a great way to define zones in open spaces, and can be incorporated as functional styling in many different ways! They look amazing beside a fireplace, worked into a gallery wall, flanking a bed… the list goes on! But how do I hide the cords? Darker evening hours call for soft, low-Kelvin, body-level lighting that creates ambience and glow, and this simply cannot be achieved with recessed lighting. While bright, high-quality, high-Kelvin ceiling lights are useful during the day, overhead lighting is uncomfortable and unattractive to relax under at night.Īnd no - dimmers (though fabulous!) are not the answer here, because the real issue is the height and direction of the lighting. Here’s the elevator pitch: builder-grade ceiling lights are generally sad and inadequate, and even high-end recessed lights totally lack atmosphere. And thanks to a growing number of affordable plug-in options, sconces are more DIY- and renter-friendly than ever! Why should I use wall sconces?

Floor and table lamps are a great way around this, but the underappreciated wall sconce is what we’re talking about today! Along with improving your lighting, sconces add sophistication and flare, making any room feel special. One of the most common design mistakes I see is people relying solely on overhead lighting to illuminate their living spaces.

Cheap plug in wall sconce