Looking For How To Hang A Plug In Pendant Light? Let’s Find Out!

Whether you are living in a smaller space or looking for ways to enhance the look of your space with something more unique than regular lights, a pendant or swag light could be the answer. Hanging a pendant light from the ceiling can also be a great way to add an extra layer of lighting to a room. I was super happy when I installed the swag light in my living room. I just loved how it enhanced my space’s look without drawing too much attention. 

They say happiness is incomplete unless shared. I could not wait to share the joy of my pendant lights with my best friend, and I called her to visit me on the way back home. She loved the lights so much that she instantly decided to hang one or more pendant lights at her home. She wasn’t sure whether she would prefer to drill a hole in her ceiling to hang the lights, so she asked me to help her out. And I couldn’t have said no to my best buddy!

If you are looking for how to hang a plug-in pendant light without drilling holes in your ceiling, you may do so using an adhesive clip, adhesive tape, or a wall stapler. You may also wear your creative hat and wrap the cord of your pendant light around a banister or a curtain rod. If your pendant light is heavy, I recommend hanging it by drilling holes in your ceiling for a sturdy hold.

In this article, we will learn about different ways to install a pendant light in your home or office. But before that, let us have a quick look at what a pendant light is.

Pendant Light: Meaning And Purpose

A pendant light, also known as a swag light or a suspension light, is a light fixture suspended from the ceiling, usually hung by a cord, chain, or metal rod. These lights derive their name from the way they hang from the ceiling. Pendant lights take minimal space to be installed, are easy to install and provide a modern look to your space.

A pendant light can either be used as a lone light or in a group or two or more lights. They are great to work with any of the following lighting solutions.

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting, also referred to as general lighting, is one of the most essential kinds of illumination. The purpose of these lights is to illuminate the entire room so that you can move around comfortably.  It is important to avoid overdoing these lights as too many lights can make a room feel clinical. A pendant light used in the center of the room can be a great ambient light.

Task Lighting

Task lighting is a concentrated light that illuminates a particular area to help you perform certain tasks, such as working on your desk, reading a book, cooking in the kitchen, etc. My favorite usage of pendant lights is to use them as task lights as these lights hang lower than other kinds of lighting for more focal illumination.

Accent Lighting

Unlike ambient lights and task lights, which have more practical purposes, accent lighting is used to create an atmosphere. These lights can be used either to draw attention to something specific, like artwork or handicrafts, or to be used as an accessory to enhance the look of the space. These days pendant lights are popularly used in accent lighting for the varieties available in the market.

Different Ways Of Hanging Plug-In Pendant Light 

While I am sure that most of you would love to experiment with the look of your space by installing a pendant light, I do understand that not everybody prefers to drill holes into their ceiling to install the light. And if you are using plug-in pendant lights, they are straightforward to replace as they aren’t that heavy, which makes it justifiable if you don’t want to drill a hole in your ceiling. Understanding your and my friend’s concern, I decided to write about how to hang a plug-in pendant light with or without drilling a hole in your ceiling.

How To Hang a Lamp From The Ceiling Without Drilling A Hole

Installing a pendant light can sometimes be as simple as hanging the lights without drilling a hole in your ceiling and plugging it into the wall power outlet. All you need is a plug-in pendant light and a suitable place to hang it. This quick project can provide your space with a refreshing upgrade, especially when combined with a few more changes. 

If you are looking for how to hang a lamp from the ceiling without drilling, you must first locate the area in your space where you are planning to install the pendant light. Ensure that there is a wall outlet close to where you decide to hang the light. Keep in mind the shape and weight of your pendant light while choosing the location.

Once you are sure of the location, use any of the following methods to hang your pendant light.

1. Use Adhesive Clips To Hang Your Pendant Light

An adhesive clip is one of the easiest ways to hold things to your walls or ceilings without drilling a hole. The clips are readily available in convenience stores and on Amazon at a nominal cost. However, it is important to note that the adhesive clips can only stick on smooth surfaces. So, if your wall is rough, it is likely that the clips won’t work for you. 

Just place two or more clips tracing the path of the cord with a final clip at the point where you want your lights to hang the pendant light.

2. Use Brick Clips For Brick or Rough Walls

These clips may not be useful to most of you, but if your wall is considerably rough, you may use the brick clips to hold the cords of your pendant lights. Note that the clips do not stick well on a slightly rough surface. These clips are mostly useful for outdoor pendant lighting. The brick clips are also readily available on Amazon. 

