When planning the layout for living room wall sconces, keeping function and balance in mind is incredibly important. As you decide where you will hang your wall lights, make a note of how a light mounted in this area will affect the symmetry of the room. Sconces look particularly stylish hung in pairs, for example, on either side of a fireplace or mantel. If some design element of the room prevents you from mounting two matching fixtures, you can still achieve a balanced look by filling the corresponding space in another way. For instance, if you have a sconce mounted on one side of your sofa, you might place a table lamp at the other end to fill the empty space. A swing arm in your reading nook can be matched to a mirror, or a small bookshelf hung on the other side of the chair. Matching the right sized fixture to your room is also important for maintaining that illusion of balance. Larger lamps work best in large rooms and more petite fixtures fit into smaller rooms.

How to Install Wall Sconces

• How high to hang sconces: When positioning your sconce on the wall, ensure the bottom of the sconce hits at roughly eye level, which keeps the bulb from shining directly at your line of sight. In most cases, this will be around 66-72 inches above the floor (keep to the lower end of the range for living rooms with low ceilings and the higher range for living rooms with high ceilings). Don’t mount sconces where they will impede walkways—or chose sconces with slim designs for high-traffic areas.

• How far apart should wall sconces be?: For most rooms, position sconces about six feet apart. However, this suggestion can be tailored to your personal taste, preference, and space—if the layout of your room necessitates mounting fixtures slightly closer together or farther apart than six feet, use your best judgment to personalize your look.

• How far should sconces be from the fireplace?: The distance of your sconces in relation to your fireplace will be largely dependent on the size of your mantel. Aim to mount your sconces about eight inches from either end of the mantel—however, if you have a large mantel, you can mount your sconces closer than eight inches since the longer mantel will create more space between the lights themselves. As always, personal taste is important here—don’t be afraid to adjust the distance if the eight-inch guideline doesn’t seem to suit your room.

BEST DESIGN FOR LIVING ROOM LAMPS