Wednesday 16 February 2022

How to hang pendant lights on a budget - no rewiring needed!

How to hang pendant lights on a budget using IKEA light shades and LED battery powered lights. No rewiring needed with this budget lighting home hack

I recently decided to give my bedroom a little revamp, as it was starting to look a bit tired seven years after we first decorated it. However, as usual, I was on a really tight budget - so things had to be DIY-ed and hacked.

I panelled the room, replaced our broken bedside tables and added some new soft furnishings through some new bedding, a throw and some cushions. However, the final finishing touch was new lighting. I really wanted to go with something eye-catching, and had my heart set on adding pendant lights positioned either side of the bed. This would not only fill the space a bit (our ceilings are ridiculously high for the size room, meaning furniture can often look a bit lost), but would free up space on the bedside tables, and finish off the look perfectly.  

How to hang pendant lights on a budget using IKEA light shades and LED battery powered lights. No rewiring needed with this budget lighting home hack

Pendant lights, however, aren't cheap, as they require rewiring from an electrician. Not wanting to be deterred though, I set about coming up with a budget-friendly way of getting the look I wanted on much less. So I settled on hanging some beautiful shades using twine, and battery powered LED lights. And hey presto - a brand new look for a fraction of the price! So here's exactly how I did it, and the links to everything I used!

How to hang pendant lights on a budget using IKEA light shades and LED battery powered lights. No rewiring needed with this budget lighting home hack


You will need: 

Light shades - I've gone with my favourites Torared from IKEA, which are not only beautiful, they're a really great size, and cost just £15 each! I already have one of these on my landing and am still in love with the way it looks

Twine - To hang the shades from, however you could use wire or string, both would work just as well

Small hooks - To install into the ceiling from which to hang the lights - these came in a pack of 10 from B&Q for £1.70, but you can get something similar from any hardware store. Alternatively, if you're renting or don't want to make a hole in the ceiling, command hooks would work just as well

Battery powered LED lights - Mine came in a pack of three from Amazon for £16.99

Total price: £48.69

What I did: 

These particular light shades are the perfect shape and size for hanging beside a bed - they're not too small to get lost in the space, but not too big that they're overpowering.

I stuck the battery powered lights inside the shades using the sticky pads that came in the pack. These fit nicely onto the metal top part of the shade, but you might find another way to attach them you prefer. 

How to hang pendant lights on a budget using IKEA light shades and LED battery powered lights. No rewiring needed with this budget lighting home hack

Then place a small hook - you can do this by drilling a small hole and screwing the hook in. Take your time when doing this, as you'll want the hook to be positioned directly above your bedside table

I then measured out a length of twine to hang from the ceiling to the height I wanted the shade to hang - just high enough above the bedside table. I then doubled the twine over to add strength, and attached it to the hook in the ceiling. Again, take your time here to make sure the measurements are correct, and both shades on either side matches exactly - this took me a couple of attempts to get right! 

How to hang pendant lights on a budget using IKEA light shades and LED battery powered lights. No rewiring needed with this budget lighting home hack

You can then switch the lights on using the remote control, and can choose different colour settings. It's as simple as that! 

The LED lights are bright enough to add a cosy atmosphere in the evening, however we do have a ceiling light too as I don't think they'd add quite enough light on their own. 

How to hang pendant lights on a budget using IKEA light shades and LED battery powered lights. No rewiring needed with this budget lighting home hack

How to hang pendant lights on a budget using IKEA light shades and LED battery powered lights. No rewiring needed with this budget lighting home hack

What do you think? Is this a hack you'd like to attempt in your home? 

Thanks for reading, 
Sam Xx
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