Looking for cozy, renter-friendly lighting ideas? These 5 wire free lighting solutions will brighten up your home without hardwiring! Perfect for renters, budget-conscious homeowners, and DIY lovers.
After our recent move we discovered that the light that hung above our dining room table was not wired in. The light bulb that was installed was a battery powered bulb that could be removed and reinstalled via a magnet. The light bulb being used was very weak and we blew through many batteries in our first week.
This led me to search for quick, budget-friendly lighting solutions—without the hefty electrician bill. Along the way, I discovered several options that I now use throughout my home. I’m excited to share them with you, starting with the solution to my dark dining room.
Plug-In Wall Sconces
Since we had an outlet above the fireplace in our dining room, my sister in law suggested wall sconces. And I’m so glad she did! I grabbed a set of plug in wall sconces on Amazon. My husband helped me install them and we used cord hiders to conceal the cords running down the wall. The remaining cords, as well as the outlet, is strategically concealed using decor.
These wall sconces are so lovely and give off so much light. The glass globe is so classy. I plan on eventually getting some Edison bulbs just to amplify the vintage vibe. They are such a game changer in our dining room. It’s been so nice to not have to eat in the dark anymore!
Rechargeable Light Bulbs
Since the light fixture above our dining room table was already hung I took to Amazon looking for a higher quality rechargeable light bulb. These light bulbs by BrightTown are what I found am I’m SO happy with them!
They come as a set of 2 so one can be charged at all time. The magnetic base screws into the socket like a regular light bulb. Then the bulb can be attached and removed very easily. Because of this we actually remove it quite often to light other areas of the house in a pinch like a closet or cabinet when looking for something. There is several different light settings that can be accessed through the included remote or by hitting the power button several times.
More often then not the bulbs are missing entirely because my kids have used them for some game or fort. We have 4 of these in the house now so one is usually never too far. If you are looking for a solution for a wire free hanging light, wall sconce, or just want a handy portable light these are definitely a great option!
Cordless Wall Sconces
On that note lets get into the wall sconces I have in my bedroom. These wall sconces are also made by Bright Town and come with the same light bulbs I use in our dining room. These were a great solution for my bedroom where I just wanted some soft lighting in the evening and didn’t have an accessible outlet for plug in lighting.
I love the look of these and how they turned out in our room. The remote is fantastic and allows me to turn the light to the lowest setting so they’re just a light glow as I’m putting my baby to bed in the evenings.
The Down Side: The only problem I have with this particular set by this brand is kind of a big one. The mounting screws it came with that attaches the sconces to the mounting plate are too short. The barely peaked through the base of the sconce and definitely not enough to have the nut cap screw on to hold it too the wall. We ended up having a pretty frustrating exchange with the company that did result in a refund which I was grateful for. We struggled to find the screws that we needed so my husband ended up trimming screws down to the right size with a bolt cutter just to get these to work and not make the ugly plastic wall anchors sticking out of my wall all for not.
After bumping into this problem I saw other reviews that had the same issue so hopefully they will fix this for future buyers. If I were to do it again I would probably get a regular wall sconce and then purchase the bulbs separate.
LED Reading Lights
Moving into our current home meant that my older kids would be back to sharing a room for the time being. They have bunkbeds and I wanted to find a way for my oldest daughter to be able to stay up in bed a little later than her brother and read a book or crochet before bed. I’m not confident that their beds will stay in their current place for ever and wanted something semi-temporary.
I found these wall mount reading lights on Amazon and snagged one for each kid for Christmas this past year. I really love how they have worked out. These lights have a magnetic base that attaches with a sticky pad. The light then magnetizes onto the base. The light’s ball and divot connection point allows the light to be fully adjustable so it can point in any direction. They are also dimmable which is perfect in the evenings when sis want to crochet while little brother is trying to sleep.
These lights come right off when they need charging or if my kids need a quick light to look for something under their bed or in the closet. They seem to hold a charge for a good amount of time and put off quite a bit of light at their brightest. These would be great for many uses and I’m honestly wishing I had one in our previous home’s pantry. If you have a small space that needs a little extra lighting these are definitely worth checking out.
Floor Lamps
This suggestion is pretty basic and might seem like an obvious solution to a room in need of extra lighting. But I suffered through an impossibly dark living room for 2 years before it finally occurred to me that a floor lamp was the obvious solution.
Our previous living room did not have room for a side table where a lamp could sit. And this was before I knew about my other lighting solutions in this post. So I just dealt with a poorly lit living room for years. After we remodeled the living room and installed a different light fixture that was somehow even darker it finally occurred to me that a floor lamp next to the couch was the perfect solution
This MCM floor lamp made a HUGE difference. I originally got it for lighting in the evenings but we ended up using it all day every day. The amount of light it puts off is amazing thanks to the 2 light bulbs. It also has 3 different light hues you can choose from.
This particular lamp was definitely more suited for our old Mid Century Modern living room. I’m already eyeing a more cottage-y replacement. But for now its the perfect solution for cozy lighting in the evening.
If you need additional lighting in your living room and don’t have the surface space for a regular lamp, a floor lamp is the way to go!
*Bonus* Candles
Lighting isn’t always about brightness—sometimes, it’s about creating a soft, soothing glow. Candles provide just that, offering warmth and ambiance that lamps or overhead lights simply can’t match.
In our old house, when our baby was asleep, even the sliver of light from the bathroom would wake her. As a solution, we started using candlelight instead, and to our surprise, it created the most peaceful atmosphere. Now, even when the baby isn’t a factor, I still love lighting a candle for a relaxing bath or shower. There’s just something undeniably calming about the flicker of candlelight filling a space.
In Conclusion..
Finding the right lighting solutions for your home doesn’t have to include an expensive installation or the hiring of an electrician. Whether you need a statement piece for your dining room, a soft glow for bedtime reading, or a cozy ambiance for a relaxing bath, there are plenty of wire free options to suit your needs. From plug-in sconces to rechargeable bulbs and even the timeless charm of candles, each of these solutions has made a big difference in my home—without the hassle of hardwiring.
If you’re looking for renter-friendly, budget-conscious ways to brighten up your space, I hope this list gives you some inspiration! What are your favorite creative lighting solutions? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear what’s working in your home!
Links!
Plug-In Wall Sconce – https://amzn.to/3Q1finy
Rechargeable Lightbulbs – https://amzn.to/4hxe3sg
Rechargeable Wall Sonce – https://amzn.to/3Fxqvdu
Kids Reading Lights – https://amzn.to/4aES1l3
MCM Floor Lamp – https://amzn.to/3CIHvfN
You can find my master Amazon list here!
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