Rental-Friendly Sconce Lighting Ideas
Sconces Are an Easy Way to Upgrade Your Rental — Here Are 10 We Love
If you want to make a rental feel like your dream home, don't neglect this often-overlooked aspect of home decor: lighting. Think about it — what else shifts the vibe of a room as quickly as flipping a switch? (Nothing.) Sure, the standard overhead lighting is great when you need to do tasks like folding laundry, but if you want to create a cozy and comfortable ambience, a wall sconce is the way to go.
Generally, wall sconces give off background light to set a mood, and they're especially useful in small spaces since they take up literally zero floor space. Ahead, we've found 10 gorgeous wall sconces for renters — most of them plug into an outlet, so you won't even have to call an electrician to swap out your fixtures. What could be easier than that? Scroll through to discover our, er, brilliant picks.
Humanhome Loir Plug Lamp
This cleverly designed Humanhome Loir Plug Lamp ($295) plugs into an outlet and attaches to the wall for super-easy installation. With its Belgian linen shade and brass accents, it warms up a room in a simple, sophisticated way.
TOV Chic Wall Sconce
Made with brushed brass-tone and matte-black hardware, this TOV Chic Wall Sconce ($109) is like a piece of jewelry for your wall. The white frosted globe shade looks classic, but the silhouette itself feels thoroughly modern. Since it plugs in, you don't have to bother calling an electrician for this high-design style — just slot it into an outlet, hang it, and bask in the glow.
Shana Sconce
This plug-in Shana Sconce ($98) features a speckled circular base and woven-fabric cylindrical shade that creates a softly diffused light. It's a pretty option for bedside lighting, and since it's not hardwired, you can easily take it with you when it's time to move out.
Surya Cerro Sconce
If your rental already has sconce lighting, this hardwired Surya Cerro Sconce ($235) is an easy swap. Featuring a handmade rattan shade and gold-finish hardware, it has a globally inspired style that adds eclectic charm to any room.
Colburn Wall Sconce
And now, for a different kind of lighting. This rustic metal-and-wood Colburn Wall Sconce ($70) is a real mood setter. Just drop your favorite flameless candle into the glass cylinder, then watch as its light gently flickers against the wall. No outlet or hardwiring needed!
RBW Pastille 1 Wayfind
When installed in a hallway or next to the bed, this hardwired RBW Pastille 1 Wayfind ($420) adds a pop of color without being too flashy. It offers plenty of customization options, too: you can specify the color of the backplate, the style of the diffuser, and the light temperature to make this light just right for your space.
Doug Sconce
This one's for all you modernists out there: Blu Dot's Doug Sconce ($375) borrows from 20th-century designer Charlotte Perriand's iconic lighting, updating the silhouette with a chunkier look and putty color. It mounts vertically or horizontally, with a swiveling shade to send light where you want it. Use the attached cloth-covered cord to plug in, or remove it if you'd like your electrician to hardwire it.
Kalalou Wall Sconce Light
Part sconce, part shelf, this plug-in Kalalou Wall Sconce Light ($262) casts beautiful shadows over your most treasured objects. Use the lower shelf to show off plants, keepsakes, and other special items that deserve their own little spotlight.
Sanibel Sconce
Is this handmade Sanibel Sconce ($798) a splurge? Oh yes. But if your interior style goal is "seaside mansion, but make it a Nancy Meyers movie," how can you possibly resist a design made with coral, natural wood, and a pretty little tassel?
Leap Black Sconce
Stylish in another midcentury-inspired silhouette, the Leap Black Sconce ($89) features an elongated swivel arm that shines light where you please. For a dramatic look, position one on both sides of the bed and tuck the cords behind your nightstands.
