I have an ikea cord kit and the cord hasn't lost its kinks. Any ideas?

I think a better post would be ingenius ways to hide or deflect the impact of the cord.

@lasell: do you think stretching the cord out on the floor in a sunny spot would help? Sometimes warming up the cord helps get the kinks out.

Any pendant can be hung with a hook and a plug. You just need to go to home depot and buy a replacement plug, they are really simple to install on a wire - all you need is scissors and a screwdriver. Put the plug on the end and there you go.

Ah yes. The elusive plug-in pendant. Those cord kits are really great - choose any pretty lamp shade you like, and you have a new lamp!

I recently bought CB2's Eden lamp, and have since noticed it in several Chicago restaurants.

It's interesting to see that residential renters are not the only ones who need to plan their lighting without a lot of rewiring.

I wrote a whole entry on my blog about this a while back.

http://www.christineschwalmdesign.com/1/post/2009/08/shedding-some-light.html

Lampsplus has a huge selection with all sorts of sizes and styles.

Love the renters idea! And the first bubble lamp is just ethereal! Wow! And I like lanterns as well. With bright colors :D

My studio apartment has no lighting in the main room, so I put up a couple of pendent plug-in lights, one of which I made myself. I would second the request for a post on how to hide the cords though - they definitely aren't too attractive. I used the Ikea cord kit for both of them and they have worked great for me.

The orb pendant from Target can be had for much cheaper (under $10) if you google "china balls". There are all sorts of colors, prints, and sizes available. Pier One, Costplus World Market, and many film supply companies carry them. Personally, I could never use them indoors because they remind me too much of all the low-budget films I've worked on, but they do put out a very pretty light. I still use them occasionally for lighting a scene that needs flattering, very soft, non-directional light. Reality shows use them all the time.

Swag lamps -
You can find them by the dozens at flea markets and eBay.

@lasell

Make sure it isn't hung up, or at least isn't plugged in. Use a blowdryer on the cord, on a low setting. The kinks should begin to relax. You might need to work them with your fingers a bit, bending them around in order to loosen them.

I haven't done this with a pendant lamp cable, but it works with most plastic straps. Should be the same, in theory. Be careful not to heat the cord in one spot for too long, it can get very hot!

I second typwc - I think it would be way more useful to see images of clever solutions for dealing with the exposed cord when hanging pendant lamps this way. Please have this be your next post!

#4 is so amazing, It doesn't even need to be plugged in!

Completely agree with having a post on how to hide the cords for renters. I noticed they left the cords out of the all the photos.

Great post. It's hard to find pendant lamps with a wall plug. Now I need a chandelier that has a wall plug!

"Completely agree with having a post on how to hide the cords for renters."

Rather than trying to hide the cord (impossible with a swag lamp) it's better to just make it part of the decorative statement with a chain.

"I have an ikea cord kit and the cord hasn't lost its kinks. Any ideas?"

Try simply hanging the lamp - the weight of the lamp will work the kinks out in a day or two.

I really want to hang a chandelier but can't put in in my ceiling. How do I hook it up to a plug? And any recommendations on a system for hanging it?

I'm curious if anyone knows of shades to cover hideous hanging rental light fixtures? This would be something that can encompass the whole hanging part of the fixture.

I can't get my husband to even consider doing this in our super dark living room without him seeing visuals of how to disguise the cords. HELP US, Apartment Therapy!

Thanks everyone! I'm currently working on the "how to hide the cord" post. If anyone has any great suggestions, feel free to share here and I'll add them to my post.

The IKEA cord kit costs about $2.99. Just buy another one making sure that the kinks aren't permanent, replace your kinky one in the bag and return it.

A way to conceal the cord is to make a cord "sleeve" from fabric, longer than the exposed cord. You can use quilting cotton, lycra knit, or repurposed clothing. The fabric needs to be fairly lightweight or you'll have difficulty slipping it over the cord. If you're having trouble keeping the sleeve arranged properly you can use clear rubber bands at strategic points.

Does anyone know of any lower-cost alternatives to the Bubble Chandelier? I love it, but that's a little steep for me.

Thank you thank you for this roundup and to all who add to it with their comments - I've been hunting for ceiling fixtures that don't require hard wiring!