There are a lot of fun light fixtures out there at great prices. My choice cost $10 total and you can see it at the end of this post. The problem is that many of the affordable choices are plug in fixtures. This is great unless you are looking to use an existing switch and replace a ceiling fixture you already have! This is a very simple project that can save you money on your lighting and the $100 an electrician might charge to come and do it for you!
You Will Need:
Screwdriver to Remove Existing Fixture
Wire Stripper (simple Inexpensive Tool from any hardware store will have both a wire stripper and cutter)
Wire Nuts (2-3)
Utility Knife
Ladder
New Light Fixture
Instructions
1. Turn Off Power to the Fixture at your Electrical Box: Flip the little switch to off for your room. Check the switch to make sure lights are off.
2. Remove Existing Light Fixture: Use your screwdriver to take the ceiling plate off and be very careful not to let the light fixture fall and rip the wiring. Once the plate is off either rest the fixture on your ladder or have a friend help to hold it while you disconnect the wires. Simply turn the wire nut / connectors that are there and pull the wires out.
3. Examine the Existing Wiring: Usually you will see 3 wires coming from the box. One white, one black and one copper. The copper wire is the ground wire and should be capped and wrapped around a screw in the lightbox. Usually a plug in fixture will not have a ground wire so you will not need this wire.
4. Cut the Plug Off Your New Fixture and Measure Your Desired Length from the Ceiling. For a dining room you want to be 30-36″ above the table. In hallways a fixture should be close to the ceiling and in other rooms your height will depend on whether or not you are working above a table. If you are not, you want to make sure that no one will hit their heads. I would stay around 7 feet. When you cut your wire leave a little extra. This can be tucked up into the box after but you do not want to be left with too little wire to work with. You can always take more off if you need to later.
5. Split the Wire and Separate the White and Black Wires Inside: Using a utility knife carefully split open the casing around the wire and pull down to separate the casing from the wires inside. Pull out the white and black wires.
6. Strip the white and black wires at the top to prepare for connection: Using your wire strippers find the select gauge for your wires and strip the casing from the top inch or so of wire. The correct holes are the ones that just barely grip the wires so that when you pull the strippers cut into the wire and literally pull the casing off.
7. Attach Wires: Carefully thread the wires through the ceiling plate of your new light fixture and prepare to attach the wires. Attach white to white and black to black by putting them together and inserting them into your wire nuts and turning the nut to essentially weave the two inside wires together. Cap the ground wire if it is not already capped.
9. Make Sure the Light Works: Turn on your power and check that it works!
10. Attach Ceiling Plate to Ceiling: I used the same ceiling plate that was already there but whatever you chose to use lift the plate to the ceiling and do a quick measure to make sure the fixture is the height you want it. Then using screws reattach the plate to the bar across your light box. Depending on the type and weight of your new fixture you may need to change out the bar on the inside to make sure it supports your fixture. In my case I was simply installing a hanging bulb so I have no weight issues.
11. Finishing Touches: Add any bulbs or lampshades and enjoy your new lights! I adore my new and very simple paper lantern – the Regolit from Ikea. At only $5.00 I am in love with the style and price! The light I used is the Ikea Hemma Cord Set for $3.99. Um…that’s under $10.00! So without further ado – here is my new hardwired simple dining room lantern. The diffused light through these paper lanterns is gorgeous and so flattering and it’s on a dimmer so we can be as playful or romantic as we like!
12. Enjoy!
This project actually took me longer to blog than to complete and I am so glad I learned how to do it myself! I am now eyeing the fixtures in every room for simple fixes. On a design note – if your budget permits I would mix really inexpensive finds like this with some swankier choices so your whole house does not look like it is from Ikea. You can find some great fixtures at yard sales or even at big box stores that are meant for hard wiring and hang them yourselves. There are tons of lighting options that come with a plug and for those this simple tutorial will have you switching them on and off in no time flat!
I would love to hear what you can two with a little time and inspiration! Let me know in the comments if you have any questions and please – tell me what you think! I will post my whole On The Cheap Dining Room Re-Do soon so stay tuned for more money saving tips and tricks!
I remember installing a ceiling fan when we lived in Texas. I had to do it all while balancing on the ladder and balancing the fan on my shoulder. At the very end, I noticed a nifty little hook on the fan to hang it while installing *smacks forehead* But it didn’t explode or catch fire, so mission accomplished.
Sarah Trevino recently posted… Lamb Burgers with Feta Aioli
Oh boy glad it went well! For chandeliers or ceiling fans a partner is alwasy helpful. Love the hook I would totally miss that too!
