Q: When I first moved into my apartment, I had two sets of string lights that I hung up in my bedroom. I liked the ambiance they created. A year later, I took them down, thinking they might look tacky and that maybe I would just save them for Christmas. A few weeks later, I was trying out new ideas for the half-bath downstairs.
The ceiling light doesn't cast a great light over the whole room, and the separating curtain I hung up didn't help. Since I rent, it wasn't worth installing a new light. And then I got the idea to use my string lights. My question is: Does this work or does it look tacky?
Sent by Ashley
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What is the curtain for? You said it was a half bath, so I assume it doesnt have a tub or shower....
I think you should do a simple light on a cord, or a sconce that you can easily install with minimal damage.
There are sconces at IKEA that are plug in so you may want to try that if you like the sconce idea. I too am confused why the curtain for a 1/2 bath. If you do have a smaller shower, it scares me that you have electical so close to water.
If you can hang a light fixture that is also a plug in, that may be a better solution than the string lights. You will need to put an anchor in the ceiling and not sure what your landlord would say. Good Luck
Does it matter? Do what you like. I am concerned that you have an electric cord hanging in your shower - it isn't very safe.
I saw a cute idea for decorating string lights at my friend's bridal shower the other day... you fold paper into little cubes around each light. Obviously you'd have to use ones that don't get hot. (AT actually has a tutorial that looks similar, http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/diy-origami-paper-cube-string-161985.) I guess it's still sort of college-student-ish but you could have fun with using cute paper that goes with your decor and makes it look like you put effort into it.
I'm going to vote for a little tacky. Maybe if the cord was white instead of green it would look a little better. I like string lights, but this style is not meant to really be seen, ya know?
What's on the other side of the curtain? Maybe there is room for a floor lamp instead? I had one in my guest bath and liked it.
^ what duane said...
granted, i'm a bit of a safety-nerd,but it amazes me what people try to install in their bathrooms. electrical code and common sense are there to protect us and folks don't seem to follow either. i'll bet this isn't plugged into a GFCI protected outlet either.
per your written description, there's no tub in here (you said "half" bath), however, the picture indicates that the lights are hanging in a tub/shower area and seem to be powered by an extension cord plugged into an overhead fixture rigged as a power outlet or a cord tacked to the ceiling and just suspended overhead. if either is the case, it is /beyond/ dangerous...
doing anything electrical in your bathroom is best left to a licensed professional.
I really like the shower curtain and can see the shower head way at the top. Ditch the lights; the idea may have looked good on paper but . . . no.
The people previously in my place also left a bunch of white lights. I hahave a 12" shallow ceramic bowl that I've dumped one strand of the lights in & plug in for short periods of time.
If this is a half-bath, is the curtain hiding your washer and dryer?
I say skip the lights and go with a plug-in sconce.
in general, i think christmas lights are tacky. however...just recently i added them to my bedroom (around the curtains), because my boyfriend couldn't sleep without a light on and it kept me up at night. with the christmas lights, there's enough light for him to be ok, and it's not enough to keep me awake.
do what makes sense for you and your home. every place is different...every person is different. hell, every room is different.
The curtain is hiding a washer and dryer. I wanted something to separate the two. Sorry, I couldn't get a better picture: the room is pretty small. I like the sconce idea, but I don't live near an ikea. I'll have to see what is nearby.
Appreciate all the feedback!
I think it's pretty tacky after college.
I tried for you, to like it.but it just doesn't look good at all..The idea of a string in a shallow bowl or large glass vase is nice..white ones, is a nice litte fun look, but you need real light..so I too think an inexpensive floor lamp..with modern look/shade..to match the look of the modern curtain...if there's room, or of course a sconce..and a little grouping of art..makes it look like a 'real room' /argh rental annoyances...
I think it could work, but doesn't here. IMHO, string lights can work after college - but the less college-like everything else looks in that space, the better the lights will look. Right now, with the shower curtain that has no shower, I think you don't have a sophisticated look going. If everything else were very stylized and sleek, string lights might add the perfect playful touch.
Right now I have lights in my workspace. Everything else in there is very traditional and "businesslike" -- but over one set of curtains is a string of white lights (on a white cord.) For me it takes the room from feeling too much like an office where I'd go 9-5 to being a place that's for work and yet feels personal.
When we bought our house, the previous owners had rope lights hanging around a shower in the basement. When our inspector came through, he said they had to be removed immediately due to the risk of electrocution. So I don't think it matters what it looks like, it simply isn't safe for you to hang lights around your shower.
