Renter BFF: The Plug-In Sconce

Arlyn HernandezOctober 18, 202020 Comments

Hello my lovely readers. As promised, I’m back this Sunday with another post! The past week has been filled with so much love and well wishes from you all, so thank you. I’m working towards healing and answers, and will update you all once I have something to say about that all!

Anyhow, today is a bit of a simple post but one I hope is useful to most of you. I’m talking all about plug-in sconces because I think they are the most undervalued, overlooked lighting by consumers and also retailers. I LOVE sconces, but I swear, scientifically speaking, they make up 22% of the wall light market (I made up this number, but it feels accurate). And that would be fine, except that I’m a long-time renter, and hardwiring lighting into walls I do not own is NOT an option. Enter, the plug-in sconce.

These babies typically screw right into the wall with a cord you can, well, plug-in. As someone who notoriously overstuffs the top of her nightstand with glasses (both the kind you drink from and the kind you wear on your eyeballs), books, balms, CBD oil, decor, etc. on a daily basis, taking a lamp out of the surface area equation is 100% necessary for me. This, of course, makes the sconce-by-bed my ideal solution for reachable lighting from my spot on the mattress—random question, what side do you guys sleep on? I’ve always been right-sider.

So, on my hunt, I’ve Pinned a handful of options I love. There are really only about 3 or 4 I’m highly considering for my bedroom right now, but I didn’t want my research to go to waste! If you’re on the hunt for new bedside lighting, I hope you this shopping round up is useful for you! The first set is under $200 with lots of budget picks (you have to buy two of them most of the time so…), but picked some splurges for the second set in case you either like dreaming, or just have more flexibility in your decor budget.

PLUG-IN SCONCES UNDER $200

PLUG-IN SCONCES $200+

Take a look, let me know which ones you like and if you like pieces like this! I have GAJILLIONS of secret boards on Pinterest with shoppable items I’ve collected for myself or projects I’ve worked on, so happy to continue sharing.

Love you all. I’m so grateful for the small yet mighty little community I have here. If you love the Arlyn Says blog, I’d love it if you would share with your design-loving friends, too! See you next week!

Shari says:

October 18, 2020 at 4:15 pm

Arlyn – absolutely loved this post & appreciate you sharing your shoppable picks! You mentioned – “only about 3 or 4 I’m highly considering for my bedroom right now” but you didn’t specify which ones you fancy/are debating between…the people want to know! AND want to help you narrow it down a la your bedroom paint choices. PLEASE PLEASE do more of these posts 🙂 Hoping you are on the mend and not in too much discomfort Xx
1. Arlyn Hernandez says:
  
  October 18, 2020 at 6:26 pm
  
  Hahaha part of me is not ready to say which ones yet because I haven’t settled on all my other pieces but I’ll share soon! And 10-4 on more of these. Any suggestions in particular??
Janine says:

October 18, 2020 at 5:51 pm

Hope you’ll be feeling better soon and I hope you get some answers!
1. Arlyn Hernandez says:
  
  October 18, 2020 at 6:25 pm
  
  Thank you Janine!
Kathy says:

October 18, 2020 at 6:14 pm

Why do I always love the more expensive ones??? Number 5 is my favorite on the expensive list but that Anthropologie for $1900???? Woof.
1. Arlyn Hernandez says:
  
  October 18, 2020 at 6:25 pm
  
  I know I know! I love that sconce so much but obviously it’s crazy priced. Just fun to dream sometimes!
elle says:

October 18, 2020 at 8:21 pm

Glad you are posting! Hope you continue to mend. These all look nice. I really liked the one in the picture at the beginning of the post too. It is especially nice for this reader that you included the vendor and the price in the clickable link below the pictures — makes for much nicer reading, so thank you!
1. Arlyn Hernandez says:
  
  October 18, 2020 at 8:52 pm
  
  Yeah that Serena & lily one was my top pick for the last year or so but now I’m looking possibly at going a little more modern!
Emie says:

