You could make a cardboard box look like a palace with the right sconces – which is why it’s always felt personally offensive that, as a renter in New York City, I’ve been barred from living out my full sophisticated sconce-girl fantasies. I want them everywhere: flanking framed photographs, bracketing my bed, even in the bathroom to fake a boutique-hotel glow. The problem? Wiring – a headache I couldn’t get entangled in even if I tried.
Or so I thought. Because I’ve now found a workaround on Amazon – on sale, no less – that lets me skip the electrician entirely. For $60, you get two pleated-shade sconces with unreasonably luxe-looking gold hardware, running on a built-in battery that lasts 13–30 hours depending on brightness (I prefer the lower setting for a layered lighting idea). Being cordless, they conveniently bypass landlord restrictions while still serving the old-world-hotel glamour I’m after.
KDG
Cordless Wall Sconces, Set of 2
They’ve got a touch-sensitive on/off button to adjust dimness – or you can operate them via remote control from across the room. Charging takes four to six hours, and indeed: this Amazon lighting deal extends to the black hardware, too.
We’ve seen portable lamps before, but the genius here is the wall mount. You screw a base plate into the wall, clip the sconce in place, and pop it off to charge via the Type-C port. Think shelf installation – the kind of ‘technically removable’ project most landlords will tolerate.
At 15.7 inches tall, they’re substantial enough to make an impact without overwhelming a wall. The listing says each can light 15–25 square feet – great for a small living room lighting idea or inside of my Manhattan studio, but if you have more space, double-flank artwork, line a hallway, or install a row over a long sideboard.
Finally, I can execute the vision for just $60. I don’t know how long the deal will last, but let’s just say that these pleats already look pretty in my cart.
More renter-friendly sconces I love
PB Teen
Emery Rechargeable No Nails Sconce
If you’d rather skip nails altogether, a stick-on adhesive wall sconce is the ultimate low-lift move. Finding an attractive one is oddly difficult, but I did uncover a scalloped-edge woven rattan shade that feels far chicer than its marketing (it’s pitched to teens for dorm rooms and such, but lazy, renting adults absolutely qualify).
Shenmoyl
Adhesive Battery Operated Wall Sconce, Set of 2
For something softer and a touch mid-century, these linen shades are a steal. They diffuse light beautifully, casting from both ends – perfect for spotlighting formal art or lending a quieter, less ‘hotel’ take on luxury in a bedroom. On its dimmest setting, a single charge can last up to 45 hours.
Pooky Lighting US
Drake Cordless Wall Fitting
If you don’t mind broadening your budget, Pooky remains the cordless lighting gold standard. The brand offers a dizzying array of shades (I always gravitate toward the ikats – the Yoda is pictured here), so you can customize your look and give your lighting a more bespoke, high-design edge.
Another unnecessarily elegant Amazon sconce I can’t stop thinking about? These scalloped shell beauties – pure Capri fantasy, courtesy of our Style & Trends Editor’s recent trip – and just $25.
Source link
