Hardwired Wall Sconces

Hardwired wall sconces connect straight to the wiring behind the plaster, so nothing shows except the fixture. That is the finished look most people picture when they think of a sconce, and it is the version that can run from a switch by the door instead of a visible cord.

How to choose hardwired wall sconces

Begin with the wall, not the design. A fixture in this group needs a junction box behind it. In new construction or an open stud bay that box goes exactly where you want the light. In a finished wall it means cutting drywall, fishing cable and fitting a remodel box, which is electrician work in most of the United States.

Then think about the switch. The advantage of a permanent connection is that the fitting can join a wall switch on the way into the room, or a three way pair at either end of a hallway. Decide which switch controls it before the wiring is run, because changing that later means opening the wall a second time.

Only then look at shape and finish. Check that the backplate is wide enough to cover the box opening, since a plate narrower than the cutout leaves a gap that has to be patched. If the wall has no box where the light belongs, the plug in and rechargeable ranges solve the same problem without touching the plaster.

What installing hardwired wall sconces involves

The parts list is short, and every item on it is decided before the fixture arrives.

• Junction box: fixed to a stud, or a remodel box clamped into the drywall.
• Backplate: should fully cover the box opening; compare the two diameters.
• Box height: set at the mounting height you want, commonly 60 to 66 inches from the floor.
• Control: a wall switch, and a dimmer only where the product page states the fixture accepts one.

Kill the circuit at the breaker and test the wires before anything is opened. Local electrical rules vary by state and municipality, and in many places this work is inspected, so a licensed electrician is the straightforward route in an existing wall.

Questions about permanent sconce wiring

Can one be fitted where there is no box?

Not directly. A box has to be added first, which means opening the wall to fish cable from a nearby circuit. Where that is not practical, a plug in fixture with a cord cover or a rechargeable body mounted on a plate gives the same position without new wiring.

Will these work with a dimmer?

Only where the specifications say so. An integrated LED carries its own driver, and not every driver pairs with every wall dimmer. Check the product page against the control already on your wall, and note whether it calls for a forward phase or reverse phase type beforehand.

Are they suitable in a rented apartment?

Usually not without permission, since the work alters the wiring and leaves a box behind. Tenants are better served by a plug in or rechargeable fitting, which mounts with two screws or an adhesive plate and comes off the wall without a patch.

You may also want Plug In Wall Sconces, Rechargeable Wall Sconces, LED Wall Sconces and Dimmable Wall Sconces. This page is part of Wall Lamps.