By now, we all know about the “big light.” Stylish and design-minded corners of the internet have spent the past few years collectively agreeing that harsh overhead lighting should be reserved for cleaning, looking for a lost AirPod or possibly conducting an interrogation. And they have a point. The best rooms are strategically lit, not overly illuminated. A table lamp glowing in one corner, a pendant hanging low over a table and, increasingly, a well-placed sconce throwing a soft pool of light across the wall. It’s warmer, more flattering and instantly makes a room feel a lot more designed.
Which is why we’re particularly into wall-mounted lights right now. Today’s coolest sconces feel less like fixtures and more like functional sculpture: pleated shades, opaque natural stone, polished metal and odd little forms that add something to a room even when they’re switched off. And there’s almost nowhere they don’t work. Mount one beside a sofa or above a desk, punctuate a long hallway, brighten an entryway or tuck some discreet lighting beneath kitchen cabinets. They take up virtually no space, add depth and intrigue and, once the sun goes down, create the kind of soft, sexy glow that ...