Hiding Cords for Wall Sconces & Picture Lights
After sharing our guest bedroom, specifically my sconce makeover & installation, I’ve received many questions about how exactly we hid the sconce cords. It’s no mystery and an easy fix! It has also been quite awhile since I’ve shared on this particular topic, so I wanted to break down what we use to create a tailored (cord-free) clean look. If we’re installing wall sconces or picture lights, we will always hide the cord with a cover. Click through for a quick tutorial- this makes all the difference and it takes less than five minutes! Remember friends, design is in the details…
Emmett & I have been using this tried & true method since we began renovating over a decade ago. You’ve probably heard of products called: cord conduit, wire chase, cord concealer, cord housing, cord casing, cord management, etc. They all do the same thing… hide and organize cords!
Here are a couple before images in our guest room. The sconces in here are very budget friendly and not being higher-end, the inexpensive cord definitely cheapens the look. Believe it or not- some cords are actually nice… wrapped in cord, cotton, or are woven. These, on the other hand, are basic. Cords also tend to annoy me (visually).
This is the cord cover kit we prefer. You can grab it from Amazon or your local hardware store. This is nice because it only requires basic scissors to cut & install- plus, it’s paintable. I like to paint it the same color as the wall.
This kit also comes with elbows and joints, so you can turn the cord at a 90 degree angle… which is exactly what we did in our guest room for ultimate cord concealing. Keep scrolling and I’ll show you!
You can definitely eyeball the install, but we always use our handy laser level. Our color blocked walls would make a crooked cord cover look very obvious, so a level was extra necessary in this room.
Measure and mark the cord cover to your desired length, then use scissors to cut it. I just used scissors from my desk, but kitchen scissors or craft scissors will work. No need for heavy duty ones or wire cutters! Then you’ll peel the backing off (it’s lined with adhesive on the backside), and stick it to your wall.
Once you’ve got it stuck, you can use the elbows & joints to add more pieces if necessary. Then you’ll push the cord into the cover until it’s totally concealed. The last step is painting the cord cover. Again- I prefer to paint it the same color as the wall, but if you like a little contrast- it’s totally fine to leave it as is (white). Here’s a peek at how it looks from a distance…
It definitely provides a clean and tailored look… almost like a tiny piece of trim or millwork. Cords can feel chaotic and messy, so this is best case scenario for plug-in light fixtures.
If you’re looking for examples outside of bedrooms, I’ll drop a couple images of our previous home below. I was serious when I said anytime we install a plug-in sconce or picture light, we always conceal the cord.
If you’re installing multiple works of art, I like to cut small pieces of cord cover to sandwich in between the frames. In our previous laundry room, our picture light had a tiny switch (that’s the little button below the bottom frame), so securing it to the wall with cord conduit actually made it more functional… as opposed to fishing for it. We also used it in our living room for a large drum sconce behind our sofa…
If you’re not hardwiring fixtures and have exposed cords- this is definitely the way to go. It’s so quick and easy. This also works for table & floor lamps! I’m going to link one other helpful blog post when it comes to cords… definitely check out my tips & advantages of implementing floor outlets for cord management. Those work great for floor lamps, desks (desktop computers), and other “floating” fixtures & tech that require being plugged in. Let me know if you have questions in the comment section! I hope this was helpful.