French-chic tea-light sconces

Hands-on time: Less than two hours.
Total time: Plus drying time for the paint and glue.
Skill: Moderate with basic tools skills.
Cost estimate: Approximately $8 per sconce.

Materials and Tools

• 2 unpainted square wood plaques with routed edges, 16.5 cm x 16.5 cm
• Sanding block and tack cloth
• 2 small square wood molding corners, 6 cm x 6 cm
• 2 square decorative tin tiles, 89cm x 89 cm
• Finishing nails and a hammer
• Carpenter's wood glue
• Clamps
• White acrylic paint in brush-on or spray-paint format
• Paintbrush
• Varnish
• 2 D-ring hanger hooks
• Ruler and pencil
• Drill and small drill bits
• Small flathead screws and screw driver
• Metal glue
• Tea light candles and holders
• Decorative metal ornaments (the kind used for scrapbooking and crafts)

French-chic tea-candle wall sconces combine both traditional and contemporary elements to provide atmospheric lighting while adding interest and elegance to a room. They are relatively inexpensive to make, while being an attractive alternative to electrical wall lighting units. They can be fabricated with numerous different wood plaques, in different shapes or sizes, to suit your décor style. Topped with tea lights, or votive candles, these wall sconces are a great way to dress your walls with style. They are especially impressive at night when they reflect a gorgeous pattern across your wall. It's an elegant way to decorate the home for the holidays or to give as distinctive gifts. Sconces are typically placed in pairs to illuminate a foyer, hallway or placed on either side of a window, picture frame or mirror.

Sand the surfaces of the unpainted wood plaques and the square molding corners to give the surface a smooth finish. Wipe the dust off with a tack cloth. Prime the wood bases and the tin tiles in your choice of colour, using acrylic paints in brush-on or spray-on formats and let dry. Apply wood glue to the top surface of the wood plaque, spread evenly with a stick or a small brush. Centre and place the tin tile over the adhesive area and press it into place. Use small clamps to secure the tin tile into place while it dries for about two hours. Apply a small finish nail at each corner of the plaque to further secure the tin tile into place. It's easier to install the hardware hooks at the back of the plaque at this point rather than when the sconce units are complete. Measure, centre and apply a D-ring hanger hook at the back of each plaque, 3cm from the top.

To assemble the sconces measure the molding corner along one side, determine the centre and mark it with a pencil. Use a drill to make a small hole at the centre marking; this will make attaching it to the plaque easier. The molding corners are attached to the wood plaque and become the ledge to hold the tea-lights. Hold the molding corner at a 90-degree angle along the bottom edge of the tin covered plaque to determine the spot where you want to attach it. Measure and mark the centre with a pencil. Drill a hole to go right through the thickness of the plaque to accommodate the screw type, size and length you are using.

Apply wood glue evenly along the side of the molding corner with the pre-drilled hole. Hold the face of the plaque and the molding corner at a 90-degree angle. Join and attach the two pieces together with a long flat-head screw at the back. Be sure to hold them tight when fastening so they don't move. Repeat steps to build the second unit.

Once the units are completed, apply a second coat of paint covering the entire surface. Let dry and varnish.

Embellish the centre of the sconces with decorative ornaments of your choice, use metal glue to affix them into place. I applied a tiny square mirror piece with a metal dragonfly over it. The touch of metal and mirror add a spark to the lighting.

Select a suitable location to place the sconces in your home, secure them to the wall with the proper hardware. Place a tea-light and candle holder and enjoy the atmosphere. The candle holders can be glued or fasten to the wood ledge of the sconces with silicone glue, depending on the type of candle holder you wish to use.

Hang the sconces beside each other or on either side of a bed, or a hutch. There is always a place in one's home that will look simply exceptional with tea-candle wall sconces.

Variations

• Another way that sconces can enhance your home's décor is to change the candle's colour to match the colour schemes that are already present in a room. Use different colours of candles for various occasions and ambiance.
• The sconces can remain plain or decorated at the center, with decoupage images, stencil or stamp designs of your choice. For a rustic look you can distress the sconces with steel wool or apply an antiquing finish. The wooden plaques can be stained instead of painted.
• If you are handy with tools and have a router you can opt to make your own wooden plaques in the shape you want, to really customize your units.