A round-up of vintage wall sconce lights from high-end designers and their low budget dupes for timeless accent lighting in every room of the house.
If there was ever a way to kick a room up a notch in the lighting department to create that moody, cozy effect, it’s definitely by using vintage wall sconces.
Why Vintage Wall Sconces Are Perfect for Any Home
Wall sconces are the BEST at
- adding character to an otherwise plain space
- highlighting art or architectural details on walls
- making a space feel warm and welcoming with their cozy glow
- helping a brand new home seem like it has a long, beloved history
When I shared our DIY batten wall using lattice strips in the breakfast nook last week, I got the same question over and over: “Where did you get those vintage wall lights?!”
How to Install a Wall Sconce Without Electricity
If you don’t want to go through the expense to wire a wall sconce or hire an electrician to do it, you can just use these rechargeable LED light bulbs in the fixture instead.
(I even placed puck lights inside the shades of the sconces in our office to hang them wirelessly.) You can follow this tutorial for other ways to hang a sconce without wires.
Source | Vintage Double Shaded Sconce
Or you can opt for sconces with a plug-in option. We often use these cord covers to hide the cords on plug-in lights. Paint the covers the same color as your wall and they virtually disappear.
We used plug-in sconces with cord covers in our neighbors’ coastal living room makeover.
Source | Nickel Swing Arm Plug-In Sconce
Vintage Wall Sconces Around Our Home
So I thought it would help to give a tour of the vintage wall sconces around our house (there are lots of them) and round up a bunch of gorgeous designer sconces with their less expensive look-a-likes!
Since we moved into this house 5 years ago, we’ve slowly been adding them in many of the rooms.
Breakfast Nook Wall Sconces
I found these whimsical brass ruffled sconces for the breakfast nook that softened the straight batten wall with its soft curves so perfectly!
Source | Vintage Brass Flower Wall Light
Stairway Wall Sconce
Hanging a sconce on a wall up our enclosed staircase highlights our family gallery wall so beautifully! Since we don’t have a ceiling light in the stairway, the sconce is a major workhorse here.
I found it on clearance years ago at Lowe’s, but since it’s now discontinued, this one is similar…
Source: Double Black Candelabra Sconce
Bedroom Wall Sconce
Since we had to settle for small nightstands in our bedroom, we didn’t want a lamp taking up valuable side table space, so these swing arm plug-in sconce lamps were the perfect solution.
Source | Swing Arm Wall Sconce Plug In Lamps
Living Room Sconces
We lucked out with sconce boxes already wired above our mantel in our living room when we moved in. Even though our art is actually a Samsung Frame TV (which I gave a brutally honest Frame TV review about here), the sconces trick the eye even further to make people think it’s real art.
I spray painted gold some inexpensive sconces I found years ago, but these are similar.
Sources | White Shaded Sconce Light
Bathroom Sconces
Most people don’t know that hanging shaded sconces on either side of a bathroom mirror is ideal for putting on makeup! Because your face is lit from either side with diffused light, shadows virtually disappear.
It was the biggest reason why I didn’t want a vanity light hanging above our bathroom mirrors because shadows make makeup application challenging.
Source | Vintage Shaded Gold Sconce
The Best Vintage Wall Sconces for All Budgets
I rounded up a bunch of my favorite high end antique and vintage style wall sconces and their more budget-friendly counterparts so that you can get the look for less. They all would add so much charm in any hallway, entryway, bathroom, dining room, anywhere!
Splurge | Vintage Sconces Over $200
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Save | Vintage Sconces Under $200
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Frequently Asked Questions
The general rule is to install a sconce 66-72 inches from the floor. If your ceilings are taller than 8 feet, aim for close to 72 inches.
If you’re installing multiple sconces in a hallway, keep them around 6 feet apart. This will allow your space to be evenly filled with light without any gaps.
It’s all about your personal preference, but most designers recommend between 2700-3000K light bulbs. They add clean, inviting light without being too blue or yellow.
More Lighting Ideas
- The Best Boob Light Replacement Fixtures for All Budgets
- Best Rated Fandeliers + How to Paint a Chandelier Ceiling Fan
- Shaded Chandeliers for All Budgets: Splurge vs Save
- How to Hang Outdoor String Lights Anywhere in a Backyard
- DIY Light Fixture Made from a Repurposed Sunburst Mirror
- The Best Wireless Lights from Amazon
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