Using swing arm sconces can be an unobtrusive way to light a room since the light can fold up against the wall when not in use. The first thing you may want to consider when shopping for this kind of light is ease of installation. These lights are available with cords or they can be permanently installed by an electrician. Swing arm sconces can be contemporary, styled with clean, sharp angles, or antique, with shades of linen and glass. They are available with different sized arms to illuminate large or small areas.
There are a number of contemporary looking swing arm sconces available. These fixtures come in brushed nickel or satin-nickel finishes and have clean, rectangular lines. Some may use halogen bulbs to provide a more intense light. One type of fixture holds two lights, set on a square back plate. This light features a large incandescent swing arm sconce with a cubed white shade combined with a smaller light-emitting diode (LED) fixture directly below it which can be moved to provide light to specific areas.
If you want an antique look, swing arm sconces are available with gunmetal nickel and oil-rubbed bronze finishes. There are different colored linen shades to choose from in colors like eggshell white, ocean blue, and wine red. If you want a light with a glass shade, you may want to look at sconces that feature Tiffany glass. Another type of sconce is designed with a train station in mind, featuring a clear glass, circular shade and a curved arm. There are also antique sconces that feature woven sea grass shades.
To illuminate a large area, you may want a swing arm sconce with a long arm. Since these arms fold up and extend out, the light can be adjusted to illuminate different parts of a room. If you need more of a concentrated spotlight, you can choose a light with a shorter arm placed closer to a desk or work area. For a small room, a sconce with short arms may offer enough light.
For installation, you may want a swing arm sconce that has a cord so that you do not need to permanently install it. These fixtures often come with accessories like color coordinated covers to camouflage the cord. If you don't want to see or deal with a cord, you will probably need to have the light installed by an electrician.