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Light can be used to change the way a room is seen. By adding a light to a dark corner of a room, you can make the room seem bigger, brighter, and more functional. However, many people get caught up on the idea that they will need to settle for a simple standing lamp or rewire the room just to add some light. This isn’t the case.
There are many ways to add more lighting to a room without worrying about running new wiring, so even DIYers with no experience working on household electrical systems can easily add lighting to a room. In this guide, we will discuss four ways to add light to a room without wiring, so that you can illuminate your dark and dreary basement, den, or bedroom.
1. Wireless Sconces
One of the first things DIYers assume is that they will need to choose between overhead lighting vs. table or floor lamps, but there are many other ways to illuminate a room, such as wireless wall lights. In fact, Alina Enache, architect and co-founder of Lamp Genius, says wireless lights “now come in many shapes and sizes and are perfect for adding light to a darker area where there are no sockets for lamps or overhead lighting.”
Wireless wall sconces, like these, can add a touch of design flare to your space while lighting dark corners of a room or illuminating an otherwise dark wall or bookshelf. These sconces typically use rechargeable batteries and mount to the wall with simple adhesive strips or small screws, similar to the amount of effort required to hang a picture and easier than mounting a TV. They may also come with a remote control for brightness and color temperature adjustment.
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Depuley Battery Operated Wall Sconces
These highly rated rechargeable light fixtures come with color-changing, dimmable bulbs and a remote control.
Buy Now2. Battery-Powered Puck Lights
At first thought, battery-powered lighting may seem cheap and ugly, but Enache explains that while “battery lighting has a reputation for being poor quality and mostly used in novelty lighting, over the past few years, the technology has improved significantly, and so has the quality.”
You can attach magnetic or adhesive-backed puck lights, such as these Alivation Puck Lights, to your walls, ceiling, under your cabinets, or just about anywhere else you want a bit more lighting without cables. However, there is an even better way to use these lights without needing to wire a light switch. Simply place them inside light fixtures, like pot lights or wall sconces. You can hang the fixtures without wiring them, then control the puck lights with a remote to give the appearance that the room has these more attractive fixtures installed.
3. Plug-In Pendant Lights
There are many living rooms that lack a ceiling light, but this doesn’t mean that you need to get involved with potentially outdated electrical wiring just to give your room a little extra light. “In many properties, the lighting is an afterthought. By adding more ambient lighting layers, you create an environment in which you and your family can actually spend time and relax,” says Enache.
Installing a ceiling light without wiring doesn’t need to be difficult. Plug-in pendant lights, like this Oesotry 3-Light Pendant Light, are single lights designed to hang by a cord from the ceiling. You simply need to run the wire from the light to a nearby outlet to provide power to the fixture. Not only are these lights easy to run and install, but you can choose from a range of sizes, so that you can scale your pendant light to the spot it will hang and match your lighting needs.
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Oesotry 3-Light Fixture
This plug-in pendant light features three bulbs and is ideal for installing above a kitchen island or large dining table.
Buy Now4. Stick-On Under-Cabinet and Strip Lighting
In some cases you may not need a lot of light to improve the appearance and functionality of the room. Simple stick-on under-cabinet lighting, such as the MCGOR Under Cabinet Lights, can add convenient lighting in your kitchen to help you see what you are doing during meal prep. You can also add strip lighting to your books shelves, behind wall art, or add LED strip lighting behind trim or along shelf edges to enhance the room’s overall ambient light.
Enache states that “battery-operated lighting now comes with a sticky back on the fixing plate, with the option to screw in. This means you can easily attach it to the wall without damaging it, and it also means you can do this yourself without having to bring in a contractor.” No matter your reason, this is a simple home electrical project you won’t have to put off until you have enough time to work with an electrician or general contractor.
