Let There Be Soft Daylight

DIY lighting can and should be a home improvement project that does not require a workshop to accomplish, with minimal tools required.  Today's LED technology makes it easy and energy cost-effective.  Sconce lighting add-ons, often "on or against the wall", have these advantages: (a) wall installations are far less difficult than ceiling installations; (b) will not take up additional floor space, pedestals or desk or table; (c) though a ladder is needed, eye level installation is far easier than having to look up when working on ceilings that can cause strains on the neck and back; (d) wiring extensions from existing outlets (usually a foot above the floor) for connections up the wall are far easier than adding outlets or junction boxes on the ceiling.  Even if you need to hire an electrician to add the outlets or junction boxes, the cost is a lot less compared to ceiling installations.

My aim with this project was to allow for soft but sufficient daylight type of illumination. The effect is achieved by indirectly propagating the light by bouncing a good amount of it off the ceiling and walls.  Shown below is the family room and breakfast area.

Ordering them online allows for a wide variety of options. The ones featured here allow for three different temperature scales. With  a built in toggle switch, you can go from yellowish lighting that mimics incandescent light bulb to  fluorescent white or a combination of the two.

 

Typically wired for direct connections to junction wires (black, white and green for ground) but you can wire with a 3-prong plug for outlet connections.

Tip: Instead of using commercial plugs that needs wiring, I used power cords of old printers, monitors and computers. If you must get rid of old electronic units to recycle centers, keep those cords for later.  Three of the installations were direct wired and controlled by standard wall switches.  The rest were wired for outlet connections controlled by remote switch, shown later.

A remote controller in this case (purchased separately) controls five lamps  plugged to an intermediate receptacle that the remote controls. They're numbered 1-5.

Provided with two remotes with magnets, I have one on the refrigerator door and on one wall corner that usually have steel corner support brackets behind the sheetrock.

Shown below without the acrylic cover.

Shown below, lighting the library/study with the same soft white light. 

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Adjoining the family room is the kitchen, also illuminated by indirect soft white light. An overhead LED fixture can be turned on for more lights if needed.

Sconce lighting also serves best as wall accent lighting and for illuminating along stairs for second level homes or for stairs to the basement.  It is the perfect add-on DIY project that requires only a few tools - a drill, screw driver and wire stripping pliers and electrical tape (hardly needed, really, because plastic connectors are already provided).