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Changing a Light Fixture into a Plug-In

Indoor Projects •  December 1, 2017

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How To Change a Light Fixture into a Plug-In Lamp

Brass Wall Sconce Wired as a Plug-In

If you’re wondering how you can hang a wall sconce light fixture without running wiring in the wall, then you’ve come to the right place! This process will also work if you have a ceiling-mounted fixture but no light switch!

This all came about when I found this beauty at our local ReStore.
Brass Wall Sconce from ReStore

I immediately fell for the cutouts on the shade.?The color wasn’t my favorite but I knew I could change that…which was my first step!

Materials

Here’s everything I used to update the finish and the wiring:

  • hacksaw
  • mill file
  • Rub N Buff wax metallic finish in Antique Gold*
  • painter’s tape
  • lamp cord set*
  • wire nuts
  • wire strippers*
  • wall hook*
  • cord cover
  • surge protector

Change the Finish

After cutting a small section off the bottom of the fixture, I applied the gold wax. All you have to do is rub it on (with gloves on!) and then buff it to your desired sheen with a clean cloth. I found that less was more when it came to buffing.

Once I was satisfied with how it all looked, it was time to re-wire!

Re-Wire with Plug

This part is so simple! Using the wire strippers, I cut the lamp cord set to length. Yes! You can shorten the cord so you don’t have a bunch of excess by the outlet!

Then I stripped the sheathing from the wire about 3/4 of an inch down. (Watch the video above for reference.) One wire from the cord set was wrapped around the white wires from my fixture and capped with a wire nut. The other wire was connected in the same way with the black wires from my fixture. And that is that!

Hang and Install

The fixture was hung in place above my desk with the new cord coming out of the fixture where I cut that small piece off. And I plugged it into my Woods surge protector. With a push of the button, my new ‘lamp’ was lighting up our living room! And it’s great that the extra outlets on this power strip rotate when not in use. Keeps those tiny baby hands out of harm’s way!

Woods Surge Protector and Power Strip with 7 Outlets

**This video was sponsored by Woods though all opinions are honest and 100% my own!

I just love the look and function of my ‘new’ light fixture!!

Brass Wall Sconce Wired as a Plug-In

Thanks for Checking In! ~Chelsea

*This post contains affiliate links*

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Comments

  1. Satish chandra says

    December 2, 2017 at 8:42 am

    Very nice, neatly done.

    Reply
  2. Krista says

    December 5, 2017 at 4:22 pm

    Love this! I have one pretty similar sitting in my garage that I’ve been wanting to do this to but didn’t know how!

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lipford Wolf says

      December 6, 2017 at 10:00 am

      You got this Krista!??Can’t wait to see it when you’re done! ~Chelsea

      Reply
  3. Helen Seymour says

    January 19, 2018 at 9:00 am

    I had no idea it was that simple. Thank you so much……….. 🙂

    Reply

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