Chrome wall sconces are the brightest metal you can hang on a wall. A mirror finish throws the room back at itself, which multiplies the light already in the space and makes a small bathroom or dressing area read larger than it measures. Gathered here are the fittings finished in polished chrome.
How to choose chrome wall sconces
Chrome is a cool metal, so it belongs with gray, white and glass rather than terracotta or walnut. Beside a stainless faucet or a glass shower screen it disappears into the palette. Against oak and unlacquered brass hardware it stands apart, and not always in the direction intended.
Shape then decides how much of that reflection you actually see. A tube or a cylinder keeps the shine to a narrow band. A bell or a curved shade spreads it across a wide face and doubles the apparent brightness. Flanking a mirror, the narrow shape usually causes less trouble.
Placement and upkeep for chrome wall sconces
A mirror finish shows every water spot and fingerprint more readily than any brushed surface. Wipe with a damp cloth, then dry with a second cloth so nothing sets in place. Skip abrasive pads, which leave fine scratches that stay visible under direct light for good. A cloth kept for glass beats paper towel, since paper leaves lint across a reflective face.
At a vanity, mount a pair 60 to 66 inches from the floor and 36 to 40 inches apart, flanking the mirror rather than sitting above it. That puts light on the face from both sides instead of casting shadows downward. Where a fitting sits near a shower, check the location rating printed on the product page.
Is chrome the same as polished nickel?
No. Chrome runs cooler and slightly blue, and it reflects with a hard edge. Polished nickel carries a faint warm cast and reads softer under the same bulb. Side by side the difference is obvious. Alone in a room, either one passes without comment.
Where does a mirror finish look wrong?
In a scheme built on warm materials. Against walnut, terracotta and aged brass it reads cold and separate from everything around it. Keep it with white tile, gray stone, glass and stainless steel, or use it deliberately as the single cool note in a warm room.
Other pages in this family: Black Wall Sconces, Gold Wall Sconces, White Wall Sconces and Glass Wall Sconces. The full category is Wall Lamps.
