Hardwired Wall Sconces

A hardwired LED wall sconce connects to the electrical point on your wall and runs on 110–220 V household mains. BACKHOME hardwired sconces need no bulb, adaptor or batteries and suit lights that stay on for hours every evening, which is why we recommend them for continuous use. Here: hardwired Bubblelight, Bubbleflux and Aura, the hardwired-only Matrix models and the Nova TV pairs. RGB and remote options exist only on hardwired Bubbleflux. Below: connection routes for your wall, installation and safe use.

In short: A hardwired sconce connects to the wiring in the wall and needs no bulb, adaptor or battery. With an old sconce point in place, installation is quick; without one, wiring comes first. Have a qualified electrician connect it with the circuit switched off. Ideal for hallway, living-room and commercial light that stays on for hours.

How does a hardwired sconce work?

A hardwired sconce runs on mains power from the sconce point on the wall, with its LEDs inside the body. Hardwired Bubblelight, Bubbleflux and Aura run on 110–220 V and need no bulb or adaptor. In most homes the sconce switches on and off with the wall switch on its circuit; remote Bubbleflux models also work by remote.

• LED count: 18 LEDs (9×2) in hardwired Bubblelight and Bubbleflux, 30 (10×3) in Aura, 48 (3×16) in the Matrix models.
• Light colour: Warm light and white light on every hardwired model; RGB on Bubbleflux too.
• Remote: Hardwired Bubbleflux offers a remote option; the RGB model adds remote dimming.
• Continuous use: No battery changes, so it can stay on for hours daily.

What does your wall need for a hardwired sconce?

You need an electrical point that will sit behind the sconce body. Your wall's current state decides how much work is involved:

Planning sconces either side of a TV? Check height and spacing in our TV unit lighting guide first and place the points to match.

How is a hardwired sconce installed?

With the circuit off, the sconce is connected to the line and screwed to the wall. We recommend a qualified electrician; knowing the steps helps you prepare:

1. Decide the spot: Try the sconce on a photo of your wall with See it in your room; the photo stays in your browser and is never sent to a server. If a new point is needed, place it accordingly.
2. Switch off the circuit: Turn off the relevant breaker and confirm with a voltage tester that the line is dead.
3. Check the wall: Check for cables and pipes before drilling the screw holes.
4. Have it connected: The electrician connects the cables and leaves the joint hidden behind the body.
5. Fix and test: Screw the sconce to the wall, restore power and test it from the switch or remote.

Bubblelight, Bubbleflux and Aura mount with two screws. Matrix Melodi ships assembled and ready to mount, leaving only the connection and fixing. The Nova pair includes four screws and four wall plugs.

Which uses suit a hardwired sconce?

Any spot where the light is on daily and for long periods, such as:

• Hallway and entrance: Switched on many times a day and often left on all evening.
• Living room: Ambient light that replaces the ceiling light for hours in the evening.
• Stairwell: No reaching up to a high sconce for battery changes.
• Bedside: With a switch planned by the bedside table, a light you use every night.
• Pairs and rows: Wire several sconces to one switch to light a hallway row or a sofa pair at once.
• Commercial spaces: Hotels, cafés, restaurants, offices and showrooms where lights stay on all day; the Matrix models are recommended here too.

Which series have a hardwired model?

Bubblelight, Bubbleflux, Aura, Matrix and Nova all have hardwired models. On the product page choose "Hardwired" as the power source; Matrix, hardwired only, needs no choice.

• Bubblelight: Slim 4.5 cm body; 31, 40 and 51 cm. In a long hallway, Bubblelight Large 51 cm works well as a spaced row.
• Bubbleflux: 12 cm body; single, Dubble and Trio; warm, white and RGB light, with or without remote. Bubbleflux Dubble Medium 40 cm makes a symmetrical pair above a sofa.
• Aura: Five bubbled acrylic columns; 39 and 56 cm; 30 LEDs in the hardwired model.
• Matrix: Hardwired only; 12 cm wide, Matrix 8 58 cm and Matrix Melodi 63 cm tall; gold or silver; 48 LEDs.
• Nova: A 73 cm crystal-rod pair for either side of the TV unit; Nova 830 has 30 mm rods. The hardwired model runs continuously from the wall line.

How do you use a hardwired sconce safely?

The rule: never touch the connection or body while power is on.

• Switch off before cleaning: Turn it off at the switch and wipe with a dry, soft cloth; no wet cloths or sprays.
• Do not open the body: The LEDs are integrated; if an LED stays dark or something seems wrong, contact us rather than taking it apart.
• Keep cables hidden: Make sure cables sit behind the body, not pinched or exposed.
• Breaker off before removal: Moving it? Switch the circuit off first; an electrician is recommended for removal and reconnection.

How does it differ from a battery model?

Hardwired means no batteries; battery means no cables, but regular changes. In Bubblelight, Bubbleflux and Aura the body, height and body colour are the same either way. Bubblelight and Bubbleflux have 18 LEDs hardwired versus 12 on battery, and remote and RGB options are hardwired Bubbleflux only. No wiring, or renting? See battery operated sconces. Our battery or hardwired guide compares installation, renting and frequency of use.

Related categories

• Wall sconces: Every series compared by width, height and light in one table.
• Battery operated sconces: The same series without cables, for walls you cannot wire.
• Remote control and RGB sconces: Hardwired Bubbleflux models that change colour and dim by remote.
• TV unit sconces: Pairs wired in either side of the TV.
• Decorative lighting: Tree of Life is also a wall-mounted LED piece on 110–220 V mains.

Frequently asked questions

What connection does a hardwired sconce use?

BACKHOME hardwired sconces connect to the sconce point on the wall and run on household mains; Bubblelight, Bubbleflux and Aura work on 110–220 V. The products do not come with a cable for a socket. With no wiring on the wall, install it first or choose a battery model.

Do hardwired models need bulb changes?

No. In Bubblelight, Bubbleflux and Aura the LEDs are integrated, so no bulb or adaptor is needed. The Matrix models also carry 48 LEDs inside the body. If you notice an LED that does not light, contact us without opening the body.

How does a hardwired sconce switch on and off?

In most homes it switches with the wall switch on its circuit, so plan the switch position with your electrician. Remote models of hardwired Bubbleflux can also be controlled by remote; on the RGB model, colour and dimming are set from the remote.

Which models are hardwired only?

Matrix 8 and Matrix Melodi come hardwired only; they carry 48 LEDs and Matrix Melodi ships assembled and ready to mount. Tree of Life in decorative lighting is also hardwired. Bubblelight, Bubbleflux, Aura and Nova come in both battery and hardwired versions.

Can I connect a hardwired sconce myself?

The connection is made at mains voltage, so we recommend a qualified electrician; a faulty connection carries a risk of electric shock and fire. You can handle the preparation: decide the position, have the wall checked for cables and pipes, and make sure the circuit is off before work starts.

Can a BACKHOME hardwired sconce replace my old one?

Yes. If there is an old sconce point, the electrician switches off the circuit, removes the old fitting and connects the new sconce to the same line. As the wiring stays the same, the job is short. Measure first: the new body should cover the old point and plaster marks.

A hardwired sconce is a permanent wall light for every evening, with no batteries to think about. Once you have chosen the series and height, select "Hardwired" on the product page; on Bubbleflux you can choose remote and RGB on the same screen.