Hope you all had a happy Easter! I am pretty excited to show you all a little trick we did in Emma’s room with her makeover. All along I knew I wanted some pretty sconces on either side of her bed. So I bought some. I was in her room getting ready to hang them, then my husband comes in and ruined my plans again (for the better), and he had another idea…To make the sconces that I bought actually look like they are hardwired into the wall, instead of just plugged in. Brilliant.
Now here it is:
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So first things first. I bought these plug-in swing arm wall sconces at Lowe’s. Please note they are the plug-in kind.
And being the plug-in kind, means there would be a cord running down the wall. Now, it does come with the metal cord cover as shown below, which is great and is what I was completely fine with doing in her room. I was seriously about to drill holes when he came in!
So when hubby came in the room, he realized that these also have the option to be hardwired (by a real electrician because we don’t mess with electrical work), but then his smart brain also realized that since they are the plug-in kind, that he could fish the cord down through the wall, drill another hole at the bottom of the wall right above the baseboard, and then still use the sconces plug-in feature. And then it would give the appearance of a wall sconce that is hardwired.
Ya with me?
Now I think you understand. :)
So he drilled a hole in the wall where we wanted the sconce, used fish tape to pull the cord through and down the wall and out through the second hole, then used a cheap outlet cover that’s typically used for cable or something. BRILLIANT.
And we are using the wall sconce’s plug-in feature still, but we just did a better job of hiding the cord. ;)
No one would ever know these aren’t really hardwired…
The basket of toys stay there, and then where the other sconce is there is Emma’s nightstand…
I am so thankful he came up with this idea, otherwise we’d have metal poles going down the wall. Which would have been ok with me, but I LOVE not having them.
Here is a better picture of the other sconce on the other side of the bed.
The light they put off is so pretty, and I am so happy with the results.
Obviously, this DIY is only for the plug-in type of sconces, but those are becoming more and more popular these days, so I think hiding them like this is a great alternative/option don’t you?
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What do you think? He’s a smart fella huh?
UPDATE: As of the writing of this post, we have been told that the way we hung up this sconce is not up to code. If you choose to do this, do so at your own risk and I will not be held liable for any damage, accidents, or any bad thing that may result from you doing this. This is no different than mounting a TV up on the wall and fishing the cord down and plugging it into the outlet or a surge protector. Again, that is technically not up to code, but it is something we do in our own home and are ok with it. So again, DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK. We clear? :)
xxoo,
Decorchick!
It’s a great idea but unfortunately I think it is against code? I could be wrong. You might want to check just to make sure so that if there was ever god forbid a fire in your home your insurance wouldn’t deny you! But the room is so so adorably cute!!!
Hey Emma I just updated my post to reflect that–you are correct. Anyone do this at your own risk! Or just not do it to be safe. :)
thanks for sharing this. I am so doing this in my bedroom. Not sure why it’s against code as we did it with our tv and had an electrician do it. whatever. I love it!
brilliant idea – yeah I don’t understand why it’s against code either – we did it with our TV in our bedroom and we have no problem. the cords are covered, etc.,
the room is so girly, love it!
Thanks Kelli! I think it is against “code” but shouldn’t be a fire hazard. It’s just one of those things…:)
I hear ya! In most states it is against code, but we too have several tvs wired this way. And, most electricians wire flat screens in the same fashion. I never understood it myself. Hanging down the wall, inside or out? I get on the outside it is visible.
I am not sure it’s really a fire hazard according to someone I talked to today. It’s just not how some electricians would do it…I just need to put a disclaimer in my post since people have varied on this answer. Ha!
The difference (for code) is that if your cord gets frayed etc (chewed on by a rodent or hit by a nail/screw etc) on the outside you can see it. Also, when electricians pull “real” wires they need to be secured to the studs at certain intervals (to prevent you from hitting them with a nail or having them get snagged/frayed by rubbing on something etc).
Additionally the type of electrical line you run (Romex) inside walls is NOT the same as the decorative covering used on lamp power cords. You also can buy ungrounded fixtures (2 prong) which is a whole other variable..
