Convert wall lights from Hardwire into plug-in :DIY Home Decor

The little corner between the built-in wardrobes in the bedroom has new wall lights. I originally planned to build a window seat in this area, but now I’ve decided to put a small desk in this corner. So the corner needed some lighting and these dimmable brass lights were exactly what I needed. The price was great and I love the simple design and high colors.

Since I installed them on the sides of the built-in wardrobes (which aren’t finished inside) and they needed to be plugged into the electrical outlets in the closets, I bought hardwired wall lights and converted them to plug-in lights.

I bought these dimmable remote-controlled lighting controls – one for each wall lamp – along with two of them Very inexpensive indoor extension cable.

Then I measured and marked the placement of the wall light on the outside of the closet. These wall lights had the two decorative nuts that hold the wall light to the top.

So I removed the mounting plate, let the long screws hang, then used a level to get the mounting plate just right. Then I used a pencil to mark the placement.

The mounting screws (that is, the screws attached to the actual wall light) protrude from the back of the mounting plate and prevent the plate from lying flat against the cabinet.

Using a drill bit that is only slightly larger than the head of the screw, I drilled two holes so that the screw heads would dip into those holes. I didn’t drill these holes all the way through the sides of the cabinet. They’re only about 1/2-inch deep to allow enough room for the wall light to be tightened to the cabinet. The side of the cabinet is 3/4-inch thick.

I then attached the mounting plate with two 5/8 “wood screws, and then used a 5/8” spade to drill a center hole through the side of the cabinet.

Next I made sure the extension cord was unpluggedand I determined how long it would take to get from the outlet to the back corner of the closet, about three feet high and then to the hole I had just drilled, plus about five inches. After figuring out the correct length, I used my wire cutters to cut off the end of the extension cord.

Then I had to determine which side (i.e. which wire) of the extension cord was neutral and which was hot. Generally, one side of an extension cord is ribbed and the other is smooth. I’ve always found the ribbed side to be the neutral and the smooth side to be the hot one, but I’m still checking again. The way you do this is by looking at the connector and finding the wide side …

That is neutrality. Just look to see which wire is on this page. It was indeed the ribbed side that went into the neutral area.

So I ran the end of the cord through the hole in the side of the cabinet and wired the sconce – ripped / neutral went to the white wire on the sconce and smooth / hot went to the black wire on the sconce. I secured them with wire nuts and duct tape.

And then I attached the ground wire to the little green screw on the mounting plate.

Then I attached the wall lamp with the two small decorative nuts.

The wall light can be switched on and off with the remote control supplied with the dimmer control and works perfectly even when the cabinet doors are closed.

When I finish the insides of the cabinets I go back and attach the wires to the insides of the cabinets to give them a neat look, but for now I only used one of those coaxial staples …

… and attached the wire to the inside of the cabinet.

That will prevent it from being pulled out for the time being, and I’ll secure it the rest of the way after the insides of the cabinets are done.

I used 100 watt LED daylight lamps in the sconces, and they are super bright when turned all the way up, which I love. But Matt is going to love the fact that they’re dimmable because he loves having really low light in the evenings. And best of all, you can sync them both so that they both turn on and off (and dim and brighten) with one remote control.

I’m still wondering whether or not to put curtains on this window. I ordered a woven window screen for privacy, but I think it might be nice to add some softness to this area with some fabric.