Don't get me wrong, I love the elegance of hardwired sconces – their flush fit against a wall, their effortless glow, and of course, their clean, cordless look. But what I don't love is their permanence – designed to stay put, hardwired sconces force you to make a long-term design decision.
There's an easy alternative wall-mounted lighting idea that's far less permanent but equally as stylish as hardwired sconces: plug-in sconces. As the name suggests, these sconces conveniently plug into outlets to power on. They're far more adaptable than their hardwired counterparts, plus, they eliminate the need for you to call an electrician for installation. All you need to do is choose a spot on your wall, mount the sconce in its place, plug it in, and voila – an instant atmosphere shift with little to no effort.
For renters, plug-in sconces are a must-have. And for those stricken with interior indecision, they're a lifesaver. Plug-in sconces give you the luxury of change, allowing you to modify your lighting scheme without any hassle.
Bring a chic, vintage-inspired look to your home with this plug-in sconce from Magnolia. I just love this sconce's olive shade, its brass backing, and of course, its fabric cord. Mount two on either side of your bed for a stylish, symmetrical look.
Add a subtle touch of texture to your interiors with this plug-in sconce. Its rattan shade is naturally elegant, while its antique brass backing invites a sleek level of shine. With a 72" cord, this sconce can sit comfortably at a mid-level on your walls, and it conveniently plugs in to create a glowing atmosphere.
This flush mount sconce is such an elegant choice to hang on a wall in your home. Its linen fabric will diffuse light so effortlessly, and its curved form creates a stylish display. Plus, its matching fabric cord blends in seamlessly. Even if it's not turned on, it's bound to look chic in your home.
Sold as a set of two, these sconces bring timeless style to the walls in your home. Their metal arms are designed to swing outward and inward, allowing you to position light exactly where you need it. That said, the best part about these sconces is that they're designed with a matching cord cover, hiding the cord in the most stylish way possible.
It's timeless, elevated, and modern by design. This sconce is an ideal choice for those looking for a sleek, sophisticated light fixture to add to their walls. Its black cord tastefully matches with its oil-rubbed bronze finish, creating a seamless look against a wall.
This is certainly not your average wall sconce. It's round in form and appears light in weight – reminding me of the stylish paper lamp trend, despite the glass materiality of its shade. Plugged in and turned on, it'll create a moody glow that'll spread across your room.
Between its tiered form, its curved body, and its fluted design, this wall sconce looks undeniably elegant. Turned on, its light will tastefully cast up and down a wall, creating a soft glow within a room. Since it's designed as a plug-in sconce, it requires minimal mounting effort – helping you create a sophisticated lighting look in no time.
Believe it or not, this plug-in sconce was hiding in the children's section at West Elm. Although marketed for kids' bedrooms, I'd consider it a stylish choice for any spot in the home. I just love its raffia material, and even its wavy shape makes it a chic choice. Because it's designed as a plug-in, this sconce can mount anywhere you want – not effort necessary.
Between its pastel coloring and its skirted shade, this plug-in sconce is a playful lighting choice for your interiors. It can bring a soft pop of color to any corner of your home – whether you mount it as a bedside lamp or incorporate it in your living room scheme. For convenience, a switch is located on the cord for ease with turning on and off.
Pooky's Carter Wall Fixture is a sleek, minimal plug-in sconce base that can bring a chic style to your interior walls. Although you can pick any shade of your choosing, I love this printed variation – it'll bring a playful pop of color to your interior lighting scheme.
Like a floor lamp, but so much better. This plug-in sconce is a sleek choice that'll add height and light to your interior scheme without taking up floor space. Between its globe-shaped shade and its elongated, wall-mounted, covered cord, this plug-in sconce is effortlessly chic. Consider it the style statement you didn't know you needed.
With an accordion arm and a floral-like shade, this wall sconce has a charmingly vintage-inspired feel to it. Its brass finish is so tasteful, and I just love how its cord perfectly matches in color. If you live in a rental apartment, consider this sconce the bedside lamp you need to have.
There are so many reasons to love plug-in sconces. In my opinion, their accessibility is paramount – without the need for hardwiring, anyone can install these light fixtures in no time. Plus, they're typically much less expensive than their hardwired counterparts, making them much more attainable for home redesigns on a budget.
Aesthetically speaking, plug-in sconces can look just as stylish as hardwired alternatives. However, their visible cords are definitely a point of contention. That said, some plug-in sconces are designed with stylish cords, like the woven fabric cord of Magnolia's Chester Enamel Plug-In Sconce. Others are made to be a design feature themselves, like the elongated stem cord on Mitzi's Faye Plug-In Sconce. But if the plug-in sconce you like isn't designed with a stylish cord, you can always cover it with a cord cover, like this plaid option from Greenrow.
Even their versatility makes plug-in sconces a convenient pick for interior lighting. While it might seem obvious to mount them on either side of your bed, you can hang plug-in sconces anywhere in close enough proximity to an outlet. Mount one in your living room next to your sofa as a reading lamp, or hang one in your bathroom beside the mirror for an ambient glow. If you have a small home or apartment, plug-in sconces are particularly helpful as they free up floor and table space by making use of your walls, instead.
If design trends have taught us anything recently, it's that our interiors aren't stagnant, unchanging spaces. Quite the opposite, actually – they're made to grow and evolve along with our personal taste. Plug-in sconces account for that. You can mount them as you please and move them around when need be – giving you full control to change your mind (and the style of your space) whenever you want.
Although one of the draws to plug-in sconces is their flexibility, they still need to be mounted, and they must be in close proximity to an outlet. So, if you're looking for a light feature that doesn't require either of those things, a portable lamp might be an even better alternative.
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