It's hilarious to me to see everyone calling this tacky. I have a string of lights in my bathroom. They have a white cord and are plugged into a GFCI outlet, so should be no riskier than any other electrical appliance in the bathroom. They give off a lovely glow for a nighttime bath or shower, and are much safer, I believe, than the candles that some people favor for that effect. My bathroom, however, is of a fairly exuberant design, with saturated wall colors and a Talavera sink, so the fairy lights are not that noticable. I guess I'd like to know what is behind your curtain and whether perhaps a different curtain (solid color perhaps?) might make a difference.
Oh sorry I didn't see the response that the curtain is hiding the washer and dryer! Anyway, sheesh, do what makes you happy!
This whole set up is just kind of strange looking to me and has a very ad hock temporary feel. I'm not digging the christmas lights. I can see that you want to make something prettier out of the laundry/bathroom, but I am curious how much you use this space and how often guests use it.
My friends used to have a lovely vintage flat with one bathroom only and it had honking big side by side washer and dryer from the 80's in almond and wood bark tones. They ended up making a pretty nice looking fabric cover with flaps to put over the washer and the dryer and then put nice vintage baskets on top for organizing laundry room things. I wonder if you would do better lighting-wise if you tried taking the curtain down and just letting the room be a toilet with a washer and dryer next to it and just prettying it up with some nice pictures on the walls, a nice cloth draped over the machines? Maybe if you are allowed you could paint one of the walls?
Maybe you could resubmit this as a "good question" with the shower curtain and lights taken down and ask how you can make your laundry/ half bath nicer looking and more guest friendly? I think you should go back to the drawing board.
You should check out battery-operated candles-- the medium-sized ones where you can't see the fake flame are the best. I think it would create a nice ambiance similar to the string lights, but with a more sophisticated look. I have a couple that have a timed setting, so they come on automatically later in the evening. Still safer than real candles, but less college-y... ;-)
I've done exactly the same thing with Christmas lights in a dim, dark bathroom that was still dim and dark after the landlord kindly installed a ceiling fixture to supplement the existing 25 watt bulb. Talk about tacky--the lights were swooped on the wall in scallops, and strands of silk flowers and vines were twined around them. What can I say, it was my girly phase. People seemed to like it though--or at least they got a chuckle out of it. For a windowless 4.5 X 6 bathroom, it was the best I could do.
If you want to keep the lights, I think you need more of them to make the look work. And I'd reconsider how you are hanging them. I wouldn't have the cords or light bulbs show when the shower curtain is drawn--hide all the hardware. Then get more strings of lights and create a pattern with them on the walls. The simplest would be straight horizontal or vertical lines. But you might be able to do something a bit more creative.
Because the lights shine through the curtain, you can create an intriging pattern of light and shadow in the room. Experiment by sticking up the strings of lights with tape until you find a pattern that works for you.
A pic of the room's layout would net more feasible results. Where is the overhead in relation to the curtain. On the laundry side or the restroom side? Also consider 'why' you need/want additional lighting. The floor lamp suggestion is viable if you have the space. Failing that, do you have a vanity where a table lamp would work? If this is also your guest bath, & you're just looking for more/better lighting for guests, either would look fine. If it's better lighting for laundry chores that's the issue and that's all you will use it for, slap a stick-up, plug-in florescent behind the curtain in lieu of the string lights and be done with it. Good lucK!
Other than the electrical safety issue. I say go for it. i have white string lights going around my living /dining room in my apartment and it gives a nice classy/ambient quality that rocks for watching movies/gaming. They don't look tacky at all since the wire itself is white, its not really noticeable when you first look around... best of luck!
Instead of hiding the W/D behind the curtain, why not put up some fun shelves over the pair, and then display a big glass jar with laundry powder and maybe some inexpensive vintage prints that are laundry / bath related.
Then you would have a shelf to place a small metal desk light. I'm thinking something that would down-light the laundry area, like a banker's desk light or something gooseneck.
I'm not big on the string lights, especially because I can see the extension cord you are using too. It looks haphazard.
It doesn't work. Sorry I really want to like it because it is a cool idea. I have a disco ball hung in my shower so I do appreciate your inventiveness.
Why not find a large glass "jar" or some type of glass holder and place all the lights in the jar and plug in? you could possibly hang the jar using wire around the rim???
I dig all white string lights. The just have a nice ambiance. As somebody above said, you can transition them into a more mature decor.