There are a multitude of reasons why this is against code.. but like she said, people do stuff against code ALL.THE.TIME. You buy a house built last year and you will find stuff not up to code.. It is all about what risks you are willing to take. :)
If I did it, I would just make sure I took them out before I sold my house… since they aren’t permanent, I say No Harm, No Foul!
Hi, it looks adorable. Check with an electrician because I was told it was against code and could cause a fire. Double check with a professional. Better safe then sorry!
I do not think it will cause a fire. I asked one today. It’s just not how an electrician would install it of course. :)
GREAT IDEA…
What about the plug. What did you do with it since the hole is just big enough for the wire?
I’m sure the hole in the actual drywall is big enough to pull the plug through and the faceplate then hides the larger hole and finishes it off nicely.
Hey Lisa, you don’t have to actually feed the pronged part down the wall as that was packaged separately. You can attach that at the end when you are done so that’s what my husband did. Since this light has the option to be hardwired or plugged in, I am sure that’s why they did it like that to give you the option. :)
Can you give more details about how the prong part was packaged seperately? I’m thinking about taking a lamp that is supposed to be hardwired, converting it to plug-in and doing what you did. Is there some special kind of plug that has a connector near the prong part to make it removable, or is the prong part attached to a longer cord that you then fished up through the wall and somehow connected to the light fixture? The more details the better! I’d love pics if you have any. Thanks!!!
Hi Debbie, the way this came, the actual plug part was packaged separately, so you attach that at the end. So you don’t have to actually feed the plug/prong part down the wall. Since this particular light can be hardwired or plugged in, I am sure that is why the manufacturer did it that way so you have the option to use either function.
I was wondering abt the plug too. Did u remove the wire from the scone and then rewire it after it is pulled up through the wall?
I’m sure the hole in the actual drywall is big enough to pull the plug through and the faceplate then hides the larger hole and finishes it off nicely.
I wondered the same thing as Liz & Debbie. I agree with what you said Lisa, however, you still need to get the plug through the small hole on the faceplate. Emily, can you share how you did that part?
Hey Karen, here is what I just told them: the way this came, the actual plug part was packaged separately, so you attach that at the end. So you don’t have to actually feed the plug/prong part down the wall. Since this particular light can be hardwired or plugged in, I am sure that is why the manufacturer did it that way so you have the option to use either function.
LOL, OMG, totally missed that.
the way this came, the actual plug part was packaged separately, so you attach that at the end. So you don’t have to actually feed the plug/prong part down the wall. Since this particular light can be hardwired or plugged in, I am sure that is why the manufacturer did it that way so you have the option to use either function.
Can you explain this part
used fish tape to pull the cord through and down the wall and out through the second hole
Fish tape? I am just trying to figure out how you got the cord out the other end of the wall. I like this idea a lot!
fish tape is like a thick wire that is on a reel that you feed down one hole to the other you then attach your wires/ cables to it and pull the fish tape back out the first hole and your wires come with it. Think a needle pulling thread. You can youtube it just type in “using fish tape”.
This is such a great idea! I have been wanting to do this in our bedroom.
Beautiful room!
Thank you Heather!
Did you loop that lovely ribbon over the whole lampshade (on the inside too)? Very cute!
We learned the hardway that doing this negates your home insurance.
Great idea! I’m ‘refreshing’ my house, but trying to avoid big projects like hardwiring or rewiring, it’s HARD to find pieces that don’t require it. Now, if you could figure out something similar for the adorable black chandelier I got for $25….not realizing it was a plug-in ceiling fixture?! How does that work? I run the cord on the ceiling, I guess stapling to secure, down the wall with more staples, then plug-in? That sounds so ridiculous and hideous to me. Could drill holes, but I promise Hubs won’t be cool with that. Idk really, how it’s meant to be used attractivly unless it’s rightbeside a plug or in a tiny room, even that woukdn’t make sense? Idk, but I’m sad I can’ tune it
in MY DD’s room upgrade! IDK if it will work at all since I plan to retain the wired fixture mount. I guess it’s for another project…thought about hanging it in the revamped old computer airmoire, now a contained desk/vanity for her…yah! Hopefully it s small enough. Or I could put in reading nook corner?