In a glass wall sconce, the shade does the work. The glass decides the colour of the glow, the pattern on the wall and how the light looks when it is switched off. This guide compares five types of glass.
Five types of glass and their light
| Glass | Effect | Model |
|---|---|---|
| Fluted | Fine rays of light across the wall | Fluted Glass Sunburst Wall Sconce |
| Ribbed | The whole shade glows evenly in its colour | Ribbed Tulip Glass Wall Sconce |
| Beaded | Glass beads catch the light, on or off | Beaded Glass Wall Sconce |
| Moulded shell | A soft glow sent up the wall | Vintage Shell Glass Sconce |
| Crystal | A circular halo with small highlights on the bevelled edge | Crystal Disc Wall Sconce |
Size table
| Model | Size | Colours |
|---|---|---|
| Fluted Glass Sunburst Wall Sconce | Ø 24 cm, height 24 cm | amber, smoke grey, milky white |
| Ribbed Tulip Glass Wall Sconce | shade 12 cm wide, total height 42 cm | green, pink, milky white, amber, clear |
| Beaded Glass Wall Sconce | 14 cm wide, 13 cm high | see product page |
| Vintage Shell Glass Sconce | 28 cm wide, 24 cm high, 13 cm from the wall | green, coffee, cream |
| Crystal Disc Wall Sconce | disc Ø 16 cm, 7.3 cm from the wall | clear crystal, chrome |
| Vintage Brass Flower Wall Sconce | H 25 cm, projection 25 cm | amber frosted, clear ribbed or white frosted shade |
The shell and brass flower sconces also pair well with a draped fabric chandelier: see our guide to French chandeliers and fringe lamps.
Their curved, nature-inspired shapes also belong to the Art Nouveau tradition: see our guide to Art Nouveau lamps.
Which room
- Bedside: a pair either side of the bed. The shell sconce sends its light upward, away from the eyes.
- Hallway: several in a line. The fluted sunburst suits about 5 to 10 m² per sconce.
- Beside a mirror or above a console: a small sconce such as the beaded or crystal model, each suited to about 1 to 5 m².
For hanging height, see our guide on bedside sconce height.
For sconces in ceramic, wood or plaster, which wash the wall with light rather than glow, see our guide to ceramic and wood wall sconces.
Check before ordering
The fluted, shell and crystal sconces are hardwired and not dimmable. A hardwired fitting should be installed by a qualified electrician. The installation type is listed on each product page.
New to wall lighting? Our guide to what a sconce is explains the main types by light direction and compares how far our sconces project from the wall, a key figure for narrow hallways.
Planning a corridor? Our hallway and entryway lighting ideas rank our wall lights by how far they project from the wall, with a guide to how many a 3 m to 12 m hallway needs.
The brass flower, ribbed tulip and fluted sunburst sconces also feature in our guide to vintage wall sconces; to place a pair beside a fireplace or a sofa, see wall sconces for the living room.
Choosing a wall light? Our guide to wall sconces with shades compares fabric, paper, glass and ceramic shades, and our guide to modern wall sconces covers stone, plaster and crystal designs, both with real sizes.
Two related guides: colored glass lighting sorts our green, amber, pink and blue glass lights by colour, and mid-century wall sconces covers drum, sunburst, tulip and glazed ceramic designs, both with real sizes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between fluted and ribbed glass?
Both have parallel ridges. On the sunburst sconce the fluted glass throws rays of light on the wall; on the tulip sconce the ribbed glass glows evenly in its colour.
Do coloured glass sconces change the colour of the light?
The shade glows in its own colour: amber gives a golden glow, smoke grey a moodier one, milky white a neutral one.
Are glass wall sconces dimmable?
The fluted, shell, beaded and crystal models above are not dimmable.
See all models in our glass wall sconces collection.
