Looking for a way to add accent lighting or light to a dark corner but don’t have an outlet or electrical box? I’m sharing an alternative option in the form of rechargeable light bulbs and rechargeable lamps. No hard-wiring required!
Last year I shared a post on battery operated wall sconces, but since then, I’ve tried a few other rechargeable light bulbs and light fixtures I wanted to share more about! Before we jump to some of my favorite finds, let’s chat a bit more about what a rechargeable light bulb and rechargeable light fixture actually is! I also have a video here that quickly shows some of the items featured in this post live in action!
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What Are Rechargeable Light Bulbs & Rechargeable Lamps?
Rechargeable light bulbs and rechargeable lamps represent a significant advancement in the lighting industry, offering a combination of convenience, energy efficiency, and emergency lighting solutions.
Rechargeable light bulbs and fixtures are designed with built-in batteries that can be charged when they are connected to a power source. These devices can then provide illumination without being plugged into a live electrical outlet, making them extremely useful during power outages or in areas where electrical supply is inconsistent or unavailable.
The core technology behind rechargeable light bulbs and fixtures involves LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology combined with lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries. LEDs are chosen for their energy efficiency, long lifespan, and low heat output, while lithium-based batteries are preferred for their high energy density, rechargeability, and long service life. These light bulbs and fixtures also include charging circuits and control systems to manage charging and discharging processes, ensuring the longevity of both the battery and the LED.
We’ve found them to be really helpful in several situations around our home. I’ll touch on these examples shortly.
Benefits of Rechargeable Light Fixtures & Rechargeable Lighting Options
There are many benefits to using rechargeable light fixtures, some of which are listed below.
- Ambient Lighting Without a Power Source: From a design perspective, they provide ambient, task and additional lighting in situations where you may not have an outlet or power source nearby.
- Emergency Lighting: They provide a reliable source of light during power outages, making them essential for emergency preparedness.
- Energy Efficiency: By using LED technology, these lights consume significantly less power compared to traditional lighting solutions, leading to energy savings.
- Convenience: Rechargeable light bulbs can be used as regular bulbs and then detached and used as portable light sources when needed.
- Environmental Impact: Reducing the need for disposable batteries and utilizing energy-efficient LEDs contribute to a lower environmental footprint.
- Cost Savings: Though the initial cost might be higher, the long-term savings on energy bills and the reduced need for replacement bulbs offset the initial investment.
Their main con is battery life and the need for recharging. I would also argue that in several cases, the light they emit may not be bright enough for very focused task work. However, since we tend to use ours more as a secondary light source, we have been very happy with the length ours stay charged and the light they provide.
Common Uses For Rechargeable Light Fixtures & Rechargeable Lamps
Rechargeable light bulbs and lamps are useful in a wide range of settings, including:
- Residential: Homes can benefit from these as part of an emergency kit, in closets, attics, or any area where wiring is a challenge.
- Commercial: Offices, warehouses, and retail stores use them for emergency lighting and to reduce energy consumption.
- Outdoor: They are ideal for camping, outdoor events, and areas where electrical infrastructure is minimal.
- Public Safety: Used in emergency shelters, hospitals, and public buildings to ensure lighting during disasters.
Outside of the practical benefits of rechargeable lighting options, they are a great way to add ambient lighting in interior design settings.
I think we’ll continue to see a surge in demand for rechargeable lighting, particularly as we see ongoing advancements in LED efficiency, battery technology, and smart features. Integration with smart home systems, improved battery life, and more compact designs are expected. They’ve also continued to become more aesthetically pleasing for uses in decor!
Rechargeable Light Bulb and Light Fixtures Around Our Home
Next I thought I’d share some of the rechargeable light bulbs, lamps and fixtures we have around our home to demonstrate how helpful these types of lights can be!
Our Rechargeable Light Bulbs with Remotes
In our living room and upstairs loft areas, I had wanted to add a few table lamps for reading as well as for a softer light source than the overhead lights. However, I didn’t have easily accessible outlets where I wanted to place my lamps.
