A plug-in wall sconce is a wall light with a cord and a plug. It hangs on the wall like a picture and plugs into the nearest outlet. No wiring, no electrician, and it comes down when you move.
It's one of the most useful lights a renter can own. Here's how to hang one so it looks wired in.
Where plug-in sconces work best
- Beside the bed, instead of table lamps, to free up a small nightstand.
- On a long living room wall, to add light at eye level.
- In a dark hallway, near the only outlet.
- Over a reading chair with a swing arm.
- Either side of a mirror or a piece of art.
How high to hang it
- Living room or hallway: 66 to 72 inches off the floor, a commonly used range for wall sconces.
- Beside a bed: lower, roughly shoulder height when you're sitting up, so you can read by it.
- Over a chair: the bottom of the shade just above your head when you're seated, with the light falling over your shoulder.
Measure to the center of the sconce, and hang a pair at exactly the same height.
How to hang it without damage
Most plug-in sconces hang on one or two small screws. Small screw holes are easy to fill, and many leases allow them if you fill them when you leave. Check yours.
For light sconces on smooth walls, heavy-duty adhesive strips can work. Check the weight rating on the pack against the sconce's weight, and follow the strip maker's instructions.
Hide the cord (this is the part that matters)
A loose cord looks temporary. A straight line looks deliberate.
- Run the cord straight down from the sconce to the outlet below.
- Put it inside a paintable cord cover, a slim channel that sticks to the wall.
- Paint the cover the wall color. It almost disappears.
Plan the sconce's position so the outlet is directly below it, or as close as you can get.
Switch it on without reaching
Some plug-in sconces have a switch on the cord or the base. To switch one from the door, plug it into a smart plug and group it with your other lamps.
Bulbs
Use 2700K warm white in living rooms and bedrooms, 3000K in hallways. Around 450 lumens is plenty for a sconce beside a bed or on a hallway wall.
Safety
- Keep the cord out of doorways and off the floor where people walk.
- Never run it under a rug.
- Use the bulb type and wattage the sconce is rated for.
Mistakes to skip
- A dangling loose cord.
- A pair hung at slightly different heights.
- A sconce too high beside the bed. You can't read by it.
FAQ
Do plug-in wall sconces look cheap? Not if the cord is hidden. A straight, painted cord cover is what makes them look built in.
Can you hang a plug-in sconce without drilling? Light ones, on smooth walls, with heavy-duty adhesive strips rated for the weight. Heavier ones need small screws.
How far apart should sconces be beside a bed? Centered over each side of the bed, or over each nightstand, at the same height.
Every renter swap, planned
The Lamp Plan, No. 04 in the Decorwick Measured Home Series, shows where plug-in sconces go in 14 rooms, with heights, lumens and bulb colors, plus the cord and move-out rules. See The Lamp Plan
