Ceramic Wall Sconces

Ceramic Wall Sconces: Glazed Shades With a Soft, Tactile Glow

Ceramic is the material you want to touch. Smooth, slightly irregular, cool in the hand and warm in the eye, it brings the feel of a favorite bowl or vase to a light. A ceramic wall sconce works best in rooms that value softness over shine: bedrooms, reading corners, quiet hallways and cozy dining nooks.

Our ceramic collection is deliberately small, with four designs that combine ceramic with brass, wood or travertine. They include a brass swing arm with a ceramic shade, a ceramic sunflower, a travertine up-down design, and a walnut swing arm that plugs in. Small does not mean limited: each is a distinct personality.

What Ceramic Does to Light

Unlike glass, ceramic is opaque unless it is thin porcelain. A ceramic shade therefore holds the light inside and sends it out through the opening, usually down or up the wall. The result is a directional pool of light with a gentle falloff, perfect for reading or for lighting a bedside table without lighting the whole room. Where the shade is glazed on the inside in white or cream, it reflects more light, so the beam feels brighter than a dark interior would.

The outside of the shade is where the personality lives. Glazes range from glossy to matte, and many have tiny variations in color, which look like soft cloud patterns on the surface. Because ceramic is made in batches and fired, expect slight differences between two sconces of the same model.

Which Rooms Suit a Ceramic Sconce?

All four designs are tagged for bedrooms, which is the ideal home for a directed pool of light. Two also suit hallways and living rooms, and others fit a stairway, dining room or kitchen. In the kitchen, a ceramic shade is easy to wipe and goes well with open shelves of dishes, as long as it is kept away from the direct splash of the sink and from a cooking steam plume.

• Bedside: a swing arm lets you move the shade over the pillow or tuck it back against the wall. See also swing arm wall sconces.
• Reading nook: mount at about 55 to 60 inches from the floor when you read seated.
• Hallway: use one sconce every 6 to 8 feet for a gallery rhythm.

Plug-In or Hardwired?

Three of the four are hardwired, which means they connect to a junction box in the wall. One is plug-in, which makes it a good choice for rentals, since you can hang it on a hook or bracket and tuck the cord along the wall. If you rent and want a cord-free alternative, battery models exist too; our battery operated wall sconces and the accompanying buying guide explain the trade-offs.

The bulb bases in this group are two E26 standard bases, one integrated LED and one G9. Always read the product page for the exact bulb type and maximum wattage before you buy replacement bulbs.

Choosing the Right Color Temperature

Ceramic glazes look best in warm light, so keep ceramic away from steam and direct sink splashes. Use 2700 K bulbs for cream, white and earth-tone glazes; they preserve the creaminess. Brighter 3000 K can suit a kitchen or office. A cool 5000 K bulb is not the right match, since it can make a white glaze look grey and slightly clinical. If you are comparing tones, our guide to soft white vs warm white shows the difference.

Caring for Ceramic Shades

Caring for ceramic is easy. After switching off and letting the bulb cool, wipe the shade with a soft cloth dampened with water and a touch of mild soap, then dry. Avoid scouring powders and abrasive pads, which can dull the glaze. Because ceramic can chip, treat shades gently when you remove them to change a bulb, and keep a hand under the shade as you lift it.

Metal parts such as the brass arm or backplate need a dry cloth only. Do not spray anything onto the fixture; spray the cloth instead.

Combining Ceramic With Other Materials

Ceramic loves brass, which adds a glint to a matte glaze, and wood, which echoes its soft, tactile surface. It also contrasts nicely with travertine and plaster, so a ceramic sconce on a limewashed wall looks as if it has always been there. For a metal accent, see our brass wall sconces, and for an organic cousin, wood wall sconces.

Installation Basics

For hardwired designs, switch off the breaker, use a tester, and connect to a junction box; call a licensed electrician if you are not comfortable. Ceramic shades add weight, so tighten the mounting screws well. For the plug-in model, check that the cord reaches the outlet without being stretched, and keep it clear of the bed and walkways. Our guide on replacing a light fixture walks through the process.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Expecting a ceramic shade to give broad, even light; it is directional.
• Using a high-wattage bulb in a small enclosed shade.
• Mounting a plug-in sconce so the cord hangs as a visible loop.
• Cleaning glazed shades with abrasive products.

FAQ: Ceramic Wall Sconces

What are wall sconces?

Wall sconces are lights mounted on the wall, used for ambient, accent or task lighting. Ours come in hardwired, plug-in and battery versions.

What is a wall sconce?

It is a fixture fixed to a wall at about eye level or higher. A longer overview is in our what is a wall sconce guide.

What is a sconce light fixture?

It is the whole unit, including the wall plate, arm, shade and bulb or LED.

Is ceramic safe near a bulb?

Ceramic tolerates heat well, but you should still follow the maximum wattage on the product page and prefer LED bulbs.

Can a ceramic sconce go in the kitchen?

Yes, away from sink splashes and cooking steam. Wipe the shade with a damp cloth when needed.

Does glaze color change the light?

Yes. A white or cream interior reflects more light, while a dark glaze absorbs more and gives a dimmer, moodier effect.

Explore More Wall Sconces

If ceramic is your texture, look at travertine and stone wall sconces for a more mineral feel, or glass wall sconces for a lighter, brighter option. For ornate styling, step over to crystal wall sconces.

When you want a wider view of the range, visit all wall sconces or use bedroom wall sconces to see other bedside options.

Why Ceramic at Aftensol

Aftensol curates evening light for the home. The ceramic edit is small so each piece can be described properly: materials, bulb base, power type and size are on every product page.

Keep exploring: vintage wall sconces · dimmable wall sconces · hallway wall sconces