Sconce Dilemma in Foyer

2 months ago

last modified: 2 months ago

Hello!

Our house was built in 1993 and has a very traditional style. We're in the process of doing some updates (new flooring, lighting, stair runner, etc), and I'm currently stuck on the lighting decisions! We're wanting our home to look brighter and more updated, but still looking to keep a smidge of the traditional style.

I'm looking for some help with sconces (and sconce placement) for our foyer.

The first picture below is of our foyer/staircase before we painted (the colour on our wall right now is BM White Dove. You'll notice there are 3 sconces in total (2 around office doors and 1 on a wall across from the staircase). The width of our foyer hallway going into the living room/kitchen is around 46.5" and the length of that wall is around 71". I should also note that we have already ordered the Mitzi Bailey 15light Chandelier in aged brass for our foyer. https://www.mitzi.com/Product/H516815-AGB

Personally I feel I have 3 placement options to choose from in the foyer area:

a) 2 sconces around the office door, and a different sconce on the blank wall. I was thinking the sconce on the blank wall should be a little larger than the other two, and also not have a large extension depth since our hallway isn't overly wide. My dilemma: I feel like this won't add much to the space (while our foyer has very tall ceilings, there's a lot of doors and also not much floor space which means not many options for us to add in decor, etc, and I guess I'm just trying to make the most of blank wall space).

b) 2 sconces around the office door, and add a large picture with an art light above it on the blank wall. My dilemma: even though the light is now higher, would it still stick off too much for our hallway, and would it give off enough light?

c) 2 sconces around the office door, and add a large picture with two sconces (one on each side). You can see my mockup in the picture attached (feel free to laugh, it was all I could work with

!!!). This would involve adding another lighting box and moving the other. Based on my mockup, each sconce is about 11" from the end of the wall, and they would be around 8" from the picture. My dilemma: would this be too much for this smaller space (too much light, too cramped?). Also, if I went this route, I would now have 4 sconces. Should I do 4 of the same sconces since it's in the same area, or would doing 2 different ones add more interest to the space?

*I'm liking the Mitzi Olivia wall sconce but, again, I'm not sure where/how to incorporate that one.

https://mitzi.com/Product/H223101-AGB

*I should also note that I'm needing to update the 5 sconces in our upstairs hallway/area. (I would like to do something a little different upstairs).

*I'm also trying to keep in mind that I want to balance the space as best as I can, and not end in a result that looks too "fancy" or traditional!

Any suggestions would be very appreciated! :)

Thanks!

Featured Answer

PRO

BeverlyFLADeziner

2 months ago

Not all the sconces need to match

I would consider lamp/sconces for the two on the wall where the console table could be place.

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Comments (12)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 months ago
I do not like sconces for actual lighting so IMO a nice ceiling mounted light above that space would be my choice . It looks to be a narrow hallways so anything sicking out past the wall makes it seem even narrower the whole area there looks crammed to me.
Lyn Nielson
2 months ago
Lighting makes the space!

as far as sconce options, I prefer an up/down light to wash the wall... all the same style.

in my case, I chose a simple white box light to blend in with the wall color.

I do not like to look into a bare bulb when passing by the light.

Love a picture light on important art features.
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Can you post a pic?
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Ok then you can use an entry fixture about 18” round or square and you can go taller if you find great fixture. Options will depend on budget of course. You will want all 3 areas to play well together. You could use a semi-flush fixture in piano room with aged brass and black detailing. A bit of more casual look for that room. With your ceiling height in entry you could go higher for some drama if you wish. What is ceiling height in piano room? Pretty home.
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Renee D
Original Author
2 months ago
@Patricia Colwell Consulting Thanks for your response! The only place the mounted light could go in that hallway is right under the bump out from the stairs, and it's a small triangle shape. I'm not really wanting to draw attention to that area, and since there was already a sconce previously on that wall, I figured it just made the most sense to do another sconce(s).
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PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
2 months ago
IMO a brass fixtue is not the right way to go.
Renee D
Original Author
2 months ago
@BeverlyFLADeziner Thanks so much for taking the time out and showing me those ideas. It certainly helps to visualize it. A designer came into our home a year ago and she advised us to go with brass (since our floor will be much lighter and our stair runner will be differently), but I have to admit I'm second guessing that decision after seeing your pictures....and that's not great since I ordered the chandelier a few days ago!! Eeeeek!!!

Would you have any suggestions on the wall sconce placement dilemma and the type of wall sconces themselves?
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Renee D
Original Author
2 months ago
@BeverlyFLADeziner Gosh you're good!!!

I had the console table next to the stairs just trying to play around with different ideas (as you can tell, we're currently in a disaster stage with our house!!!). I'm really trying to add more colour and decor to our foyer, but I'm extremely limited with options since space is limited/awkward and there's so many doors in the foyer. While I would love to have a table in the hallway with a picture and sconces above it, the hallway isnt overly wide and I'm thinking it will look too cramped. The width of our hallway going into the living room/kitchen is around 46.5" and the length of that wall is around 71". So I was leaning towards just doing a picture and two sconces instead (and even then I'm questioning if it would still look like there's too much for that space).

I like the idea of doing two sets of different sconces; one around the picture on that wall across from the stairs, and another set around the office doors. I do love the sconces you sent, but I'm struggling then to find another set that would be different, but yet still cohesive. I also want to update the sconces upstairs (there's 5 of them), and knowing I'd like to do different sconces upstairs is throwing me off even more!! :)

Also, is it seems you still think black or bronze is the way to go with the sconce lighting?
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PRO
Home Interiors with Ease
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
I think you need sconces going up the staircase large enough to really make a statement it is such a big high wall it is screaming for them…...and no sconces in the lower foyer hallway..seems to much is going on with all the doors…I would add amazing wall art with picture lights instead of sconces…we added two large brass visual comfort sconces going up our curved staircase wall and just love it..I think it would really be gorgeous with your new chandelier.….then add the smaller sconces you like in the upper hallway.
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PRO
Home Interiors with Ease
2 months ago
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Renee D
Original Author
2 months ago
@Home Interiors with Ease Thanks for your suggestions!

I definitely agree that the large wall going up the stairs need some attention. We had been talking about doing paneling/ wainscoting at some point, but I didn't really consider sconces on that wall since there were none there previously (or maybe I tried to save the hubby from more work!). I was just trying to focus on where there were already wall sconces on the main floor of the foyer, but I think it's something I'll keep in mind for sure though.

And I get what you're saying about the foyer looking like there's a bit going on with all the sconces and doors, but I do like having some sconces on that main floor, especially at night when we turn the chandelier light off....everything looks and feels so cozy from the sconce lighting.

I'm starting to get overwhelmed with figuring out the lighting for the foyer and upstairs! I definitely thought this would be the easy part, but it seems the more I look into the sconce placement, the more I'm opening up a can of worms!! :)
PRO
Galilee Lighting
2 months ago
Good afternoon @Renee D

Here is a sconce idea that would fit perfectly with your space:

Snow Light Sconces

For more ideas can head over to www.galileelighting.com

Any questions feel free to email me at support@galileelighting.com

Hope this helps! Have a good rest of the week!
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PRO
Douglah Designs
last month
Our recommendation would be to look at updating the chandelier in the stairway/entryway and then look at getting some sconces to match the new chandelier. It looks like you might not actually need that many sconces, but if you already have the room/placement for them, then look at some that will compliment the chandelier you end up getting.
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