If your room could use a little extra light, but you need something more interesting than a floor or table lamp that still doesn’t require electrical installation, this industrial corbel sconce might be your perfect fit.
❝ lighting is one of the most essential elements for transforming a space.❞
I love this sconce light because it can be hung high to add another level of lighting to a space. This variety gives your space a little more personality and can also help conserve valuable table or floor space for other essential elements.
It hangs on the wall just like a picture frame and plugs into any outlet. You don’t need a drill to make it and it doesn’t require an electrical install. This gives your space a built-in lighting look without the cost or remodel. Not only that, it’s super easy to make.
tips for adding this to your space:
I love this light as an overhead lamp above your favorite cozy reading chair — it can be mounted high or low to give you the best light. I hung mine behind & above my couch used an outlet with a switch so I can flip it on and off easily.
It would also be perfect to mount just above your nightstand or headboard. Make two for coordinating evening lights. I like bulbs with a yellow glow for the evening — like the vintage one I used — since they don’t have blue light and help you sleep better.
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you’ll need:
[checklist-box title=”DIY Corbel Sconce Light Supplies”] [/checklist-box]
step 01 Assemble the light.
The lamp cord has a little plastic disk like a washer that screws off the front of the light bulb socket and allows you to slide the lampshade on and then screw the plastic disk back on to secure the shade and hold it in place. After you’ve attached the shade, screw in your bulb.
step 02 Stain / Finish the Corbel
I chose to stain my corbel, but you can also paint it. The stain I chose is Briarsmoke from Varathane. I love this color because it’s a deep brown with a grey undertone which goes with all the grey finishes – like cabinets, floors, and paint – in my house.
For a rustic or weathered look, I recommend staining then sanding to distress. Seal with wax, finishing oil, or clear spray paint for a matte finish or use polyurethane for a glossy finish. I went with just a coat of stain and then a coat of clear matte spray paint.
step 03 Attach the light to the corbel.
You might have to do a little measuring to figure out how you want your light to hang depending on where it will be on your wall. Once you know the approximate height, place the lamp cord across the top of the corbel at your desired height with the light off the edge (aka the tip of the corbel that is farthest from the wall when it is hung) and then secure in place with a couple staples.
You can use a staple gun or hammer-in staples to secure – just be careful not to puncture the cord at all since this can cause an exposed wire and make the light electrically unsafe.
After your cord is secured on the end of the corbel, wrap the cord 2-3 times around the horizontal leg of the corbel, securing with staples as you go. To finish, I ran the cord along the edge of the corbel that will be against the wall and secured with more staples.
step 04 Hang it on the wall.
The corbel I chose has a nail hook already in it for hanging, so all it took was a little measuring and securing in place with some drywall anchors & screws.
If your corbel doesn’t have a hanging mechanism, you can add on your own or secure your corbel with an “L” bracket on the top.
ta-DA!
Here’s how it looks in the space.
I later used a 3m hook at the base of the wall to pull the cord taut for a more polished look.
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cara newhart
I'm Cara, the designer & diy queen behind Never Skip Brunch. I'm a color & prints obsessed DIY queen who's here to help you create a beautifully lived-in life through home design advice and chic DIY tutorials
Wow, what a great DIY! Easy enough, but looks super chic and modern!
Megan