Frequently Asked Questions
"Wall light" is the umbrella term for any fixture mounted on a wall, while a sconce is a specific type of wall light that sits close to the wall and casts ambient or accent light. Other wall light types include arm lights — straight, curved, and gooseneck designs that extend the shade away from the wall — plus swing arm lights and picture lights. So every sconce is a wall light, but not every wall light is a sconce. This collection includes all of these families in one place.
This collection includes six wall light families: wall sconces, gooseneck lights, curved armed lights, straight arm lights, swing arm lights, and picture lights. Sconces provide close-to-wall ambient light; the three arm styles extend a shade outward to direct light down onto a surface; swing arm designs add adjustability; and picture lights mount above artwork to wash light across it. Shade styles range from compact cones and cylinders to industrial Warehouse and caged Vaportite designs, in finishes spanning classic neutrals to saturated color.
Adjustable wall lights work best beside a bed because you can angle the light for reading and push it aside when you don't need it. In this collection, the Martin adjustable sconces fill that role, and compact fixed sconces like the Jasmine, Jynx, and Nest suit bedside spots where a set position is fine. Mounting a light on the wall instead of using a lamp also frees the entire nightstand surface. Check each fixture's projection from the wall so it clears your headboard comfortably.
A gooseneck wall light extends its shade away from the wall on a curved arm, directing light downward — which makes it the traditional fixture for lighting what's below it: garage doors, entry doors, signs, storefronts, and porch areas. Indoors, goosenecks bring the same downward task lighting to kitchens, over open shelving, and in industrial-styled rooms. The curve of the arm is also a design feature in itself, giving the fixture a classic barn-light silhouette that reads well from the street.
Mount wall lights so the fixture sits near eye level for ambient sconces, and higher when the fixture's job is to throw light down onto a surface like a door or counter. The right height depends on the fixture's size, its light direction, and what's below it — a bedside sconce sits lower than a fixture over a garage door. Because designs in this collection vary from 3.5-inch sconces to 20-inch arm lights, use each product listing's dimensions to plan placement before installing.
Yes — the fixtures meet UL requirements and are labeled for Wet, Damp/Dry, or Dry location use, so the deciding step is matching the rating on a specific fixture's listing to your installation spot. An exposed exterior wall calls for a wet-location label; covered placements are less demanding. Arm-style and gooseneck fixtures are the traditional choices for exterior doorways, garages, and signage, and the wall lights are designed to wire directly to a standard 4-inch octagon junction box, which suits exterior mounting.