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10 Easy Pieces: Downlights

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10 Easy PiecesIssue — Summer Palette

10 Easy Pieces: Downlights

August 20, 2025

Downlights in a landscape will focus attention exactly where you need it at night, with minimal light pollution from glare and excessive brightness. By pointing toward your feet, downlights make it safer to walk on dark paths without creating skyglow, which obscures the stars overhead and disorients migrating birds.

Are you looking for discreet downlights to mount on an outdoor wall, in a stairwell, or at the edge of a path? Here are 10 stylish sconces that won’t create light pollution.

For our money, this is the most beautiful downlight currently on the market. The clay ORCA x Ceramicah Sconce is \$935 and available in two colors (buckwheat and manzanita, pictured) at ORCA Living.
Above: For our money, this is the most beautiful downlight currently on the market. The clay ORCA x Ceramicah Sconce is $935 and available in two colors (buckwheat and manzanita, pictured) at ORCA Living.
Hot dipped in molten zinc during manufacture, St. Ives Mast Light (also featured in the photo at top) is impervious to the effects of weather. Rated for all outdoor uses (including coastal locations), it is £40 at Garden Trading.
Above: Hot dipped in molten zinc during manufacture, St. Ives Mast Light (also featured in the photo at top) is impervious to the effects of weather. Rated for all outdoor uses (including coastal locations), it is £40 at Garden Trading.
From Belgium-based Tekna&#8\2\17;s Nautic collection, an LED Spreaderlight in sand-casted brass with frosted glass is available in a variety of other finishes as well; from £489.
Above: From Belgium-based Tekna’s Nautic collection, an LED Spreaderlight in sand-casted brass with frosted glass is available in a variety of other finishes as well; from £489.
Handmade in England by Davey Lighting for Original BTC, the Mast Outdoor Wall Sconce is available in six finishes (pictured is polished bronze); from \$599 at Lumens.
Above: Handmade in England by Davey Lighting for Original BTC, the Mast Outdoor Wall Sconce is available in six finishes (pictured is polished bronze); from $599 at Lumens.
Louis Poulsen&#8\2\17;s Toldbod Outdoor Wall Sconce is available in black and natural aluminum at DWR; \$795.
Above: Louis Poulsen’s Toldbod Outdoor Wall Sconce is available in black and natural aluminum at DWR; $795.
The Beamy Wall Sconce from Royal Botania exudes &#8\2\20;typical Bauhaus chic&#8\2\2\1; and is available in five finishes (including antique brass, pictured); \$\247.50 at \2Modern.
Above: The Beamy Wall Sconce from Royal Botania exudes “typical Bauhaus chic” and is available in five finishes (including antique brass, pictured); $247.50 at 2Modern.
Weatherproof, the St. Ives Funnel Light protected by a coating of hot galvanized steel is &#8\2\20;particularly good for lighting up pathways and corridors,&#8\2\2\1; notes retailer Garden Trading. It is £48.
Above: Weatherproof, the St. Ives Funnel Light protected by a coating of hot galvanized steel is “particularly good for lighting up pathways and corridors,” notes retailer Garden Trading. It is £48.
Schoolhouse Allegeny Indoor/Outdoor Sconce comes in a slew of &#8\2\17;70s-inspired colors; \$3\29.
Above: Schoolhouse Allegeny Indoor/Outdoor Sconce comes in a slew of ’70s-inspired colors; $329.
A cylinder downlight, Progress Lighting&#8\2\17;s Outdoor Wall Sconce is \$70 at Build.com.
Above: A cylinder downlight, Progress Lighting’s Outdoor Wall Sconce is $70 at Build.com.
The adjustable Tube Up/Down Outdoor Wall Sconce is available in five finishes, including brushed aluminum (shown); \$340 from Lightology.
Above: The adjustable Tube Up/Down Outdoor Wall Sconce is available in five finishes, including brushed aluminum (shown); $340 from Lightology.

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N.B.: This post has been updated with new products, photos, and links; it was first published June 2018.

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