Nordic Wooden Pleated Shade Wall Sconce

The pleated shade came back for a reason. Folded fabric catches light along every ridge, so the shade itself becomes textured and warm rather than a flat surface, and the light that comes through it is softened twice over. Against a plain wall the effect is quietly old-fashioned in the best sense.

Here it sits on a wooden arm rather than a brass one, which keeps the fitting on the Nordic side of retro rather than the Victorian side. The arm holds the shade far enough off the wall to light a book properly, which is the practical test any bedside sconce has to pass.

Mounting the light on the wall instead of the table is the real gain in a small bedroom, where a table lamp competes with a glass of water, a phone and whatever you are reading. Fabric shades and heat do not mix, so use a low-wattage warm LED rather than an incandescent bulb. This is a hardwired fitting: isolate the circuit at the breaker panel first, and use a qualified electrician if you are not confident with house wiring.

• Pleated fabric shade for warm, twice-softened light
• Wooden arm holds the shade clear of the wall
• Frees bedside table space entirely
• Use a low-wattage warm LED bulb (not included)
• Hardwired fitting: installation by a qualified electrician, who should confirm the fixture's rated voltage before wiring