Love, love, love this! And it’s so easy. I’ve always been so intimidated by anything electrical. Thanks so much for the how to. I’m seeing a sweet “lantern” style fixture in my kids’ rooms in my future. Nemesis, indeed!
Grateful Twin Mom recently posted… Mr D- your house is on fire!
Do not be intimiated. This one is easy and you can impress your friends and hubs. A lantern style fixture would be awesome!
Love this fixture!! We moved into an older home 3 years ago and I have changed out every fixture in our house. Plugs are limited and none are on switches…they all needed pull chains….but I was able to replace all the existing fixtures with either updated ones or with ceiling fans. A fun, easy and pretty inexpensive project. Wish I’d thought to use it as a blog post, ha ha!
Tattooedmomof3 recently posted… Back To School- Back To Blogging
Very impressive!
My husband switched our dining room chandelier last year with a clearance fixture from Lowe’s. We were just walking through the store and saw a $120 fixture on closeout for $20. It’s not my first choice, but it’s definitely better than what we had AND it was free to do ourselves. Umm…well, it was free for my husband to do. I just made sure he didn’t drop anything. 😉
Your new light looks wonderful! You made it look really easy to install to. I have a hanging light fixture that has been sitting in our garage for about 3 years since I haven’t had anyone come install it. Maybe I could do it myself with your instructions!!! That would be a nice surprise for my husband when he comes home!
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You sure made that look easy…I want to try this…I think I can , I think I can!
Yuliya recently posted… No Nuke Cuke Soup
Wow, you are a handy one. Tables and chairs and electrical work. I bow to you..
Me not so much, but I have painted a few rooms and as my mother makes the new quilt for our bed I am going to attempt to paint the room. lol….
Can I call you for advice. 🙂
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Since hubby and I are about as handy as a box of rocks, this post scared me a little! Good for you, though!
Nicely done! I just hung paper lanterns in my playroom, but sadly I would need an electrician to hardwire it b/c there’s no overhead light. We *love* IKEA!!
Sara recently posted… Babycakes & Silky – Together… Forever
Hmmmm aybe adding a box will be my next tutorial? You up for it?
I have to say it Brittany…I’m sorry but THIS is one reason why I have a husband.
My husband would not know what to do with most tools if they hit him in the head. Someone had to be handy! Consider yourself a lucky girl!
Great tutorial, I always wondered if it was that easy, or if you have multiple bulbs do you need to watch out for wattage load, etc. I mildly electrocuted myself with a phone line once, and I’ve been a little hesitant to mess with light fixtures ever since. 🙂
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Thanks for the tutorial! But I have a question, how far done was the paper lantern from your ceiling once you finished?
Well, that was cool. What a unique idea!
Hooray! Thank you so much for posting this… I’d been searching for a while on how to convert my IKEA paper lanterns to permanent fixtures for a family room redesign and found your straightforward instructions. Have all my supplies, just wasn’t sure I knew 100% what I was doing and didn’t want the husband to arrive home to an electrical disaster. Can’t wait to get started, thanks. (PS love your decorating style… I’m sure your home is gorgeous and unique!)
Thanks and Good Luck! Let me know how your project goes!!!
$10 is a great price for this upgrade! It might be a good solution for my “nipple lights” throughout the house… Thanks for sharing!
Haha nipple lights. Thanks for the giggle. We had those too. New light makes all the difference. Good luck with your projects!
Thank you so much for posting these easy step by step instructions. I also used a fixture from Ikea and converted the same cord set! I was hesitent and have never attempted anything like this before but your post made it seem so easy…and it was!
Yay! I am so happy it was easy for you!
[…] to be a plug-in light, but I converted it to a hardwire fixture. I followed this tutorial from That’s Vandy and it worked […]
Thank-you!! The over the sink hardwired lights cost 3-4 times as much as essentially the exact same thing that plugs in, so I followed your tutorial to DIY with the cheaper light fixture. The only problem was when I cut the chord there was no black or white casing on the wires inside. Google to the rescue, the wire going to the wide prong on the plug goes to the white wire, and the wire going to the narrow prong goes to the black wire. 🙂
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THANK YOU for your quick and easy tutorial! I am pretty handy, but not electrically inclined and was able to use the plug in rope swag kit from World Market and a Drum Shade and Voila! Done and Done! Thanks again! I am ready to tackle the rest of my pesky fixtures!!!! 🙂