Introduction to Sconces

Lighting is very important in creating the desired atmosphere of any room in your home. By using lighting alone, you can change the atmosphere of a room from drab to bright and cheerful. By using the right lighting type in the right place, you can create an atmosphere of intimacy, coziness or elegance.

There are three basic types of lighting: general, task and accent lighting. General or ambient lighting is the overall lighting of the room. Task lighting is lighting that illuminates a specific area where your vision will be focused, such as a workplace or reading area. Accent lighting is used to draw attention to specific areas or décor of your room, such as book display shelves or artwork.

In deciding about what lighting to use, you need to first decide what effect that you want to create for your room or what areas of your room that you want to accent. Which aspect of lighting is most important to you for this particular room – mood/atmosphere of the room, focal point of people entering the room, a specific task to be accomplished, enlarging a small room, making a large room more intimate? The list goes on, and you have to decide. Once you have decided the general atmosphere of your room, you are ready to decide on what type of lighting you will use. The references at the end of this article will refer you to articles that can help you with other types of lighting, but this article will focus on the benefits and aspects of sconces. Sconces can be a charming and elegant way to achieve the right atmosphere and look for your room. Sconces can be used both for task lighting and for accent lightning. Let’s consider the best uses of sconces, styles of sconces, their finishes, installation and delivery and costs.