How to Add Wall Sconce Lighting

Wall sconces provide beautiful lighting for a hallway.

Adding wall sconces to your home puts a decorative touch on a hallway, bedroom, bathroom or stairway. Wall sconces provide a warm glow and are available in a number of different light sources and fixture styles so you can choose what will best complement your space. However, be careful about placement for wall sconces. Highlight their visual impact while making certain not to create an unpleasant glare.

Things You'll Need

• Outlet boxes
• Outlet box screws
• Screwdriver
• Ground wire
• Wire connectors
• Light bulbs

Instructions

1. Determine how many wall sconces you will purchase based on how much light your room requires and where you want to place the fixtures. If wall sconces are being used in a hallway or corridor, order enough fixtures so that you can place them eight to 10 feet apart. Otherwise, consider how bright the bulbs inside the fixture will be and how many fixtures you desire in the room.

2. Shut off the electricity to the wires you are working on.

3. Cut holes in the wall for the outlet boxes where you want to mount the fixtures. Mount the wall sconces about six feet above floor level so that a person of average height will not be able to look down into the fixture.

4. Run the wires in your wall into the outlet boxes so that the wires hang six inches out of the front of the box. Insert the box into the hole and tighten the outlet box screws to lock it into place.

5. Fasten the mounting bar of the wall sconce to your outlet box, using the instructions in the packaging of your product.

6. Connect the wires on the fixture to your house wire. Black fixture wires should connect with black house wires, white fixture wires should connect with white house wires. Do not twist wires together before using wire connectors.

7. Fit a wire connector over the wires and screw the connector clockwise until there is a firm connection. Gently pull the connector off the wires.

8. Connect the ground wire from the fixture (if supplied) with the ground wire from the electrical box by using a small wire connector or by wrapping these two wires around a grounding screw on the mounting bar.

9. Tuck the wires carefully into the outlet box. Complete any additional necessary mounting instructions included in your product packaging to secure the wall sconce.

10. Screw light bulbs into the fixtures.

11. 

Tips & Warnings

• Select a style that will go with the design of your space. If you're going for a modern look, try sconces with metal accents on the fixture or look for sconces with atypical shapes. For a classic design, shop for a sconce with a fan-shaped fixture and a glass or ceramic shade.

• Consult a qualified electrician if you are unclear about the installation instructions.

References

• Pegasus Lighting Blog: Where Does That Sconce Go, Anyway?