Plug In Pendant Light Hack: Genius No-Wiring Idea

Whether you’re off to college or sprucing up a rental, you can absolutely make your dorm room or apartment feel fresh and stylish with this plug in pendant light tutorial! I’m here to show you how to create stunning, custom lighting for your space – no wall damage and totally budget-friendly!

Tired of drab, uninspired lighting in your dorm room, apartment, or rental home?

Would you like to add a touch of elegance without the limitations of wiring or damaging walls?

You’re in the right place!

Here’s the short answer: A plug-in pendant light hangs from a ceiling hook and plugs into a regular wall outlet, so you get stylish, custom lighting in a dorm, apartment, or rental with zero wiring, no electrician, and no landlord approval. The whole project takes about 30 minutes and requires no tools.

This tutorial will show you exactly how easy it is to create stunning, custom, and beautiful lighting with a plug-in pendant light that will be perfect for any space, budget, or temporary living situation.

Even if your home is temporary, we can make the most out of where you are!

Story time

When I took my 4th and last child to her college dorm last year, I already knew what would be waiting for us when we got there.

I knew that the excitement of moving into the dorms would quickly fade once she realized that it didn’t even closely resemble the quiet, spacious, and plush bedroom she was used to at home, along with endless snacks and her comfy sofa.

Instead, as she would be learning how to navigate this new life and creating a home away from home, she would be in a very small room with a roommate she didn’t know and would have to figure out how to make it work for her and all of her things.

And all of her roommate’s things.

She actually said “I don’t want to be here anymore,” in a moment of sadness and already missing home before I left.

It was an interesting year.

Her roommate was from the local town and had a freeloading boyfriend who didn’t go to school and had practically moved in with them by the end of the year.

Because of that, she couldn’t wait to get out of there and was looking forward to her new adventure once the next Fall semester came around.

(We put together a list of everything we think you will need to make the most out of dorm life. Check out our list of essentials for college move-in.) For even more ideas, check out our full college dorm move-in checklist.

This coming year it would all be different!

She would be renting a house with 4 other friends (that she already knew) and she was SO excited!

As they all figured out who would go where, we found out that her room would be the smallest and that floor space, and space in general, would be limited.

She would have enough room for her desk, which would also double as a makeup vanity, a queen bed, and a side table.

Once we got in there, it was much smaller than we thought.

But it didn’t matter….she would have her own space and she was thrilled!

We had to get creative (once again) about her lighting situation.

She wanted it to be a pretty and organized space that didn’t have a lot of clutter, and it needed to be neutral. She wanted a calm space.

That wouldn’t be hard since we were once again limited on how much stuff she would be able to bring to school.

The room had one light with a dim bulb in the middle of the ceiling, and that was it.

It was so cold and dull.

We wanted it to have personality and life! (But not too much personality, lol.)

So I set out to find a solution that would add a little elegance and elevate the space without having to worry about approval from the landlord.

I decided to DIY the lighting solution and landed on a plug in pendant light.

Why a Plug In Pendant Light is Your Dorm or Rental Lighting Solution

Why did I settle on creating a pretty hanging pendant light as a solution for my college student?

A plug-in pendant light is perfect for dorms or any space that you rent where permanent fixtures are impossible.

My number one reason was that there would be no wiring required!

You don’t need an electrician or landlord approvals.

Since there is no wiring required, you could easily do this in a dorm room or apartment with the help of these awesome hooks that hang from the ceiling and can hold up to 30 lbs.

TIP: If you have a drop ceiling with grids in your dorm room, you can use zip ties to hold the lighting wire instead.

The second reason was that it would be more sophisticated than a floor lamp or clip light.

You can pick any style of shade that you want! The possibilities are endless!

This lighting is so versatile. Because they simply plug into an existing outlet, you can put it wherever you want and elevate your space instantly!

TIP: Get this pack of 2 outlets with a light switch that attaches to the wall for an easy way to turn on and off the pendants without touching the switch on the wire.

The third reason is that plug-in pendant lights are space-saving.

Because we were limited on space, we could only have one little table next to the bed that was just about big enough for a glass of water and a desk on the other side that would double as a makeup vanity.

We couldn’t take up precious space on either table with lamps, so the pendant lighting would be the perfect solution.

The fourth reason is that when you’re ready to move, you can take it with you!

How To DIY a Drum Shade Plug-In Pendant Light

I bought a light kit and a shade for each side of her bed.

