I don't have what I consider to be a sconce in this house- I think of sconces as being small versions of wall lights - but I do have armed wall fixtures over the windows in my kitchen. They are task light to the counter below as an option for not turning on all the surface mounts or the island pendants. I like using them specifically in the morning when it's still dark instead of turning on what I call the 'big guns' - it's a bit easier to wake up to less light! They are on their own switch. In previous houses I did have sconces and they were also on their own switch but they were more ambient lights, one set flanking French doors, the other set flanking a bay window.

Dame, sounds like you'd be a fan of wall lights (my term of sconces) everywhere then. My concern with them is they can't light center of rooms very well. And if I put a wall sconce on each wall say in a bedroom it may make the room seem interrupted. I like the look of some modern sconces. I prefer modern look over old brass swing arms which is what everyone pictures when they hear about a wall sconce or arm light. I'm looking at having 4 switches for just one room! Fan, Fan Light, Ambient ceiling light, Wall lights

On the main level we have 3 in the family room for ambient lighting and to light up some art work. We have one near the top of the stairs (and at one of of a hallway) and another one at the other end of the same hall, between 2 bedrooms to provide additional lighting on the stairs and in the hall. Leading to the finished basement, we have 1 near the top of the stairs, two on a wall near a bath room used for lighting that area, and two on another wall in the basement family room/media room for ambient lighting. We also have two for ambient light in the sitting area of our master. These two also light, and draw attention to a piece of artwork.

We have:

-a sconce in the family room over the sofa, so one can read there

(we do have central light there too, and a floor lamp on another side of the sectional, in case two people want to read there..))

-two sconces next/over the bed in the master. they're more our cental, ambient light, they're the ones that go on when one enters the room and turn on the switch. they're on the dimmer. For reading, we have lamps on the nightstands. For mood, we have a pendant in the corner-small sitting area(also on the dimmer). No central fixture since skylight.

-a sconce in our daughter's room-something that's called "wall chandelier"..it's kinda long..it's not hardwired unlike the other ones. She also has a desk light. No central fixture-skylight.

(I do love central fixtures, and incorporate them whenever possible)

all our lights(except for two that are not mentioned in that post) were bought second hand, so saved a lot of money on those. and we put on dimmers everything we could.

Can you tell by my post it's the first time in my life I actually bought lighting fixtures? (besides couple table and floor lamps during all the previous years)

Still excited, lol.

Ah..we have sconces in two of the bathrooms. The hall/kids one, and the powder room. Over the mirror type-narrow spaces

Don't have them in the master-not enough space, went with pendants. Enjoying them. Until the first earthquake I guess))

As for the style -I love both modern and traditional so I mix and match and have many different lights. The sconces though somehow leaned to be traditional. Of different traditions, yet still.

For me, sconces can go in a dining room, a hallway or an entry way. Maybe a bathroom if the situation were right. I'm not that big of a fan.

Many wall sconces, by definition, tend to be eye-catching and decorative. Thus, while some may be fitting for certain task lighting and/or ambient lighting (choose very carefully if this is the goal), their primary value is often as an accent light, i.e., a fixture which gives a pleasant "glow" in an interior space and "humanizes" it, making the space interesting.

Bathroom vanities are an example of where wall sconces may be used in all three modes of lighting: task, ambient and accent. Not so much elsewhere in the home.

none in my house. we default to a mix of recessed ceiling lights and lamps.

Ours are in our foyer. At our beach house we have them in the bathrooms.

I have antique ones; a pair of metal Art Deco ones, circa 1925 in our powder room, and a slightly newer set of porcelain ones in the master bath. I have another set of porcelain ones that I may use in the basement bathroom.

Those of you who have them in the bathroom, is it one on each side of the vanity/mirror? At what height?

Virgil, it seems a lot of them are meant for task or small area lighting and not whole room which is why I stayed away from them before because I am trying to keep things simple...but I do enjoy deviating from the normal routine and I think having some sconces would make the living room more cozy and add some light around the seating area in my case. How many would be the next question.

"... How many would be the next question..."

And the answer is...wait for it..."it depends!" :-) Depends on so many things, beginning with the design and type of sconce: is the light throw down, up, sideways or all of the above, or none of the above.

There are many, many kinds of sconces, just as with any other type of fixture. At the end of the day, one is left with a question or two: 1) Am I concerned about lighting something(s) specific, and; 2) Do I care if the fixture is visible, and/or is an "eye magnet"?

The answers to these questions will tend to answer "how many?" :-)

Vanity/mirror sconces in the bathroom are usually installed at the eye level. Often there is an additional attempt to make sure that the light source itself (the bulb) is at the eye level. That is about 66-72 inches, which of course may be adjusted from the guidelines if your family is particularly short or tall.

Wall sconces:

I will have one on either side of my fireplace wall.

I have 2 medicine cabinets in the master bath and will have 3 sconces there. I will have 2 sconces on either side of the mirror in the powder room. And finally I will have 2 sconces going up the wall in the stairwell.

I will have two in the stairwell going down to the basement as well as an overhead light.

I love the two wall scones I have on either side of my bed, above the headboard, and I'm planning to add this in my current build. In fact, I've already bought them, just have yet to measure and install. Each will operate independently of the other.

(I read myself to sleep a lot.)

If I could I would have put them everywhere!! I love them. I have them in the half bath, above the fireplace, one in each hallway, and one going up the stairs. I wish I would have put them on either side of my bed. I think they are so classy. I do not like overhead lighting. I also think they make for a more inviting atmosphere:)

First, most of the exterior of our house is lit by wall sconces. There are a few floods over the driveway/hangar ramp and some recessed cans in the overhang on the front door.

In the bathroom, the sconces are the primary illumination.

In the bedroom, while they aren't the ONLY source of illumination, they are the one that comes on when you turn on the switch at the door.

I've got some in the stair areas where they are the only illumination.

The TV room uses them for primary illumination though we don't want that room too bright.