Wherever you place the sconce, make sure the on/off switch is accessible from the bed without reaching. Our favorite place changed to bedside sconces last summer and the switch cannot be reached from bed without sitting on the edge of the bed and stretching half a mile! It’s absurd and infuriating.

I sorta like the look of the art over the cord in your pic, but make sure one can access the switch without having to get out of bed—or knocking the art on the cord askew!

edited for typos!

Sheeshie, thank you so much! I hadn’t even thought of that! Great advice, I’ll for sure keep that in mind.

Also make sure that when a person is in a natural reading position in bed, that you don't see the exposed bulb out of the corner of your eye. (I find this annoying anyway). You may not be able to avoid seeing the bulb complete with a flared shade like that, but it seems to be more bothersome when reading, to me.

I love the idea of the art over the cord! I am going to copy it. How tall is the textile art over the bed? I think that might need to be factored in.

Thank you, pal! That’s another great point. It’s hard to tell just seeing pics of a sconce (and they don’t allow returns), so something I need to keep in mind. I totally agree with you — I don’t like exposed or glaring bulbs!

On another note, I stockpile incandescents bulbs, and will use one of those instead of LED. :)

It’s a bit of a challenge with my higher headboard; I might not be able to use that particular sconce and the art-on-cord idea.

Thanks, friday! I might end up moving my large macrame (it goes almost to the ceiling), and just finding a piece of art for over the bed. You know we love our art!

This room is a mix of cottage, traditional, mid-century, etc … with a Mexican pine nightstand, Jamaican textile art, horse art, brass horse head ring (we had it in our barn growing up), southwestern throw rug, Mexican pottery, etc. Almost everything is vintage. All that to say that a wide variety of sconces would work.

I’m glad I posted, you’re all pointing out things I didn’t consider! I’m very grateful!

In case the cord on your lamp doesn’t look the way you prefer, I was happily surprised to see that there are many fabric covered cords available.

You may have already been aware because you are designy- smart.

Hi Jilly,

I’ve been looking at placement info b/c I have new rechargeable sconces for above the FP mantel. The suggested height seemed too high and renders the bulb exposed as well, so I’m going to wing it!

For next to the bed they say 30” - 36” above the mattress for the top. Maybe that’s too high too, since the recommendation is from the same place?

I’ll add pics once they are up…

Lisaam, thank you! I used to have silk cord covers for a couple of lamps in my old house, but didn’t think of them for this situation … I’m glad you reminded me!

Ninasmom, thank you for those measurements! Can’t wait to see your pics. I’ve become sconce-obsessed recently. :D

Hi Jilly, as you are aware I am also looking at sconces. It’s really specific because bed height, mattress height impact this.

I have on my to do list to have dh sit in bed with a book while I measure.

I appreciate you starting this thread, great tips here!

Thanks, local, my sconce sister! :D

Can’t wait to see updates of your room! I love the quirkiness of it, mine is just a box.

Like the idea. Can't wait to see how yours looks.

Thanks, Fun!

Hmm, my post is awol.

Will try again tmrw.

Searched and this makes sense I think, but all things considered and personal preference might prevail : )

"Place the wall sconces at a height where the center of the lampshade is at eye level when you are seated or lying in your bed. This provides optimal lighting for reading or any other activities in bed."

Arapaho, thank you! That’s helpful and makes sense.

I’m so glad I asked because every one of you has given me (who loves form over function) something to think about!

I'm in love with your new sconce selection. Fantastic. And way to go with stealing a great idea from AD.

I have plug in scocnes in our bedroom. I followed all of the rules and advice, and even tried having my husband hold them at different heights. Where they ended up still feels wrong. Like they are overhead and the bulb is glaring. So my rule of thumb is think of where a bulb is in a bedside lamp and hang the sconce so the bulb is at that same level. It is probably too low, but will actually be a great height for reading in bed.

Thanks, Kendrah! It’s very helpful to hear of your experience.

I saw this on IG tonight, and although super charming in looks I thought it seemed way too low, but maybe not …

I so want to do the art-over-cord thing, but have to weigh if it will function best. I so appreciate everyone brainstorming with me!

I like the lamp (and the horse print), but how wide is the shade? In fear of buying a sconce that is too big, I would find table first. Then I would know whereabouts print would hang and find suitable sconce. Not saying yours isn't suitable, but I don't know the measurements.

In our rental house, the secondary bedrooms are small. In the twin bedroom, for the bed on the far side of the room, I used a garden stool/table that someone placed on the curb across from my sister's house. It's mate is on the side patio. It's low and you cannot even see it when in the room, but it's there for cell phone charging, a book or water, etc. Using something out of the ordinary and interesting can still be useful, and leave room for sconce and art.

Allison, thank you! Funny, I’ve been keeping my eye out for a plant stand or other unique piece to use as a table. We browse antique stores, estate sales, etc and I look online. When I move things around in our sitting room at Christmas (for the tree), I put my live edge cedar side table in there and it works well, even though it’s lower than a normal nightstand.

Here is the link to the sconce:

https://magnolia.com/shop/product/7389276667955/odette-swivel-plug-in-sconce/

The shade is 15.5” in diameter, so pretty big. I’ll do some measuring later in the room and maybe try to fashion something similar out of paper or cardboard and tape it up to get an idea. I really wish I could see it in person!

PS: When it’s light out, I’ll take some pics of other horsey things in the room to show you. :)

PPS: I just remembered that one Christmas, I moved my sitting room floor lamp with 15” shade to that side of the bed until our tree was gone (we weren’t having guests that year) and it wasn’t too big at all. But I just don’t want the sconce to look squeezed in and not balanced well with everything else.

That’s a huge size shade for a wall-mounted, swing arm bedside light. I’ve had them in several bedrooms over the years and that diameter shade would not have worked in any of the settings. Reading light is best when it illuminates from over the reader’s shoulder; if that is the intended purpose you may want to sit on the bed and determine the light placement on the wall by having your DH shine a flashlight from various spots (or vice versa). If the main purpose of the light is to illuminate the table contents a shade that large or larger will obviously work well mounted over the table with no swing to the arm.

Thank you, Ks! That’s a great idea to use a flashlight to test lighting.

The Magnolia sconce does swivel, but I’d keep it front facing. I think I’m more concerned with just lighting the table-to-be (and ambient light on that side of the room) than for reading, but all three purposes would be ideal.

I’m going to keep looking at a variety of sconces. DH likes the looks of my fav, but said he’d prefer something with a longer swing arm and smaller shade.

I love the look of sconces beside a bed. I had sconces beside the bed once. I hated those sconces beside the bed. I put them at what I thought was a normal height, but whenever I tried to read in bed, the light shone in my eyes. It was horrible. I’ve never tried again. My advice is hang them way lower than you think is necessary.

Thank you, bb! I think I do need to go lower than what I was originally thinking.

Paintable stick on-the-wall cord covers are also an option. These puctures are from the Room for Tuesday blogger site. To me, the lamps + the sconces are overkill, but to each their own.

Ratherbesewing, thank you! I’ve never seen those covers before, neat idea!

Grace, thank you for sharing! Your room looks so lovely and cozy, I just want to settle in with a cup of tea and good book. :)

Happy Spring to you, too! 🌷