We were able to put a hook right into the ceiling, and the previous college kids already had hooks in the walls, so my installation looks a little different than the instructions below because I had to use a drill.

My solution for YOU requires NO TOOLS!

If I didn’t have these things available to me, then I would use all of the supplies in the list below for a damage-free installation!

Materials Needed:

• • Plug-in pendant light kit 
  • This Pendant drum shade or any pendant shade available in the lighting section at Lowe’s or Home Depot. Want to personalize the shade instead of buying one? Check out this DIY lampshade tutorial using wallpaper or fabric.
  • Outlet Adapter with Remote for one light or this double remote for two lights
  • LED Light bulb of choice (LED doesn’t get as hot!)
  • Hanging hardware (adhesive hooks to hang light from the ceiling holds 30 lbs) and these small command hooks (for the walls)
  • OR Zip Ties if you have a drop ceiling with a grid (like in a dorm room). You will attach the wire to the grid with the zip ties. And then these small command hooks for the walls.
  • Command velcro strips (for the remote to stick to the wall next to your door or wherever you choose).
  • Scissors
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil

Step-by-Step Instructions: NO TOOLS!

1.Measure how far you want the light to be from the wall and make a mark on the ceiling. Make sure that there is enough room so the shade won’t hit the wall.

2.Add the adhesive hook to that mark. That is where the light will hang straight down.

3.Attach the drum shade (or shade of choice)to the pendant light kit.

4.Hold your light up to the hook and determine how far down your light will hang.

5.Use these small hooks on the wall to hold the wire against the wall and work the wire down the wall, hooking it in as you move down the wall.

6.Insert the light bulb.

7.Plug in the adapters that go with the remote into the outlet and test!

Are Plug-In Pendant Lights Safe? Safety Measures to Follow

• Be sure to use LED light bulbs because they produce less heat and aren’t a fire hazard.
• Don’t overload your outlets!
• Check the weight limits of your hooks to ensure they can hold the weight of the light and shade.
• Be comfortable on a ladder or have someone do it who is.
• Ensure that the cords are not a trip hazard or pinched up in a hook.

Where to Place Your Stylish Plug In Pendant Light for Maximum Impact

• Over the Bed/Nightstand: For cozy reading light.
• In a Corner: To brighten a dim space or create a focal point.
• Over a Desk/Study Area: Functional task lighting.
• As an Entryway Accent: If your rental has a small entryway.
• To Define Zones: In an open-plan apartment, use it to visually separate areas.
• Over a dining area: to add a layer of coziness.
• In a reading nook

FAQs About Plug In Pendant Lights for Rentals

Are plug-in pendant lights safe for dorms? Yes, with LED bulbs and proper hanging.

Can I use any lampshade with a plug-in pendant kit? You will need to have a pendant lamp shade like this or one that had a large ring in the center that can fit the bulb adapter through.

How do I hide the cord? You can hide the cords on the wall with cord clips, cord covers, or run along wall when they get to the floor.

What if I need more light? Add another light, use a higher wattage bulb, or use a smart bulb that adjusts with your phone.

Will this damage my walls/ceiling? Not with removable hooks like Command hooks or other damage-free adhesive.

Can you plug in a pendant light? Yes. A regular hardwired pendant just needs a plug-in adapter kit like the one in this tutorial, which replaces the bare wiring with a cord and plug that goes straight into a wall outlet.

What is a swag pendant light? A swag pendant light is another name for the same idea. Instead of a hardwired ceiling box, the fixture hangs from a hook and the cord is swagged, or draped, along the wall down to a regular outlet, which is exactly how this DIY plug in pendant light works.

What if you don’t want to DIY your plug in pendant light?

Don’t worry, I’ve got you!

Here are 20 gorgeous and stylish plug-in pendant light options that are ready to hang.

Ready to see how I put together her college room?

Whether you’re heading off to college or renting an apartment or house for a while, I hope you’re inspired to make your space beautiful, even if it’s just temporary!

I truly believe that our spaces should be beautiful no matter how long we will be there.

A place is the home you make it!

Check out my apartment bedroom ideas for college to see how it all came together!

Remember, you can do it yourself, but let’s do it together.

Don’t forget to check out our list of essentials for college move-in.

I put together a list of everything we think you will need to make the most out of dorm life.

Let me know if you have done this in the comments or tag me @aprilcolleenhome on IG if you try it!