As a renter, I am fully aware of how limited the options for illumination can be.   I often find myself stuck with some type of fixture I can hardly imagine someone designed on purpose.   The subject of this post, bedroom lighting, is among the most frustrating for me.  Often there is the sorry excuse for the overhead (and for whatever reason, off-center) fixture, the brass wall sconce, or the third option: no fixture at all.  What you get is just a lonely outlet, powered by the door-side switch, that they expect you to plug a bedside lamp in to.  This third option is usually my favorite, because if nothing else it allows me freedom of choice.  When renting, you can not expect great or honest lighting options from potential properties.  Recently, what was advertised as “providing recessed lighting” turned out to mean “one single area with two recessed can lights, while everything else will be brass, chain-hung fixtures from 15 years ago.”   So what are the options for the bed-side lighting when you can’t exchange fixtures or hire an electrician?  Here are a few to get you started thinking.

West Elm’s Industrial Sconce

The Robert Abbey Bruno Scissor Arm from Lumens and Gracious Home

Ikea has several inexpensive options along the lines of these.  See the Beryll,  Jansjo,  or Kramare.

Design Within Reach has several options, two of my favorites being the Tolomeo Floor Lamp and the Nelsen Wall Sconce.

Probably not the brightest option, the Candela Lights from Vessel still add a nice feel to any space, indoor or out.

One of my personal favorites (these have a way of popping up around my house), the very basic industrial Clamp Light.   Available at most hardware stores for less than $10.00, it comes in a variety of sizes and styles.  As an added bonus, a simple light bulb change can turn this into a small bedside heat source.  Just be careful not to touch the metal shade once it has been on for a little while.

If you can’t find anything you like, try getting a cord kit, like this one from Urban Outfitters.  This one includes a 15 foot cord, an in-line on/off switch, and the bulb shown above.  Urban also offers a large array of shade options for their cord kits.

Of my personal favorite Ace accessories, the clamp light is also (thankfully) the most affordable.  Seen here, firmly attaching itself to a wall mounted wooden block, it provides a warming glow against the yellowed tone of the repurposed book page wall paper.   To achieve this look yourself just pay a visit to, where else, Ace Hardware.  See below.

Also try Aubuchon Hardware‘s even more affordable version (below)

For something equally amazing, but completely different, take a look at these beautiful lamps from Triplex (or see below).  Still in the prototype stage, these are set for release in spring of 2011.  Color options will be limited to white, black, and concrete grey.  You can bet I will be signing up to get my hands on one.

Via Triplex

In our kids room, the night light is a necessity.  There are two problems I have found with the traditions outlet-plugged style.  First, it draws attention to the outlet…which is never good.  You can conceal the night behind a toy box or stool, but that sort of defeats the purpose.  The other problem is the youngest ones always just try to grab it anyway, especially when the only available outlet happens to be inches from bed (the situation in my daughters’ room).  Two illuminating ideas from Urban Outfitters are the Marquee Alphabet Lights, and the Porcelain Lanterns.  Since both of these use a cord you could plug them in behind a desk or set of drawers and place them on top, out of the reach of tiny hands.  You would just need to make sure they are safe to leave, on and don’t get too hot.