Believe it or not, I was actually a film major in college. And while you might think this disqualifies me from making interior design judgments, I quite disagree. Take a film's set, for example — what is location scouting or set design other than renting an apartment or decorating a home? What is cinematography other than an artistic vision? And in what other industry is lighting as unbelievably important?
To me, that last point is really the biggest. In film, lighting a single scene can take upwards of an hour. There is so much to convey — mood, time of day, energy — and so much to contend with — windows, camera lenses, hair color — that you have to slow down and get it right. Otherwise, your shot is, well, shot.
It's the same with the home; you have to get your lighting right. What kind of mood are you trying to curate? What are you saying with your space? What is the energy of the room? You can, of course, answer these questions with furniture and accents from some of the best home decor brands, but whether you realize it or not, you're answering it with lighting, too.
That said, bespoke lighting can cost a pretty penny. We can't all drop thousands to hire an electrician to hardwire a gorgeous new statement chandelier in our living room or cutie little sconces next to our bed. But what we can all do is shop on Amazon and read Livingetc, two habits that I promise will pay off tenfold when it comes to customizing your home. And I'm about to prove it to you.
I am no stranger to writing about rechargeable wall sconces — from where I stand, they are the perfect bespoke lighting solution for ever-evolving homes. You can install them yourself, they are relatively affordable, and you can use them from room to room. Of course, then, I jumped at the chance to spotlight the unbelievably modern set featured in this reel from content creators Alexa Mason and Elizabeth Novoa.
Available at Amazon for $100 (truly a fraction of what an electrician would cost), this set of 2 wall sconces boasts a contemporary paper clip-like design that makes installation a breeze. They add the 'softest glow' to your space, say Alexa and Elizabeth, who suggest using the included hanging rods only if you have the appropriate stud support; otherwise, you can do what they did and just drill a hook into the wall.
I think these sconces add such a fabulous look to this little nook — and are a great way to get your at-home lighting just right! Imagine how they'd look on either side of your bed or next to the mantle/fireplace. The possibilities are endless!
Price: $9.99 for 4
Was: $15.99
The sconces would hang perfectly off these stainless steel wall hangers, which protrude less obviously than the other hook option in this section. For what it's worth, these exact wall hooks are hanging on the wall in my bedroom and I can definitely recommend them. They've held up well over the last three years and installation was a total breeze!
Price: $99.99
Was: $118.36
As if you needed more convincing, these hanging sconces also come with four color temperature options (white light, yellow light, warm white, and warm yellow) and are dimmable to 10% brightness.
Price: $9.99 (200mm, 2 pieces)
Alexa and Elizabeth use these long hooks in their video/design scheme. I love the 'long-neck' look and how it adds some distance between the sconce and the wall, but it you want something a bit shorter, these hooks are available in 145mm, 120mm, and 100mm, too.
6 no-hardwire sconces to try
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If you're in the market for some additional lighting, or just didn't love the 'hanging' look of the option above, take a peek at a few of the below and see if they tickle your fancy, instead.
Price: $95
I have yet to try the Poplight, but I've been fascinated by it for months. At least superficially, it looks like the perfect lighting solution for renters: it's rechargeable, easily installed, and requires no drilling. Simply mount a detachable circular base onto the wall, then swivel the Poplight onto the base. It's that easy (supposedly — but they are so popular, they're on backorder!).
Price: $23.99
For more of a spotlight vibe, these cordless, adhesive, rotating sconces should do the trick. Specifically, I think these would be perfect for reading in bed, glass of tea in hand. And in the event you need to get up and light your way to the kitchen for more, the sconce actually detaches from the wall-mounted and can be used as a handheld flashlight. Tres chic!
Price: $38.99
These magnetic, rechargeable, and adhesive motion sensor wall sconces were a huge hit when I first wrote about them back in January. And honestly, it’s not hard to see why. For one thing, they boast a motion sensor feature, meaning they turn on when they detect movement and automatically turn off some time later. It’s an easy and affordable home automation that looks quite stylish, too. For ultimate convenience, you can even detach the rod from the magnetic base and carry it around like a flashlight.
Price: $69.99
Was: $89.99
I’ll admit — this sconce isn’t rechargeable/battery-powered. But it still looks like a great choice for anyone hoping to avoid hardwiring their bedroom lighting. This gorgeous piece actually plugs into the wall (old school!), but keeps things stylish and chic by threading most of the unsightly power cord through a brass tube. It has an industrial vibe that customers seem to love: ‘These metal lanterns look great by the front door. Was easy to install and I'm very pleased with them,’ one person wrote in a 5-star review.
Price: $124.99
If you need to decorate a beach house this summer, these rattan wall sconces are just the thing. Again, these do plug into the wall — so they’re not rechargeable — but they’re affordable and look easy to install. And ideally, the clear-colored power cord will be easy to disguise. If it were me, I’d pair these with a rattan table lamp and call it a day!
Price: $160
Once you secure the base to the wall (I do think drilling is required here), the head of this wall sconce can be removed for charging and re-attached magnetically on an as-needed basis. It’s also dimmable, which is important when curating a vibe and signaling the energy of a room.
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