Fit a wall light but don't want to track the wall.

JohnB47

Are there any ways to fit a set of wall lights without tracking the wall? Not battery powered ones - mains powered.

I'm wondering about using decorative flex (braided or coloured), from below, up the surface of the wall, to make a feature of it.

Or maybe there's some sort of very flat mains solution (like you can get with loud speaker cables, although they are very low powered).

The decorative flex idea can be done but is it safe?

Emmia

Like this?
https://www.anglepoise.com/product/original-1227-brass-lamp-with-wall-bracket-elephant-grey/

Or

SHINY STAR Vintage Wall Light, Wooden Wall Light Sconce Indoor Light with Plug-in and Long Cable Black Braided Cable Wall Light Fixtures E27 Bulb Base Wall Light for Living Room HT207WPB https://amzn.eu/d/81Zrn7t

Personally I think it can look a bit tacky, depending on how it's done and the lamp style

Normally you just plug them into a mains socket and switch them on and off on the lamp or cable 

DullGreyGuy

A quick Googles shows lots of people having done it but in most cases the flex is coming upwards so at a guess most are being plugged in rather than being hardwired into the ring.  eg https://www.amazon.co.uk/Industrial-Farmhouse-Sconces-Vintage-Lighting/dp/B093GFJSK2 

Jonboy_1984

If you are handy with a tape measure and have plasterboard walls, it can potentially be done by lifting sections of the floor above/access from loft and using a set of rods (or bamboo canes taped together if you are as MSE as my father!) to push/pull the cables through.

FreeBear

Jonboy_1984 said:

If you are handy with a tape measure and have plasterboard walls, it can potentially be done by lifting sections of the floor above/access from loft and using a set of rods (or bamboo canes taped together if you are as MSE as my father!) to push/pull the cables through.

Sod's law says there will be a noggin in the way hidden in the wall or a joist right over where the hole needs to go.

Ectophile

You can get modern reproductions of old braided flex.  These will be up to modern standards and perfectly safe to use.  You will need to work out how to get power to the lamp once you reach the ceiling.

savalittle.

Could have a look here https://www.urbancottageindustries.com/ they do lots of components.

ThisIsWeird

When I read John's opening post, I thought, "This is going to look hellish..."

Now I see it could look pretty darned awesome

JohnB47

Well what a response, thanks everyone.

I did try searching for 'fit a wall light without tracking the wall' but it produced few results.

It's an existing light fitting I'm talking about - one we bought from 'Make' just before they went bust and now plan to give to a friend who lives in a mid level flat with solid floors and ceilings (and very hard walls, as I found when fitting shelves there).

It looks like using decorative flex straight down the wall is the way to go, perhaps with an inline switch somewhere or maybe just use the switch on the nearby mains socket.

Thanks again.

Risteard

JohnB47 said:

Well what a response, thanks everyone.

I did try searching for 'fit a wall light without tracking the wall' but it produced few results.

It's an existing light fitting I'm talking about - one we bought from 'Make' just before they went bust and now plan to give to a friend who lives in a mid level flat with solid floors and ceilings (and very hard walls, as I found when fitting shelves there).

It looks like using decorative flex straight down the wall is the way to go, perhaps with an inline switch somewhere or maybe just use the switch on the nearby mains socket.

Thanks again.

It's because the English call tracking "chasing" - so probably won't get many matches.

ThisIsWeird

JohnB47 said:

Well what a response, thanks everyone.

I did try searching for 'fit a wall light without tracking the wall' but it produced few results.

It's an existing light fitting I'm talking about - one we bought from 'Make' just before they went bust and now plan to give to a friend who lives in a mid level flat with solid floors and ceilings (and very hard walls, as I found when fitting shelves there).

It looks like using decorative flex straight down the wall is the way to go, perhaps with an inline switch somewhere or maybe just use the switch on the nearby mains socket.

Thanks again.

Or, use Smart plugs so's you can operate them remotely, even using your phone :-)