I have close to zero experience in home improvement/construction and I live in apartment.

But those sconce lights look kinda cool for my home theater room (which is an extra bedroom). Or at least a light that is better than my damn ceiling fan and halogen lamp.


So my question is . . . Do I need to get into the walls to put in lighting (like hire an electrician)? Or can I do this an easier way?

If you are planning on staying in the the apartment for a while and you have permission to do some modifications I'd do it right and get an electrician to do it in the walls.

The alternative is to run wires on the surface of the wall either by themselves or in a surface mounted channel or conduit. If you like the look of an extension cord hanging down the wall from each sconce location you can probably do it your self with materials available at one of the 3 New York city Home Depots.

I have close to zero experience in home improvement/construction and I live in apartment.

But those sconce lights look kinda cool for my home theater room (which is an extra bedroom). Or at least a light that is better than my damn ceiling fan and halogen lamp.


So my question is . . . Do I need to get into the walls to put in lighting (like hire an electrician)? Or can I do this an easier way?

Is this an apartment you own or rent? If you own, check to make sure what building codes this falls under so that it is done to code. If you rent, check with your manager/super/landlord (whomever your point of contact is) to see if this is allowed, and if so, on what levels and whether or not it is your responsibility to hire the contractor and/or do the wiring up to code.

expanding on the "wire dangling down from a wall mounted lamp", there are metal cord cover channels that can look attractive and cover the lamps power cord down to the baseboard.
an example http://www.homedecorators.com/detail.php?parentid=05128&aid=froogle&CAWELAID=39891183

many, many types of wall sconces
http://www.homedecorators.com/Lighting/Wall_Lighting/Wall_Sconces/

the problem with using sconces pluged into normal duplex wall outlets is dimming. If the sconces are all on a single lighting circuit, a single dimmer can be used to control all. If they are individually powered, each must be dimmed separately - not a deal killer, just an inconvienence.

thanks for the responses. m_vanmeter, the cord covering is perfect because it saves me the hassle/$$ of getting into the wall.

Another Mfg of a cord concealment system is Wiremold.
You can paint to match the walls.

http://www.wiremold.com/www/consumer/products/cordmate.asp

Be aware that if you rent, in most states you can NOT do any electrical work under any circumstances.

Also be aware that altho in many states you can do electrical work on a residence that you own, you can NOT do electrical work on a apartment (condo or any other Multi-Family Dwelling) that you own. In this case you are taking many other people's lives into your own hands. Hire an electrician.