Scandinavian Wall Sconces

Scandinavian wall sconces carry a room without crowding the wall. The tradition behind them is one of long winters, so the light is warm and diffused rather than bright and direct. Pale wood, white shades and soft brass run through the whole group, and each fixture names a Scandinavian or Nordic style in its specifications.

How to choose scandinavian wall sconces

Start with what the fixture has to do on that wall. A flush disc or a half-dome in opal glass gives a broad wash and almost no glare, which suits a hallway or a landing. An arm with a small conical shade points light where you need it, which reads as a reading fitting beside a bed. A shade in paper or linen sits between the two and softens the whole wall.

Then look at the wall itself. These fixtures were made for off-white paint, light floors and rooms with very little else hanging up, so a pair either side of a headboard, or one fitting on a bare landing wall, is the right density. Two sconces on a busy gallery wall fight the pictures instead of lighting them.

Materials and finishes in scandinavian wall sconces

Ash, oak and beech are the common timbers, and each shifts slightly in daylight over a few years. White powder-coated steel keeps its color and wipes clean, which makes it easier on a corridor wall people brush past. Unlacquered brass shifts toward a duller gold as it ages and can be brought back with a metal polish, while lacquered brass holds its original tone. Opal glass hides the bulb entirely and is the finish to choose where the fixture sits at eye level.

What wall color suits these fixtures?

Off-white, chalk and pale grey do the most for them, because the warm shade tone stands out against a cool wall. They also work on deep green or muted blue, where pale wood and white glass read as a lighter mark. Very dark walls absorb the wash and need a second layer of light.

Do diffused sconces give enough light?

For ambient light in a bedroom, hallway or landing, yes. A diffused shade spreads a lower level across a wider area, so the room feels lit without a bright point anywhere. For reading, choose an arm-mounted model with a directional shade or add a table lamp beside the chair.

Related pages: Modern Wall Sconces, Mid Century Modern Wall Sconces, Art Deco Wall Sconces and Scandinavian Pendant Lights. The full category is Wall Lamps.