A modern wall sconce is a wall light with a clean, geometric shape and no period ornament: a block of stone, a stack of plaster tiers, a crystal disc, a set of slats. Many modern sconces also use an integrated LED instead of a bulb, which keeps them slim. In this guide we sort the modern sconces we sell by the way they light the wall (up and down, glow-through, downlight, halo or adjustable spot), list their real sizes in centimetres and inches from our product pages, and show how many you need for a hallway or a living room. Browse the range in our modern and minimalist lighting collection.
Five ways a modern sconce lights the wall
1. Up and down: a wash of light
The Two-Tier Plaster Wall Sconce stacks two matte white plaster tiers; its integrated 12 W LED glows between them and washes the wall above and below, while the plaster stays opaque. Light can be cold white, warm white or 3-colour switchable.
2. Glow-through: the whole sconce lights up
The Spanish Marble Alabaster Wall Sconce is made of stepped panels of Spanish marble that glow from within and reveal the natural veining. It comes 50 or 75 cm high and is the only sconce in this guide listed as dimmable. The Japanese Louvered Slat Wall Lamp is lighter and simpler: warm or white light glows through stacked slats, and its product page names minimalist interiors among the styles it suits.
3. Downlight: a pool of light below
The Travertine Wall Sconce is a solid block of travertine (round or square, on a wood or white back plate) with a narrow beam falling straight down. The Travertine Wood Cap Wall Sconce sets a small travertine cone under a turned wood cap, with warm light falling from the open bottom. Both keep the natural pores of the stone; see our stone lamps guide.
4. Halo: a circle on the wall
The Crystal Disc Wall Sconce is a thick disc of clear crystal around a polished chrome core. An integrated 8 W LED lights the crystal from inside and spreads a soft circular halo on the wall. Its product page says it suits contemporary as well as classic Parisian interiors.
5. Adjustable spot and graphic glass
The Adjustable Polished Metal Spotlight Sconce is a polished silver cone on an adjustable arm that throws a focused beam onto a painting, a desk or a book. For a softer graphic effect, the Fluted Glass Sunburst Wall Sconce casts fine rays across the wall and is described as sitting naturally in contemporary interiors.
Real sizes of our modern wall sconces
All figures come from our product pages. Depth is how far the sconce stands out from the wall; the lighting area is the manufacturer's guide for one sconce.
| Sconce | Size | Depth | Light | Power / source | Lighting area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-Tier Plaster | W 32 × H 13 cm (12.6 × 5.1 in) | Not stated | Up and down | 12 W integrated LED | 1–3 m² |
| Spanish Marble Alabaster | H 50 or 75 × W 20 cm (19.7 or 29.5 × 7.9 in) | 10 cm (3.9 in) | Glow-through, dimmable | 15 W / 25 W | 5–10 m² |
| Louvered Slat | Small W 18.5 × H 17 cm (7.3 × 6.7 in); Wide W 20 × H 24 cm (7.9 × 9.4 in) | 12.5 cm (4.9 in) | Glow-through | 5 W | 3–5 m² |
| Travertine | H 16 × W 6.5 cm (6.3 × 2.6 in) | 6.5 cm (2.6 in) | Downlight | Not stated | 3–5 m² |
| Travertine Wood Cap | Stone Ø 11 × H 15 cm (4.3 × 5.9 in) | Not stated | Downlight | Not stated | 1–3 m² |
| Crystal Disc | Disc Ø 16 cm (6.3 in) | 7.3 cm (2.9 in) | Halo | 8 W integrated LED | 1–3 m² |
| Adjustable Spotlight | Cone Ø 12.5 cm (4.9 in), H 28 cm (11 in) | Not stated | Adjustable spot | Not stated | 10–15 m² |
| Fluted Glass Sunburst | Ø 24 × H 24 cm (9.4 × 9.4 in) | Not stated | Rays across the wall | Not stated | 5–10 m² |
Mini-guide: depth and number
Depth in a hallway. A common benchmark for a walkway is a projection of about 10 cm (4 in) (see what is a sconce). The Travertine (6.5 cm) and the Crystal Disc (7.3 cm) stay under it, and the Spanish Marble reaches it at 10 cm, so all three can line a narrow corridor. The Louvered Slat stands out 12.5 cm.
How many for a 10 m² hallway. Divide the area by the lighting area of one sconce. With the Spanish Marble (5–10 m² each): 1 to 2. With the Louvered Slat (3–5 m²): 2 to 4. With the Crystal Disc or the Two-Tier Plaster (1–3 m² each): 4 or more, which is why these two work best as accent lights beside a door or a mirror, with another light source in the room. Spacing is covered in our hallway lighting ideas.
A living room of 20 m². Two 75 cm Spanish Marble sconces either side of a fireplace cover 10–20 m², and the dimmer lets you lower them in the evening. Add an Adjustable Spotlight (10–15 m²) over a reading chair or a painting if needed. See wall sconces for the living room for placement and height.
Modern or minimalist? The two overlap. Our guide to minimalist lighting focuses on the plainest forms; for stone and plaster pieces that act as wall art, see sculptural lamps. If you prefer a classic shade, read wall sconces with shades.
Frequently asked questions
Do modern wall sconces need a bulb?
Some do not. The Two-Tier Plaster (12 W) and the Crystal Disc (8 W) have an integrated LED, according to their product pages. For the others, check the light source listed on each page.
Which modern sconce is the slimmest?
The Travertine Wall Sconce, at 6.5 cm (2.6 in) deep, followed by the Crystal Disc at 7.3 cm (2.9 in) and the Spanish Marble at 10 cm (3.9 in).
Are they dimmable?
Among the sconces in this guide, only the Spanish Marble Alabaster is listed as dimmable. The Travertine, Travertine Wood Cap and Crystal Disc are listed as not dimmable; the Two-Tier Plaster offers switchable light colours instead. All list a wide voltage range (90–260 V, 100–245 V or 110–265 V) for 120 V and 230 V homes.
See all our wall lights, our travertine and stone lighting and the modern and minimalist lighting collection.
