Anyone who’s sat under the harsh glare of a fluorescent bulb knows that good lighting can make all the difference in a room. And different lighting styles can totally change the mood. Chandeliers add elegance, dimmers add romance, and sconces add sophistication, livening up otherwise dull walls. Believe it or not, there are enough sconce styles to suit any type of decor. You can go minimalist with a sleek all-white look or classic with brass accents, eccentric with sculptural pieces or metallic for a futuristic feel. We’ve dipped into the AD archives to find some of the best examples, from statement sconces in a chic New York apartment to vintage-inspired pieces in a charming bath in Kentucky.

In the great room of Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady’s Los

decorated by Joan Behnke, the golden sconces are by Hervé Van der Straeten from Ralph Pucci International. A Gregorius|Pineo ceiling light hangs above a Formations cocktail table, Christian Liaigre stools, and sofas custom-designed by Behnke in a Great Plains silk, with cushions in a Loro Piana linen. The curtains are in a Loro Piana cashmere-wool, and the carpet is by Tai Ping.Inside art collector Becky Mayer’s Palladian-style Florida residence, decorated by Furze Bard Assoc., the branchlike sconces in the master bedroom are by Porta Romana. The walls are upholstered in an Élitis linen, and a Moooi light fixture is suspended above the B&B Italia bed, which frames an artwork by Luis Caballero.