October 19, 2020 at 2:15 am

I love this type of post. I’ve been considering this type of lighting to replace the lamps on our night stands. I do have a dilemma that I would like help solving. I’m considering a white slipcovered sectional…. they just seem so cozy and loungy (is that a word?). Thing is, I’m going to want to sit where the corner is with my computer nearby and I’m going to need some task lighting. For obvious reasons a lamp won’t work. Overhead lighting is not an option for the near future. I have seen a couple floor lamps that are “swoopy” looking with a huge arc and those aren’t very appealing to me. Any ideas? Plus….. would love to see your “secret” Pinterest boards!!! I hope you’re feeling better everyday and I hope you get some answers soon. As a nurse I understand how scary it is to have a medical issue during a pandemic (I recently had a minor surgery). I’m retired now but friends have told me they actually feel safer at work because everyone is following the strictest safety measures.
Rusty says:

October 19, 2020 at 8:16 am

I posted, but it disappeared?,
Sam E says:

October 19, 2020 at 5:01 pm

You read my mind, Arlyn! We are currently renting and haaaaaaaate our old nightstand lamps (and my nightstand currently has less than zero room for anything, especially a lamp), and just yesterday I started contemplating plug in sconces – what timing!

Now I just need to figure out which ones go best with our Arts & Crafts-style bed frame and nightstands…and how to convince my wife that brass is okay!
Jamie Shaw says:

October 19, 2020 at 5:22 pm

Love all of these, but what really has my mind spinning is that bed frame, any chance you know the source and are willing to share.
1. Arlyn Hernandez says:
  
  October 19, 2020 at 5:23 pm
  
  That photo is from Serena & Lily so likely it’s their bed!
JoNae Villeneuve says:

October 20, 2020 at 11:14 am

Love a plug-in sconce! Having an old home with a horrible lighting plan, the plug-in sconce is the key to so many issues. I totally agree with you around the fact that there is so little plug-in sconces out there! Seems like a market that has such opportunity. Also, ever notice how plug-in sconces are quite a bit more than a standard sconce? I would love to know why as a plug-in cord cannot be THAT expensive to have such a discrepancy (the weird things I think about).

Anyways, so many of these sconces are in my saved Pinterest boards as well. That leather one, though! 🙂 Dreaming…
1. Emie says:
  
  October 20, 2020 at 11:59 pm
  
  Is this just me or does anyone else feel this way…. Every time someone mentions their Pinterest Boards I want to go have a look see to find out what other people are pinning. I just want to see all the things people find interesting and I especially like looking at any boards related to decorating . I get some of my best ideas from Pinterest. Maybe it’s be fun if everyone replying could post their Pinterest pages if that’s something Arlyn thinks is OK?
  1. Arlyn Hernandez says:
    
    October 22, 2020 at 1:57 pm
    
    Yeah! I agree!
Michelle says:

October 22, 2020 at 8:23 am

I love a good plug-in sconce! I’m also team sconce and wish there were more options out there. I think these are all beautiful, but I’m a big fan of diffused light beside the bed instead of directed light, so I’d go for any of the options with a semi-transparent white covering.
Kelly says:

October 22, 2020 at 12:55 pm

FYI the one that is from urban outfitters (Item 1 in “under 200” does not have any on/off switch according to the specs. The only way to turn it on/off is to unplug it. Seems to be par for the course with some other Urban Outfitters sconces I clicked on. I don’t really think reaching behind a piece of furniture/bed/nightstand to plug on and off a sconce is that practical. Just wanted to warn folks in case they were interested in buying from urban!
1. Arlyn Hernandez says:
  
  October 22, 2020 at 1:58 pm
  
  Well that’s garbage! A work around could be to plug it into a wifi plug adapter so you could turn it off with your phone. But still, not ideal
  1. Kelly Camp says:
    
    October 22, 2020 at 2:01 pm
    
    That’s a good idea (to use a smart outlet). and I typoed – I meant to say Item *2* in under $200.