By: Rose Matthes

Installing traditional wired wall sconces can be a real hassle. You'll need to drill into your wall, run electrical wiring to the spot where you want your sconcses, and you won't be able to easily redecorate or switch it up. 

That's why smart home decor enthusiasts have been discovering ways to 'hack' traditional wired wall lights to unlock cute ambient lighting without the expensive and messy parts. 

Let's walk through how to hack a traditional wall sconce so you can skip the expensive wiring!

By: Rose Matthes

Co-Founder of Poplight

 

Here's what we'll cover in this step by step guide about how to hang a wall sconce without tools:

• What sconces work best for this (hint: they're rechargeable)
• How to prep your wall for installing sconces
• How to mount your sconce
• The easiest solution to skip the steps above

Let's get into it!

Here's a step by step guide about how to hang a rechargeable wall sconce without any tools

Buy cutting the wires off an expensive wired wall sconce and gluing a remote controlled LED in place of a bulb, you can unlock wireless rechargeable wall sconces.

Step 1: Choose the Right Wall Sconce

If you're like us, you're not looking to add a utility light to your bedroom or home office. You want stylish, functional wall light that fits your space and decor. Before you shop for a sconce that fits your style, you'll first need to identify how you want to tackle this!

1. Your first option: buy a more expensive, traditional sconce (one that was meant to be wired) and snip the wires off the back of it. Major downside: you might still need to drill this sconce into your wall, since not all traditional sconces make it easy to substitute drilling for double sided adhesive. You'll need to investigate a sconce that falls into this category to see if you'll still need to drill. 
2. Your second option: Skip the hard part about trying to find a wired wall sconce that might be able to stick on your wall and go with a rechargeable wall light like Poplight.

We strongly recommend avoiding gluing an LED to a wired wall sconce - just choose a rechargeable wall sconce. Although these options can seem easy enough, you're still stuck drilling a wall mounted light and with all the extra work of buying and then gluing on an LED. These solutions might not hold up in the long run, and then you're stuck with an expensive wired wall light that you've snipped the wires on! 

If you're using a rechargeable wall sconce , whether it sticks on your wall or drills into your wall, head to the next step!

Step 2: Prep your walls for installing your sconce

Whether you end up using a drill to hack a traditional wired sconce, or go with a cute rechargeable wall sconce, you'll need to prep the wall where you plan to install your wall light. 

Check out this helpful guide about spaces in your home that might benefit from wall mounted lights and the ideal height for each space.

To properly prep your walls for drilling or a stick on rechargeable wall light, clean the wall surface first.

It is highly recommended that you clean the wall with isopropyl alcohol if you plan to stick a rechargeable wall sconce on the wall. We love the Perfect Poplight Install Kit for stick on rechargeable wall lights because it includes everything you need to clean your wall!

Step 3: Measure and mark your wall

If you're drilling your sconce into your wall, you'll only really get one chance to do this, so spend some time choosing the exact location for your sconce. 

If you're sticking your wall sconce on the wall, you'll have a bit more flexibility. But we'd still encourage you to identify where you want your rechargeable wall sconces to go. 

If you're mounting 2 sconces, say on either side of a bed or above a sofa, measure the height from the floor to be sure the sconces are level with each other. Use a pencil to mark your ideal spot on the wall. With a traditional wall sconce, you'll want a level to be sure your lights are installed without an awkward angle. 

We love Poplight because it includes a built in level in the mounting plate, so you won't need ANY tools to install it. 

Step 4: Apply the adhesive (or get your drill)

If the wall sconce you chose doesn't let you use adhesive to stick to your wall (this will depend on the mounting plate and if you can hack it by skipping the drill) you'll be stuck drilling the sconce into your wall.

The far easier option is to go with a rechargeable stick on wall sconce.

To install a stick on wall sconce on your wall, you'll just need to remove the paper protecting the adhesive, and press firmly on your cleaned wall surface. 

Step 5: Enjoy the glow of a rechargeable wall sconce without any tools!

If you've skipped the drill and gluing any messy LED to wired wall sconce, your rechargeable wall sconce should be lighting up your space already! 

 

The Poplight hack: why this rechargeable wall sconce offers the best of both worlds

Oh, and did we mention how CUTE Poplight is?

 

Poplight was invented to allow you to skip the messy steps of hacking a wired wall sconce and get all the functionality of cute, stick on wall lighting but without any damage to your wall. 

Here's why we think Poplight is the best rechargeable wall sconce out there

1. No need to 'hack' a wired wall sconce:  You won't need to waste your money on a traditional wired wall sconce just to cut the wires and ruin it!
2. No tools needed, really: Unlock other stick on wall sconces where you will need a level or even a screw drive to complete the install, Poplight does not require any tools, making Poplight the ultimate way to hang a wall sconce without any tools. Of course, if you hack a wired wall sconce, you're also going to be saddled with drilling it into your wall - that's a thing of the past with Poplight!
3. Poplight is rechargeable: We are HUGE fans of USBC rechargeable wall sconces like Poplight. If you hack a wired wall sconce, you'll need to remove the glued LED and charge it separately. Poplight can be charged where it's mounted on the walll OR you can pop out the battery pack and charge it closer to an outlet. You can also purchase an extra Poplight battery pack so you always have a fully charged battery. 
4. Poplight is designed to be removed: Although these wall light hacks might looks simple enough, Poplight is the only rechargeable stick on wall sconce that is designed to be removed from your wall, too. Think about it, you'll eventually move or redecorate, and Poplight is the only rechargeable sconce that lets you easily remove it without any damage. No holes to patch from drilling and wiring, and adhesive that's designed to be removed without damaging your wall. 
5. Poplight is renter friendly: If you rent your space, Poplight lets you add the ambiance of cozy wall mounted lighting but without the risk to your security deposit or the stress of a messy move out day. Poplight's USBC rechargeable battery means this wall light let's you charge it wherever you have an outlet, so if your apartment is short on outlets, no stress!

Skip the DIY, get a rechargeable wall light that was made for you

Poplight lets you skip the hack-y solutions and DIY steps and tools. Get cute, rechargeable wall lights that install anywhere in seconds. Poplight is truly tool free and everything you need to install this rechargeable wall sconce is included. 

Ready to upgrade your home without any tools? Shop Poplight here!