How to Hang a Sconce Beside a Picture
Historically sconces held candles that were necessary for illuminating rooms before electricity had been invented. Today sconces are primarily used as decorative effects. Hang a sconce beside a picture after considering the surrounding wall decorations, windows, doors and fixtures. Placement of a sconce around a picture involves balance and centering for the best effect. Most sconces are for decoration, but if you install an electric sconce, according to Heavenly Lights, "The bottom of your sconce should be 60 inches from the floor. The top of the sconce should be eye level where you are not looking directly at the interior bulb." Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Paper
- Stud finder
- Nail or screw
- Screwdriver
- Hammer
- Drywall anchor (optional)
- Sconce
- Picture on the wall
Instructions
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1
Do intend to place the sconce so that it will be centered beside the picture. Measure the length of the picture, and divide this measurement by two to locate the center measurement of the picture.
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2
Measure from the center outside edge of the picture at least 4-inches to the right or left of the picture to determine the best placement for the sconce. Mark with a pencil on the wall. Putting a little bit of space between the picture and the sconce helps to avoid a "cluttered" appearance. Centering and spacing give balance to the picture and sconce on the wall.
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3
Measure from the top edge of the sconce to the hanger on the back of the sconce. This is the distance between the top edge of the sconce and where you'll place the nail or screw into the wall. Write down the measurement.
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4
Measure the length of the sconce or sconce base. Ideally you want a picture two or more inches longer on both the top and bottom than the sconce is long. Divide the length measurement of the sconce by two to find the center measurement of the sconce. Write down the measurement.
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5
Position the center of the sconce over the mark you made on the wall in step 2 (4 inches from the picture's center edge). Mark on the wall with the pencil where the top of the sconce touches the wall. Set the sconce aside.
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6
Measure down according to the measurement made in Step 3 from the mark made to indicate the top of the sconce, and mark a dark dot (the distance between the sconce top and sconce hanger). This is where you'll place your nail/screw into the wall.
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7
Use a stud finder to locate the wall stud. Operate the stud finder according to the manufacturer's recommended directions for your particular brand of stud finder.
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8
Install a drywall anchor into the drywall if no stud is present, and screw the screw into the drywall anchor with the screwdriver, or screw the screw into a stud or sturdy wall. If you are using a nail to hang the sconce, nail the nail into the wall/stud with the hammer.
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9
Hang the sconce by its hanger onto the screw or nail installed into the wall.
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