Entryway Wall Sconces

Well placed entryway wall sconces are the first light anyone sees on the way in and the last on the way out. A foyer rarely holds enough furniture to soften a blank wall, which is why a flanking pair reads more finished here than a single fixture. Every sconce on this page names the entryway or foyer.

How to choose entryway wall sconces

Decide first whether the wall gets one fixture or two. A pair on either side of a mirror or a console gives the entry a center and keeps shadow off a face at the mirror. A single sconce suits a narrow wall panel or the space beside a door, and it wants a wider backplate so it does not look stranded.

Then look at which way the shade points. An uplight washes the ceiling and makes a low foyer feel taller. A downlight drops a scallop onto the wall and over whatever sits on the console. A closed cylinder throws both ways and stays quiet, which suits an entry where the art or the door is meant to lead.

Mounting height and spacing for entryway wall sconces

The center of the backplate belongs between 66 and 72 inches off the finished floor, which puts the source near eye level for most adults. Flanking a mirror, set the pair 36 to 40 inches apart measured center to center, and hold both at the same height even where the mirror itself is off center. Above a console, leave at least 12 inches between the tabletop and the bottom of the fixture so a lamp, a tray or a bowl can share the surface without crowding.

How far apart should a flanking pair sit?

Thirty six to forty inches between centers around a standard mirror, and a little wider around a mirror over 30 inches across. Keep the gap symmetrical rather than matching the frame exactly, since the eye reads the two fixtures against each other first.

Do these fixtures need a junction box?

Yes, when hardwired. The box is set in the wall at the height you want, so the position has to be settled before the drywall closes or before an electrician cuts one in. Plug in models with a visible cord avoid that step and can move later.

You may also want Wall Sconces for Bedroom, Wall Sconces for Living Room, Bathroom Wall Sconces and Foyer Chandeliers. This page is part of Wall Lamps.