Buying Outdoor Wall Sconces: A Detailed Guide
August 6, 2024
August 6, 2024
They’re practical fixtures that save space and clutter and complement the exterior of your home. Plus, with the right design and type of wall sconce, they can stay relevant and subtly balance the ambiance of your garden, hallway, patio, or walkway in any season.
However, selecting the right one requires knowledge of type, power, installation placement, and more.
Dive in with us below as we explore everything you need to know about outdoor wall sconces.
Before discussing which wall sconces to select and where to install them, let’s quickly recap what they are first.
Wall sconces are light fixtures mounted on a wall. They provide subtle illumination to a piece of artwork or an area of a room. The lighting emitted from a wall sconce is either diffused or shaded to provide a functional form of lighting.
They provide sufficient lighting without glaring or angling your head. Wall sconces are versatile (they can be installed on many types of walls), space-saving, and decorative.
Outdoor wall sconces are exactly that, but they are more suited for the outdoors. They’re weather-resistant and can withstand many types of elements. They can add an extra layer of security to your home and provide safety to you and visitors with illumination around the area.
On average, outdoor wall sconces can last between 700-2,000 hours before a bulb needs to be replaced. However, if the lights in the fixture are LED, they will exceed this duration, lasting up to 50,000 hours.
When looking for outdoor wall sconces, there are a few out there to select from; here are some of the most popular types:
Similar to hand-held lanterns, these wall sconces have a unique charm. Installed outdoors, they give your property a rustic and archaic look, adding an impression of historical value. Due to their stylish look, they’re more suited to older residences, farmhouses, and industrial-style buildings.
Pro Tip: Ember is a fixture that is not quite a lantern, but it bears a similar resemblance to a lantern style. This outdoor wall sconce has a sleek, minimal cube with a sleek, warm white bulb throughout the middle of the fixture. Made from high-quality stainless steel and available in both solar and non-solar models, it’s an ideal fixture that provides a refined aesthetic.
Flush mount outdoor wall sconces are space-saving fixtures that are directly mounted to your wall outside. As they’re mounted directly onto the wall, these fixtures are highly beneficial for outdoor areas of your home, saving accumulation of dust or debris and making them easy to clean. Many are made from metal and glass; these fixtures often have durable finishes that withstand different environmental conditions.
Pro Tip: Harlow is a modern outdoor sconce that saves space and is directly installed onto your wall. This LED outdoor wall sconce reduces the accumulation of dust and dirt, being easy to clean throughout the year. Made from glass and stainless steel, it’s long-lasting and can withstand many different types of weather, holding an IP65 weather resistant.
Up-and-down wall sconces emit light in an up-and-down direction. As they shine light in two directions, they’re great for subtly highlighting the architectural features of your home and walkways.
Pro Tip: Dawn is a perfect example of an up-and-down outdoor wall sconce. With the option of selecting solar-powered or non-solar power, Dawn effortlessly adds downward illumination to plants and walkways and upward illumination to ceilings and artwork.
If you’re looking for an up-and-down fixture that provides more than a functional purpose, installing multiple Dawns onto a feature wall can be great for decoration.
If you’re looking for a practical yet aesthetically pleasing light, you might be interested in a barn light. These wall sconces tend to be wide, providing a broad illumination similar to that of a fixture in a barn.
Many of these fixtures have a gooseneck arm that is curved or angled, extending from the wall, which can be adjustable. Barn lights can be either rustic or modern, effortlessly complementing a range of architectural styles depending on the type you choose.
Pro Tip: Brooklyn is an outdoor wall sconce similar to barn lights. Great for positioning above a door, window, or table, it provides a soft, warm spotlight-style glow. Made from high-quality glass, stainless steel, an LED light band, and waterproof material, this fixture can easily withstand different elements.
Referring to their name, industrial outdoor wall sconces provide a vintage and factory-style look. Due to their industrial appearance, they tend to make a strong statement and focus on simple aesthetics. Their rugged and functional aesthetic is often made of metal, glass, or wood. Industrial outdoor wall sconces also come in a range of finishes, including bronze, black, steel, copper, and more.
