Looking for a bedside reading lamp? Make this easy scissor arm wall lamp. In this post you’ll find a step by step guide for creating your own chic sconce!
When Sylvia moved into a twin bed, we said sayonara to her rocking chair due to lack of space. Old homes. Tiny rooms. What are ya gonna do?! Without the chair, we now read bedtime books on her bed and needed a reading light.
The analog scissor arm of this wall sconce feels playful, while the general concept of a reading light feels a bit ‘grown-up’. Sylvia loves that she can stretch and move the light on her own, and even turn it off from her bed. Ah, it’s the little things in life. Isn’t it friends?
The scissor arm frame ($20 bucks!) and socket are from Amazon. The twisted fabric cord is from etsy. I found the shade thrifting and added a pleated floral fabric and yellow bias tape with hot glue.
Down the road I’d like to add an on/off switch to the cord, but for now we’re keeping it basic! Let’s make this sconce, shall we?
Supplies:
- Scissor Arm Lamp Frame
- Twisted Cloth Cord with Plug-in
- Light Socket – I’m using the Vintage Brass finish which works great with the mustard bias tape on our lamp shade. If you’re looking for a more subtle brass finish, look at Champagne Gold
- Small lampshade with replacement-style ring. The ring inside the lamp needs to be large enough to fit over the socket. The one I’m using is thrifted.
How To:
- Thread the cord through the sconce grommets. Start in the upper grommet closest to the wall bracket, then thread down to the middle row. Repeat until you reach the cantilevered arm.
- Assemble the light socket according to the socket manufacturer instructions.
- Remove the threaded ring from the bottom of the light socket. Slide the lampshade onto the socket. Then screw the threaded ring back on to hold the lampshade in place. Screw in the light bulb.
- Plug in the sconce to make sure it works before shortening up the shade to the wood arm by feeding the cord back through the scissor arm.
- Attach lamp to the wall with the screws included with the scissor arm.
