Our New Entry Wall Sconces

Lately, I have been craving less on our walls. It's part of the reason I added so much trim molding to our bedroom which not only looks great but is interesting enough that we don't need much else. Or the mural in the study. And the paneling in the family room. Adding interest to the walls themselves can lead to having to buy and add less to them. One of my favorite things to ask and consider are what things I can add into my home that make it not only function better, but makes you need less overall. Especially, what statement pieces could I make that would require less holes in the wall?

In the beginning of the year we had so much stuff in our entry. We had a credenza, and a rug that covered up the herringbone floors which deserve to be the real show stopper. I ended up purging quite a bit and instead, planned on a less is more approach. My new goal was simplicity to accentuate the space, not take away or distract from the beauty that is already there.

The entry leads into a long hallway and instead of adding a bunch of stuff to the walls that could make it feel cluttered and claustrophobic - I had a different idea. Maybe, I could get by with some wall trim and sconces - simple, yet effective.

Sconces | Pedestal Table | Vase | Branches | Marble Plate | Art | Round Rug | Chandelier | Doormat

Shop Our Entry

There was only one issue in the way of my less is more entryway plan. And that was the on/off light switch in the middle of the hallway. However, it was nothing an electrician couldn't handle. We ended up hiring one who came and moved the switch over and at the same time, ran electrical for 5 wall sconces--3 down the hall and one on either side of the entry door. We also added two outlets to the space: one in the curve of the stairs behind the entry table and one by the front door. Over the last year I can't tell you how often we wished we had those outlets. The electrical work was $1800--much more expensive than normal due to the sconces on either side of the front door being brick, creating a new three way switch and installing a new breaker. But we knew it would be money well spent in the long run. (In contrast, having the same electrician run the electrical for the picture light in our bedroom was $150.)

Then the next step was picking out which sconces to use. Because of the shaded candelabra in the living room that is right down the hallway and in direct view of the front door, I knew I didn't want to go with another shade or candle for the sconces. Yet, tucked to the right of the front door is the study, which houses one of my favorite features in this house - the bubble light chandelier. And I do love a nice subtle repeat throughout a house.

I ended up picking out one of my all time favorite sconces, which I also used in the office of our last house. I honestly loved it so much I wanted to get them again. These globe sconces subtly light up the whole hallway while maintaining that simplified - less is more look I wanted to go for.

And last week, the sconces finally arrived and 5 were added to the entryway. Two on either side of the front door, and then three to go down the long hallway.

My goal for the entryway is for someone to walk into our home and for it to feel beautiful, but also calm and I think the space is doing just that. (Here's a double take version of the sconces for a more budget-friendly option that are just as gorgeous!)

Now I'm itching to paint the back of the front door black, too and all the arched trim around it. I think it would add so much to the space! We also have plans to trim out this space to the nines. (The chair rail was here when we moved in.) But I can't tell you how much these sconces added while also simplifying the space as a whole. And, you know, lamp o' clock is even more magical. ;)