Anyone Can Make This Cool Wall Light for Under $20

published Jun 21, 2018
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(Image credit: Marisa Vitale)

A minimal, modern wall sconce does more than provide light to a room. Simple and stylish, a light fixture attached to the wall is a sophisticated step up from a table or floor lamp. It’s an intentional design and an easy way to add interest to a spot in your space. But even simple wall sconces can be pricey to buy, so why not DIY your own… for under $20?

(Image credit: Marisa Vitale)

Cindy is a jewelry designer and and Matt works in visual effects, and their 900-square-feet North Hollywood, California house is filled with their own creations. One of their biggest challenges they shared in their survey was the fact that they didn’t have a ton of budget for their home’s design because of things that needed to get fixed first.

“We didn’t do any renovations to the space when we moved in, so aesthetically we’ve worked around the existing foundation and finishes. We invested in a lot of things you can’t see, such as replacing the leaking roof, upgrading an outdated electrical system, and getting rid of termites (twice).”

(Image credit: Marisa Vitale)

“We’ve had to be resourceful with how we spend our money and function always has to come first.”


(Image credit: Marisa Vitale)

The budget restrictions—plus a modern aesthetic—led to the couple completing many DIY projects around their home. The wall-mounted minimal sconce above is an example of one! Cindy swears the project is super easy to complete, and perhaps most attractively, it takes less than $20 to get the look.

(Image credit: Marisa Vitale)

Cindy installed this IKEA strip light on the wall; it’s price is a cool $14.99. Then she says she “taped a thin 1/4″ thick piece of poplar wood onto the front from the hardware store. Super simple!” According to the product info, the strip light “only emits low heat,” and it says that it comes with mounting screws and double-sided tape. Cindy and Matt kept their wood a natural finish, but I imagine you could personalize this project any way you want.

“Everything in our home is tailored exactly to how we live in it, but it took us a while to be okay with going against all the ‘shoulds.’ We wondered if we should have a headboard, a living room rug, bookshelves filled with books, or lots of vintage treasures like the home tours we admire.”


“Our advice is to decorate how you want without worrying about following any rules.”