How to Make Any Wired Lamp Cordless with Designer Approved Bulbs
Today, I wanted to share an easy lighting hack with you. Emmett and I have been diving back into home projects this week, which forced me to give my design closet a little cleanup while taking inventory. Admittedly, I’m a lamp lover. I have a habit of collecting vintage (often non functional or hazardous) lamps that are beautiful, but don’t work or have a tendency to overheat. I’m definitely not looking to start a fire in our home for the sake of aesthetics. As I was looking around my closet, taking note of a few sad lamps that could be glowing throughout our house, I decided it was time to convert a few. Click through for my easy tutorial on how to make any wired lamp cordless- along with my favorite designer approved bulbs. There are a few different good options! I’ve also got styling tips inside.
I’ll start by saying, if you have an outlet nearby, you could easily rewire your lamp and set it on a smart plug. To be fair, that’s probably the most functional option, but sometimes it simply won’t work (visually). If you just need a quick solution or a lamp to fill negative space (sans cord), this post is for you. It’s also an optimal solution if you can’t implement a floor outlet and are floating a floor lamp in the center of a room. Sometimes the floor plan or vignette is stacked against you and you’ve got to get creative. That’s where battery bulbs come in! Let’s dive in…
Where & When to Style a Cordless Lamp
First, let’s chat about where you might style a cordless lamp… as an interior designer, cords can be difficult to disguise in a neat way that doesn’t feel like an eyesore or detract from the overall vignette. While the majority of the time, I style around a corded plugged-in lamp, there are plenty of scenarios where a cord simply doesn’t work or isn’t convenient. Going cordless is ideal for non-functioning or inefficient vintage lamps you don’t feel like rewiring… which is usually how I end up cutting the cord (quite literally). Here are five functional styling ideas where a cordless lamp simply makes the most sense, with ideas for each…
- On a countertop – the kitchen, laundry room, or an island are ideal places for a cordless lamp.
- On a vanity – think of a bathroom vanity, the powder room, or even a table or island in a walk-in closet.
- On a desk – perfect for any home office desk, den, console, hall, or entry table.
- For floated fixtures – floor lamps that are floated in the center of a room (not pushed against a wall or behind furniture) are great candidates for a battery powered bulb. Remove the tripping hazard cord altogether, rather than running it under a rug.
- On a shelf or in a cabinet – I love styling a lamp inside a cabinet or on a floating shelf. Cords are especially tricky in those situations.
Now that I’ve got your wheels turning, this is how I easily convert any wired lamp to cordless… it’s incredibly easy.
Steps for Making a Lamp Cordless
First (scary as it seems), grab a sharp pair of scissors or wire cutters and cut the cord from the backside of the lamp.
Next, pop off the bottom casing or cover (it may also be a felt cover), to remove the remainder of the cord… it should pull out easily after being cut close. This step isn’t totally necessary, but I prefer a super clean look (no cord remnant poking out the back). I also take this time to clean or polish the lamp, if needed.
Next, I grab my fully charged battery powered bulb. They come in all shapes and sizes, but this vintage lamp required two standard size bulbs, so I opted for this exact pack (they changed their name since my photo). The thing I like about these bulbs… you can adjust the bulb temperature, brightness, they hold a long battery charge, and it has a timer. Screw in the bulb, set your timer, dial in the bulb temp & brightness, and that’s it! I always opt for a warmer look, but it’s customizable.
This vintage mini bouillotte lamp is currently styled on my kitchen counter, but you know me… lamps are always floating around my home as I style and re-style. There is no shortage of them around here! I do love a kitchen countertop lamp though.
Bulb Options & My Preference
Believe me when I say, there are a lot of battery powered bulbs on the market, and they’re not created equal. I prefer bulbs that have a long lasting battery, but most importantly- I want to make sure the temperature can be adjusted. That means the light can be toggled from cool to warm. Timers are also handy! I definitely appreciate setting lights on a schedule. Controlling the brightness is another added perk.
I’ll drop some of my top picks for you below, but don’t judge them based on the thumbnail images. I’ve found that the affordable ones actually have more settings and have worked better.
What to Do with the Remote
I think the worst part about many battery powered bulbs is the tiny remote that accompanies them. Yes, it’s functional and necessary, but keeping track of them can be a pain. It’s definitely not a great item to style, so when it comes to hiding the remote… I usually do one of three things:
- I’ll adhere a bit of velcro to the backside of the remote, then velcro it beneath the table it’s styled on.
- If there is a drawer below the surface, I’ll tuck it into the drawer.
- Other times, I’ll use a decorate box- whatever is nearby where it won’t become lost… a place to corral and conceal it.
FAQ
Estate sales, Etsy, the thrift store, antique shops, etc. I’ve always got my eyes peeled for a pretty lamp.
Truthfully, no… not with hardwired fixtures. Maybe it’s an unpopular opinion, but hardwired fixtures are a permanent light. Lamps are what I consider to be non permanent. You can style them from room-to-room as you please. You can’t easily move a hardwired fixture to another room once it has been installed, so if you’re going to the effort of installing it- you might as well hardwire the fixture for it’s intended purpose… on a switch. I also think non functioning hardwired fixtures decrease the value of your home. When it comes time to sell, a buyer isn’t going to want to discover that.
We have done this once before, but never in our home. We opted to use rechargeable bulbs in our camper renovation (wall sconces) because the camper runs on a generator and we limit our power consumption. With table and floor lamps, these bulbs are a fantastic solution because you have design flexibility.
You definitely can! In fact, I have a few cordless lamps I’ve purchased from Amazon lately that have been really great (as seen in our outdoor kitchen). However, just like the bulbs I shared above- they have to be charged in some way, so they function the same. It’s really whatever aesthetic you’re going for, based on the tools (or lamps) you already own.
Related
Looking for more posts on lighting? Here are some of the most popular ones I’ve shared… from my favorite timeless fixtures to cleaning a lampshade and styling ideas, I hope these are helpful or inspiring!
- Hiding Cords for Wall Sconces & Picture Lights
- How to Deep Clean a Fabric Lampshade
- Trend Alert : Bouillotte Lamps
- How to Choose a Clip On Sconce or Chandelier Shade
- Designer Light Fixtures That Will Never Go Out of Style
- Ideas for Styling Crystal Table Lamps
- Tips & Advantages of Implementing Floor Outlets
- Designer Tips for Making Outlets & Light Switch Plates Look Better
- 20 Classic & Affordable Light Fixtures from Amazon
- Designer Trick : Light Temperature & Bulbs
Above is further proof I cannot resist a classic bouillotte lamp. They’re all over our house. I think Emmett counted seven? Don’t judge me! And- please tell me I’m not the only one who collects vintage lamps. I supposed it could be worse… especially during the winter months when we’re craving warmth & soft light. By the way, if you missed Monday’s post, it’s certainly worth a read: 20 ideas for creating a cozy home during the winter months. Anyway, I hope this post was helpful if you have a nonfunctioning lamp, are trying to avoid cords, or needed another reason to go thrifting. You’re welcome! Let me know if you grab some battery bulbs.