Pro Tip: Brook is a great example of an industrial outdoor wall sconce. It’s sleek and minimal yet has a contemporary industrial-like black finish that blends in with many types of residential and commercial architecture.
Fern is also an industrial-style fixture. Made from aluminum with a large LED strip visible from three sides and featuring a layered casing, it emits a strong illumination and ambience to a hallway or outdoor dining area.
This type of wall sconce is sleek and minimal, balancing your home and the natural elements outdoors. Modern wall sconces don’t have a specific shape; however, they tend to be more symmetrical and have a black finish, enhancing your outdoor space.
Pro Tip: Falcon is one modern outdoor wall sconce that adds elegance to any outdoor setting. It works well when installed as a pair on either side of a door, window, or garage.
Coming in two styles, you can opt for one functional light upwards, or Style B has an up-and-down light. Long lasting with LED bulbs and certified IP65 Weather Resistant & Anti-Rust, these fixtures are fantastic for any outdoor setting.
Haven is also a commanding fixture available in solar and solar models. At 26 inches in height, it effortlessly draws attention to key areas of your home, such as doors, steps, and windows, allowing for easy access.
A candle outdoor sconce is similar to a lantern-style outdoor wall sconce. These wall-mounted fixtures are made to hold candles or artificial ones. They’re practical and provide ambient lighting, setting the tone for the evening and making them ideal for gardens and walkways.
These types of outdoor wall sconces resemble a half-moon. They tend to have a crescent or semi-circle shape. They tend to be made from metal, glass, steel, or ceramic with adjustable arms or swivels. They’re great for illuminating patios, walkways, and hallways.
In addition to styles, outdoor wall sconces come with various power sources. Here are some of the most common ones:
These wall sconces usually have a switch and are connected to your home's electrical system. The switch for these lights can be indoors or outdoors, providing a consistent, bright, and long-lasting form of illumination. However, to reduce electricity costs and save energy, it's best to look for hardwired fixtures with bulbs or timers.
If you live in a sunny area, solar-powered outdoor wall sconces may be beneficial for you. As their name suggests, they depend on sunlight, converting it into electricity stored in the batteries for use at night. Solar-powered fixtures often have minimal wiring, are easy to install, and depend on effective weather.
These wall sconces have batteries, allowing you to install them and reposition them when needed. As they're battery-powered, they're versatile fixtures for different types of outdoor environments, meaning you can move them from the hallway to the garden.
If you're looking to purchase outdoor wall sconces for your garden, pay attention to the following first:
A good rule for finding the right height for outdoor wall sconces is keeping them at eye level, above shoulder height. This level allows for sufficient illumination to enhance the outdoor area of your home. Also, it acts as a functional benefit, helping you with simple tasks like unlocking the door or knowing the right direction to walk along a path. Install your sconce in proportion to the height of your door and windows.
Aim to install your outdoor wall sconce in an area safe from harsh weather. Ideally, your sconce should be protected from exposure to snow, rain, and the damp regions unless it's a fixture specifically made to withstand such weather.
Another major factor when placing your outdoor wall sconces is to pay attention to your overall aesthetic. In addition to providing sufficient lighting, they should also balance and complement your home's architectural style.
One of the most obvious factors is to install the wall sconces in areas that require specific types of lighting. For example, if your walkways or entrances aren't well-lit, you may need bright wall sconces to help illuminate them.
There are a few factors that you should take into account before buying an outdoor wall sconce, such as:
Overall, when looking for outdoor wall sconces, you must always factor in considerations such as design, function, power source, and proportion to other areas of your home. Outdoor wall sconces can enhance safety, provide security, and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your garden, porch, and entryway.
They also take up little space outdoors, free up clutter, and most can withstand different types of weather. Compared to other fixtures, they tend to have a long lifespan, and if you select ones with LED bulbs, they're light to be cost-effective, too.
To gain more inspiration, check out our guide on minimalistic wall scones and browse our wide range of outdoor fixtures.