When you're a renter reading a design blog, it can be frustrating to see so many gorgeous pendants and sconces that aren't available to you (unless your landlord is cool with you hiring an electrician to hard-wire a light fixture, and most aren't). There are, however, several plug-in options for walls and ceilings... here are 10.
- West Elm: Although their selection tends to favor hard-wired pendants and sconces, they always have a few chic and affordable plug-ins. Shown above is their Industrial Sconce, $79.
- Lutron: This company is best known for their whole-home systems and hard-wired dimmer switches, but they also carry plug-in dimmers that can be attached to table and floor lamps. The Credenza Lamp Dimmer goes for about $15 and sells through places like Amazon.com and Lowe's.
- Lamps Plus: This online store has a variety of plug-in, retro-style swag lamps that hang from the ceiling but plug into an outlet. The most basic option is their White Swag Style Plug-In Chandelier, $100.
- IKEA: Always a resource for renters and people on a budget, IKEA has quite a few plug-in sconces, like the Basisk Wall Clamp Spotlight, $13.
- Vessel: This Boston-based group is best known for their Candela Lights, $39 - $129. These battery-operated luminaries rest inside a portable charging tray when they're not in use.
- Gracious Home: This New York store has a section dedicated to Utility Lighting, including clip lights, pin-up sconces, and renter-friendly solutions. Shown above is the Halogen Pin-Up, Plug-In Gooseneck Lamp, on sale for $20 (reg. $25).
- Lightology: They have a three-story showroom in Chicago and an online store that's a huge resource for designer hard-wired and plug-in lighting. The Tolomeo Mega 12 is a high-end option that sells for $488.
- Amazon.com: As an online megastore, they stock a number of the options mentioned above. We found a Jonathan Adler Havana Nickel Plug-In Sconce available now for $125.
- Anglepoise: This British company sells classic industrial lamps in table, floor, clip-on, and wall-mounted models. The Type1228 with Desk Clamp goes for $330.
- Euro Style Lighting: We recently discovered this online source, which has a ton of plug-in sconces, picture lights, and swag lamps. This Lemon Interlace Swag Plug-In Chandelier sells for $130.
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It's great to have a post like this! I'd like to add one of my favorites:
Oops, looks like I screwed up my html on the last one. Take two!
One of my favorites: CB2's Eden Pendant Lamp
Hopefully it works this time! I love that lamp because it looks great and the price is fantastic.
VeryThorough, I love that! I also love their Pulley Pendant, but of course it's more expensive and not swag style. Oh well. Someday I will wire into my ceiling.
CB2 also has a great wall mounted lamp called Hinge sconce ($80) www.cb2.com
Um silly question: how do these attach to the walls? Because in every rental apartment I've lived in, you can't do anything to the walls - not even blu-tack.
Hi, All & AT,
Simple pin up wall lamps are extremely convenient for all the reasons mentioned.
Being a lamp designer, I have been offering all of my wall lamps as pin up alternatives. A simple OOK picture hook is all that's needed to install them.
you know what article i would LOVE to see? a how-to on properly hanging a swag lamp! i never seem to get it quite right...
It's like you met, knew and were just as frustrated by my please-don't-put-holes-in-my-wall landlord. I see a pair of Gracious Home Gooseneck Lamps in my bedroom's future!
for renters and home owners, I absolutely love the dimmer for floor lamps! This also helps reduce electricity usage and allows your light bulbs to last longer.
My all time favorite non high end designer wall lamp: Linden Street Wall Lamp from JCPenny and only $54!
@cbaitz: That's not actually true, at least not for most inexpensive dimmers. Most cheap plug in dimmers, don't work by reducing the energy use, but by flickering the light off and on very rapidly.
This is a great post, and perfect timing. Just yesterday I was looking for plug-in sconces and wondering what resources there were. Perfect!
Jose A: ditto the JCP wall lamp.
I have 2 on either side of my bed. Their large size works well for a king bed, plus, as you say, price is *very* good.
My husband and I moved into a place that didn't have overhead lighting and we used the Eden Pendent Lamp from CB2 as well as some cord covers to run the cord to the appropriate plug: http://hellotruelove.tumblr.com/post/1380446360/apartment-therapy-answers
Hi, thanks for this clever ideas. I am a renter and I don`t have enough light in the kitchen area, I will like to mount some light over the counter. Any ideas?.
Thanks for your help
I have used two can converters: http://www.thecanconverter.com/store/index.php
to put in a small chandelier and an overhead track light in my apartment. Warning - it's not as easy as they make it look, and we had to be creative with a couple fixture situations - but the end result is amazingly custom.