Tess is Tavellio's compact square cordless wall sconce (10 x 10 x 8 cm). It runs on a 5200 mAh battery for about 10 hours at full brightness and up to 120 hours dimmed, offers 20 light colors from warm 2700K to cool 6000K, dims by remote, and has an adjustable motion sensor and timer. It mounts on a magnetic plate with adhesive or screws, so no wiring is needed, and it charges over USB-C. It is IP54-rated, made of metal and available in eleven colors. Its bigger sister, Tessa, adds a larger battery in a longer rectangular body.
A wall sconce has always come with a catch. You need a wire in the wall, an electrician to connect it, and a spot you can never change again. For most homes, and almost every rental, that means the wall stays dark.
We designed Tess to remove that catch completely. No wire, no electrician, no fixed spot. Just a small square light you put exactly where you need it, and lift off the wall when it needs charging. It throws light up and down, so it washes the wall above and below it rather than shining in your eyes.
Below is everything Tess does, feature by feature, and what each one means in daily life.
A battery that lasts days, not hours
Tess runs on a 5200 mAh battery with LED technology we developed ourselves. At full brightness, that gives around 10 hours of light. On the lowest setting, it stretches to 120 hours. Everything in between scales with it.
What matters more is how you use it. Those hours only count while the light is on. Used on the motion sensor in a hallway, Tess may be on for just a few minutes per evening, which is why many owners charge it far less often than the numbers suggest.
When it is time, you click Tess off its plate and charge it with the included USB-C cable, the same type most phones use. For the full background, read our battery and charging explainer. A charged, cordless light is also useful when the power goes out, as we explain in our piece on emergency lighting during a power outage.
20 light colors, from candle-warm to daylight
Most wall sconces give you one color of light. Tess gives you 20, from a warm 2700K to a cool 6000K. That sounds technical, but in practice it means one lamp does three different jobs:
- Warm (around 2700K): evenings, bedrooms and living rooms. Soft, relaxing and flattering.
- Neutral (around 4000K): hallways, reading and daytime tasks. Clear without feeling cold.
- Cool (around 6000K): closets, storage spaces and anywhere you need to see colors and detail clearly.
If Kelvin is new to you, our guide to lumens and Kelvin explains it in plain language. For bedrooms specifically, warm is the right choice after dark, as we explain in our bedroom lighting guide.
Dimming and a remote that controls several lamps
Every one of those 20 colors can be dimmed to exactly the level you want. You do that with the remote, so you never have to get up and reach for the wall. A single touch on the lamp itself switches it on or off.
And one remote can control several lamps at once. Hang a pair of Tess lights beside the bed or a row along the stairs, and you adjust them all together from one spot.
A motion sensor that thinks for you
This is where Tess becomes more than a nice light. Its motion sensor switches Tess on when you walk past and off again when you have gone. The sensor is adjustable, and a built-in timer controls how long the light stays on.
It changes how certain places feel:
- Hallway: you come home in the dark and the light is already on before you find the switch that was never there.
- Stairs: each step lit at night, without anyone leaving a light burning.
- Closet or storage cupboard: light the moment you open the door, off when you close it and walk away.
- Night path: a soft, dimmed glow on the way to the bathroom that does not wake you up fully.
Prefer to control it yourself? Simply use the touch button or the remote instead. We collected more ideas in 7 places for a wireless motion-sensor wall sconce.
Magnetic mounting: no drilling needed
Tess comes with a magnetic mounting plate. You fix the plate to the wall, and the lamp clicks onto it. That is the whole installation:
- Choose the spot. Hold Tess against the wall first to check the height and the light.
- Fix the plate. Use the adhesive for a no-drill setup, or the screws for a permanent one.
- Click Tess on. The magnet holds it in place.
- Lift it off to charge. No tools, no unscrewing, no cable running down the wall.
The adhesive option is ideal if you rent, because there is nothing to repair when you move out. Our guide to cordless lighting for renters covers that in more detail.
Built to last: metal and IP54
Tess has a metal body and an IP54 rating. In simple terms, IP54 means it is protected against dust and against splashing water from any direction.
That makes it suitable for humid spaces such as a bathroom, away from direct spray, as well as hallways and entrances where it gets touched and moved every day. For bathrooms, always check your local rules for which zones allow which ratings.
Eleven colors to match any interior
Tess comes in eleven finishes, so it can either disappear into the wall or become a small accent:
- Light and calm: Vanilla, White and Stone Grey. They blend into white and pale walls.
- Warm browns: Koala Brown, Mocha Brown and Espresso Brown. They sit beautifully with wood, linen and warm paint colors.
- Metallics: Gold and Bronze. They add a small touch of shine.
- Statement colors: Olive Green and Ocher Yellow. For a wall that deserves a point of color.
- Classic contrast: Black. Graphic against light walls, calm against dark ones.
A simple rule: match the wall if you want the light to be the star, and contrast the wall if you want the lamp itself to be seen. You can also browse by finish in our gold, black and bronze wall sconce collections.
And Tessa?
Tessa has exactly the same smart features: 20 light colors, dimming, remote, motion sensor, timer, magnetic mounting and IP54. The difference is the proportions and the battery.
Tessa is the same shape stretched wider, 20 cm (7.9 in) across, and holds a larger 8000 mAh battery, good for up to 130 hours dimmed. It comes in six colors. Not sure which one suits your wall? Read our side-by-side Tess vs Tessa comparison.
Why we believe Tess is the most complete wall sconce we make
Many rechargeable wall sconces offer one or two of these features. Tess combines all of them in one small lamp: long battery life, 20 light colors, dimming, remote control, motion sensor, timer, wire-free magnetic mounting, a metal IP54 body and USB-C charging.
That combination is why it has become one of our most-loved lights, and why we keep recommending it for the places a wire never reaches. See the full range in our rechargeable wall sconces collection, or read our buyer's guide to the best rechargeable wall sconces to compare it fairly with everything else out there.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Tess battery last?
Tess has a 5200 mAh battery that gives around 10 hours of light at full brightness and up to 120 hours on the lowest setting. On the motion sensor, it is only on when needed, so one charge often lasts much longer in daily use.
Does Tess need wiring or drilling?
No wiring at all. Tess mounts on a magnetic plate that you fix with the included adhesive (no drilling) or with screws. The lamp clicks onto the plate and lifts off to charge.
How many light colors does Tess have?
Twenty, ranging from warm 2700K to cool 6000K. Each color can be dimmed with the remote.
Can Tess be used in a bathroom?
Tess is IP54-rated, which means it is protected against dust and splashing water. That makes it suitable for humid spaces away from direct spray. Always check local bathroom-zone rules.
Can one remote control multiple Tess lights?
Yes. One remote can control several lamps at once, which is handy for pairs beside a bed or a row of lights along the stairs.
How do I charge Tess?
Lift Tess off its magnetic plate and charge it with the included USB-C cable, connected to a standard adapter.