Just place the clips where you need to install the pendant light and run the cord through them to hang your pendant light from the ceiling that is rough.

3. Use Adhesive Tape To Hang Your Pendant Light

If your pendant lights are the basic ones that are lightweight and have an insulated cord, you may be able to hang them using adhesive tape. However, if your pendant light is slightly heavy, the tape may not be able to hold it. Also, the tape sticks to smooth surfaces only, so you must ensure that the wall is not rough.

To hang your pendant light using adhesive tape, mark the desired path and placement of the light through the wall and the ceiling using chalk. Neatly, place the light and the cord and attach it to the ceiling and the wall using the tape.

4. Staple Your Pendant Light Into The Ceiling

If your wall is not smooth enough for the adhesive clips or the adhesive tape but is also not rough enough for the brick clips, I have you covered. You can hang your pendant light from the ceiling using a wall stapler. The stapler is not the usual one for papers but a heavy stapler with thicker and stronger pins. 

To hang your pendant lights from the ceiling without drilling a hole, mark the desired path and placement of the light through the wall and the ceiling using chalk. Carefully staple around the cord without damaging the cord. Staple the cord at three or more spots for a secured installation.

5. Wrap Your Pendant Light Around Objects

If none of the above methods suit you and you do not want to stick anything to your wall but still wish to accentuate the look of your space using a pendant light, I have an easy hack for you. 

Choose the lightweight pendant lighting with a vintage look, and then spot a high seated rod-like object like a banister or a curtain rod in your room that is close to a wall outlet. Then just wrap the pendant light’s cord around the rod and plug the light into the wall outlet. Trust me; there is so much you can experiment with using this easy hack. You can even make your own DIY pendant lights using an E26 bulb and a lamp cord. Try it out, and thank me later!

How To Hang A Lamp From Ceiling By Drilling A Hole

Not all pendant lights can be hung without drilling a hole in the ceiling. While the fixes will work perfectly for the lightweight plug-in pendant lights with a cord, the tools cannot hold heavy pendant lights. In that case, you will have to drill a hole in your ceiling and look for ways how to hang a light from a ceiling hook.

Choose The Area To Install The Lights

Locate the area in your space where you are planning to install the pendant light. You may install the lights over your study table, dining area, or reading corner. Ensure a wall outlet is close to where you decide to hang the light.

Place A Mark To Hang The Light

Place a mark on the ceiling where you would install your pendant light. Mark the point carefully, keeping in mind the shape of your pendant light. You may use a stud finder to locate a stud close to the desired spot. Once marked, drill a hole at the location. 

Place Another Mark To Support The Cord Or Chain

Place another mark on the ceiling around 3-6 inches away from the wall where the wall outlet is. Ensure that the mark is right above the outlet on the ceiling and drill a hole at the spot.

Use An Accessory Of Your Choice To Hang The Light

Use a ceiling hook, pipe clamp, or ceiling plate to hang your pendant light on your ceiling.

Hang The Pendant Light

Hang the pendant light onto the hook, the pipe clamp, or the ceiling plate farther from the wall using the chain or the cord. If you are hanging the pendant light above a table, I recommend installing the light 30-36 inches above the tabletop.

Run The Cord Close To The Wall

Run the cord or the chain along the ceiling and hang it on the second hook closer to the wall. Choose whether you want the cord chain loose against the ceiling or tight. If you are using a pipe clamp, run the cord through it.

Plug In The Pendant Light

Plug the pendant light into the wall outlet and use the switch to turn it on or off.

FAQs

Q1. How Is A Chandelier Different From A Swag Light?

Answer – A chandelier is a light suspended from the ceiling with multiple light bulbs in a single fixture, whereas a swag light is a light fixture suspended from the ceiling with a single light bulb installed. 

Q2. How to hang a pendant light on a sloped ceiling?

Answer – A pendant light may be installed on a sloped ceiling the same way as on a straight ceiling as gravity helps the chain or the pendant light’s cord hang straight.

Conclusion

Pendant lights are way too much in trend these days. You will find many young Americans installing these lights in their homes, mostly as an accent or a task lighting. While these lights are popular nowadays, there is no guarantee that they will vogue next year as some trends die as fast as they rise.

If you are doubtful about the life of the pendant light trend or are living in a rented house with a rigid landlord, you may not want to drill holes in your ceiling to install the lights. In that case, the article must have helped you understand how to hang a plug in pendant light without drilling holes in your ceiling. If you have more questions about pendant lights, feel free to ask me in the comment section.