Thinking about how to upgrade your home lighting design for your old house when the wiring is limited? You’ve come to the right place.
The local building code warns homeowners against adding new light fixtures to old wiring systems. This reduces the chances of electric fire hazards since more often than not, the current circuit box can’t meet the extra power load.
While installing wall lights can be a challenging venture in these circumstances, it’s still doable.
Read on to learn how to safely install wall lights in old homes with limited wiring.
Connecting Your Wall Lights to Old and Limited Wiring
An outdated wiring system can pose many challenges for homeowners. You must avoid making these common lighting mistakes when adding new fixtures to your home. Be aware that you may need to conduct some electrical work before you can install new lighting in the space.
This is vital because it ensures that you aren’t violating any local building code. It’s especially crucial if your old wiring system uses the knob-and-tube design. You can fulfill the local building regulations by adding a new electrical box to your home electricity plan.
Here’s what you should do:
- Buy an electrical box. Make sure it meets local building code regulations.
- Turn off the power to the room where you want to install the fixture.
- Cut a hole where you want to install your wall lights. Make sure it’s large enough to fit the circuit box.
- Install the junction box. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure safety.
- Connect the home wiring to the back of the unit. In some instances, you may need to add a grounding wire.
- Use metal anchors to fix the electrical box in place. Make sure it’s secure.
- Connect the wall lights and turn on the power.
- Enjoy your lighting!
If you don’t have the expertise to carry out this project, ensure you hire a professional for the task. Electrical safety is key.
Additional Tips for Installing Wall Lights With Limited Wiring
If you’re renting out a home, the method listed above may not be ideal. You may also not be interested in carrying out any extra electrical work in your home and want to minimize costs. The options below are ideal for such situations.
Choose Plug-In Wall Lights
Plug-in fixtures are one of the best light designs for homes with limited wiring. You don’t need to remodel your wiring system to add them to your space.
The wall sconces are easy to install and provide a beautiful effect that helps to enhance your home’s visual appeal. You can hide the running wires in metallic or plastic tubing for a seamless and permanent look.
You’ll need the items listed below to safely install the wall lights:
- Power drill
- Mounting screws
- Drywall anchors
- Hammer
- Screwdriver
Here’s what you should do:
- Unscrew the mounting bracket from the fixture and use to it to map the location where you want to install it. Use the holes in the brace to mark the holes where you’ll insert the anchors.
- Use the power drill to make holes through the wall plaster. Make sure they are shallow compared to the anchors for a secure fitting.
- Push the anchors through the holes and use a hammer to tap them in place.
- Screw the mounting bracket onto the anchors using a screwdriver.
- Attach your fixture’s shade to the brace using the canopy screws. They’re usually included in the package.
- Enjoy your lighting!
Use Puck Lights for Your Wall Sconces
These button lights are very versatile and easy to use. They offer focused and directional light which makes them a perfect option for accent lighting. While some must be connected to a power supply, others are battery-operated. The latter is what you should go for.
Once you’ve found the puck lights you prefer, you can go ahead and mount your wall sconces. Drilling the wall and installing the fixture in place using screws is the smartest way to do this. However, if you’re living in a rental and want to avoid the mess, frame hangers are ideal.
For wall sconces with hard plastic candle tubing, you can use hot glue to fix the puck light in place. But, if the fixture’s design requires that you screw the light bulb in place, you can use bulb base adapters to hold the puck light. This helps you to avoid damaging the lamp’s socket.
The only time you can hot glue the puck light directly is when the wall sconces use plastic candle tubes because they’re easily replaceable. Or, when you don’t plan to ever hardwire your wall lights.
Be aware that using the bulb base adapter will cause the lampshade to sit a tad bit higher compared to standard wall sconces.
Invest in Smart Lighting
Wireless motion sensor lights are an excellent option for homeowners whose houses have limited wiring. However, this is strictly for LEDs because they don’t need to be connected to a power source. Instead, they’re battery-operated making them a convenient lighting solution for your home.
These fixtures are also budget-friendly and easy to mount. As such, they make for an easy DIY electrical project. However, given that they run on batteries, the luminance level may be low compared to hardwired LED light sources.
Make sure that you find a reliable supplier to ensure that the lighting product you buy is of high quality and offers great performance.
Add Plug-In String Lights
You can drape these lights on your walls for the ultimate dreamy and whimsical ambiance while still enjoying adequate ambient lighting. Where possible, you can install dimmer switches for mood settings. It’s however not mandatory.
Let There Be Light!
You’ve probably noticed by now that battery-operated lights are the best lighting solution for old homes with limited wiring. By following the tips provided in this article, you can add new fixtures on any wall within your home.
You no longer have to suffer from poor lighting issues stemming from limited wiring. Browse our rich and diverse wall lights collection and find the fixture of your dreams!
