Sconces
Everybody loves to visit a nice hotel, where the rooms are nice and the ambience is soothing and relaxing. However, we seldom think of the work that has to be done in order to achieve the look and the feeling that an area gives.
For example, when we go to a room, we usually have to walk through a corridor or hall. Good hotels make sure that this small walk is inviting and gives us a small taste of the beauty and comfort that waits for us in our rooms.
One of the ways that interior decorators achieve this effect is by using sconces, instead of ceiling lamps or bulbs. Despite the fact that both of them are used to light the hall, there are two main differences between them that give them different qualities.
First of all, sconces are based and supported on the walls, rather than the ceiling. The effect is to have the guests something to look at without having to turn their heads up. Sconces usually match the style of the hotel, and they are nice to look at while one is walking. This makes a hall more interesting than it would be if there were nothing to look at. In addition, unlike other objects, since sconces provide light, they always seem like they belong there.
Secondly, sconces never give direct light to the guests. They usually shoot their light upwards to the ceiling, but sometimes they also shoot it down to the floor. The lighting of the hall is actually done by the reflection of the light on the ceiling and on the walls. Direct light would bother the guests’ eyes. By avoiding it, they can look at the sconces without having to cover their eyes.
Finally, in order for sconces to look good, they not only need to match the style of the hotel and the hall. They must also feel proportionate to the hall they’re illuminating. The best way to do this is by following some simple rules. First of all, they should be placed at 3/4 of the distance between the floor and the ceiling. So, if the hall is 10 feet tall, the sconces should be placed at 7.5 feet.
Secondly, the horizontal distance between sconces should be the same. In this case, 7.5 feet. However, keeping this distance is a bit more difficult, since there might be doors or columns that get in the way. In addition, the electrical setting might not allow it. It is ok to make this distance shorter or longer, as long as it is kept the same through the hall. Having the second set of sconces 5 feet apart from the first one, and then the third one 8 feet apart from the second one will make the hall seem uneven and badly planned.
