A Murano glass wall sconce does two jobs at once: it lights the room and it decorates the wall, even when it is switched off. Choosing the right one is mostly a question of three things: where it goes, how big it should be and which glass style suits your interior. Here is how we help our customers decide.
1. Where to hang a wall sconce
- Living room and hallway: a common guideline is to mount sconces so the light source sits at about eye level, roughly 150–170 cm from the floor. In a long corridor, space them every 2–3 metres for even light.
- Bedroom: beside the bed, mount the sconces a little lower, so the light falls on the pillow and not in your eyes when you sit up to read.
- Mirror or sideboard: place a pair on either side, slightly above the centre of the mirror, to light faces evenly.
- Bathroom: wet areas need fittings with a suitable IP rating. Ask us before ordering a sconce for a bathroom.
2. Choosing the size
Scale matters more than people expect. A small sconce on a large wall looks lost; a tall one in a narrow corridor can feel heavy. As a rough guide:
- Small (up to about 25 cm high): bedside walls, narrow hallways, either side of a mirror. For example our clear glass shell sconces, 12 x 24 cm.
- Medium (30–40 cm): living rooms, stairways and dining rooms, like our Poliedri sconce, 25 x 40 cm.
- Large and tall (50–80 cm): high ceilings, double-height entrances and large walls, like our 70 cm Triedri sconces or the 82 cm textured glass sconces.
3. The main Murano glass styles
Tronchi
Hand-blown glass tubes with a bark-like texture, hung side by side. Soft, warm and very versatile. See our Tronchi collection.
Triedri, Quadriedri and Poliedri
Faceted blocks of thick glass, cut into three-sided (triedri), four-sided (quadriedri) or many-sided (poliedri) shapes. The facets break the light into sharp reflections, giving a more architectural, mid-century look. Available in clear glass and colours such as pink, ginger and smoky.
Rostrato
Clear glass covered in rows of hand-pulled points that sparkle like ice. Read more about the Rostrato technique.
Shell and blown shapes
A single piece of hand-blown glass shaped like a shell or a cup, often in amber or clear glass on a brass frame. Simple, warm and ideal for bedrooms. See our amber shell sconces.
Glass bricks
Thick blocks of textured Murano glass in a polished brass frame, with a bold Space Age character. Our glass brick sconces come in amber, aquamarine or clear.
4. Clear or coloured glass?
Clear glass gives the brightest light and blends into any interior. Coloured glass gives a warmer, more atmospheric light: amber and ginger feel cosy, smoky and grey feel modern, pink adds softness. If the sconce is your main light source, choose clear; if it is mainly decorative, colour is a great way to add personality.
5. Practical details
- Single or pair: many of our sconces are sold as a set of two. Pairs look best placed symmetrically.
- Frame finish: brass for a warm, classic look; nickel for a cooler, contemporary one.
- Bulbs: most of our sconces take E12/E14 bulbs; the glass brick sconces take G9. Bulbs are not included.
- Wiring: we can wire for 110 V (US) or 220 V (EU).
See all wall sconces
Browse our full range of Murano glass wall sconces. Every piece is blown and assembled by hand in our workshop on the mainland of Venice and ships with our certificate of origin. Not sure which size fits your wall? Send us a photo at info@solocosebelle.it and we will help you choose.