SPRING LIVING ROOM SOURCES: Sofas (read my full review here) | Chairs | Coffee Table | Indoor/Outdoor Striped Rug | Linen Pillows (in Chambray) | Wide Striped Pillows | Thin Striped Pillows | Paisley Lumbar Pillows | Oversized Baskets | Frame TV | Frame TV Art | Vase | Oversized Green Branch | Similar Grapewood Branch | “Surf Tribe” | “Joie” | “Summer to Summer” | Ceramic Urchin Catchall | Lamps | Console Table | Woven Roman Shades (Bonaire Flaxen)
So, these rechargeable light bulbs with remotes came to the rescue! They look exactly like a regular light bulb, but with a port on the side for charging. They charge with a cord and literally just screw into your lamps like regular light bulbs. But my favorite feature is that they are dimmable and you can change the tone of the bulbs (I prefer the warm setting).
When we realized how much we liked the rechargeable bulbs in our living room lamps, we also added them upstairs in our loft lamps. Similarly, there was no way to easily get an extension cord from the lamps to an outlet here, so this is a much better solution! We simply tucked the power cord between the console table and sectional to hide it.
SPRING LOFT SOURCES: Woven Shades (Bonaire Flaxen, blackout liner, automated)| Rattan Cabinet | Frame TV | Sectional | Similar Rug | Striped Ottoman | Star Chandelier | Brushstroke Pillow Covers | Floral Pillow Covers | Lamps | Console Table | Baskets | Faux Lilacs | Vase | Clamshell | Similar Moss Balls
The rechargeable bulbs also work well for other applications. Recently, we added a rattan sconce to our laundry room/pantry. And since it wasn’t pre-hardwired here for a light fixture, we hid the electrical components and then mounted the fixture to the wall. With a rechargeable light bulb, we can easily turn it on with the included remote!
SOURCES: Rattan Sconce | Faux Viburnum Stems | Vase (small) | Woven Tray | Cabinet Hardware | Paint Color: Aero Blue stock cabinet color – similar to Benjamin Moore Santorini Blue
Our Rechargeable Under Cabinet Lights
Similarly, in our pantry/laundry room area, we have a little coffee bar area. Our builder only added under-cabinet lighting in our main kitchen, and Kurtis always wished we had it here. Enter these rechargeable lighting sticks!
Not only do these rechargeable light sticks work great as under-cabinet lighting, they can also be used in cabinets, closets, back sides of door frames – basically anywhere you want to add additional lighting on a flat surface.
They are super simple to use. They all charge on their block and then attach to your surface with a 3M adhesive on one side, and a magnet on the other so you can easily remove them for charging. Not only that, they come with a remote and multiple settings. We love to keep ours on the motion-sensor setting, which also helps preserve the life of the charge. But there are many other settings available, as well as warmth (we ordered warm white), timers and brightness selections.
Our Rechargeable Table Lamps
Most of you know my love for our rechargeable table lamps! We’ve had one of the sets for a year+ now and we love them so much! They’re perfect to use for dinner parties and I love that they work both indoors and outdoors. Kurtis will even use them when he is grilling outside after dark. The two versions we have also have a dimming feature, and we’ve found they hold their charge for quite awhile. We’ve only had to charge them a handful of times since we’ve owned them.
SOURCES: Outdoor Dining Table | Outdoor Dining Chairs | Rope Pendant Light | Cordless Table Lamps | Table Cloth | Place Mats | Faux Bamboo Flatware | Vase
This next rechargeable table lamp I shared last week in my Walmart spring tablescape is sold out now (these look identical), but it gives you an idea of a different style. This particular one could be adjusted to two heights and the pleated metal “shade” adds a unique spin!
SOURCES: Jade Glass Dishes | Placemats (similar here) | Gold Flatware | Block Print Tablecloth | Margarita Glasses | Cordless Rechargeable Lamps (similar here) | Faux Tulips | Seagrass Vase (doubles as a candle hurricane)
They tend to provide the most beautiful ambient lighting in the evenings!
Over in our outdoor living room space on our screened in porch, I added these lamps again – this time in green (they’re the same as the blue ones above)! To change it up a bit, I also added these shades that fit most of this style of lamp. It’s a fun way to dress them up a bit and they offer a few really cute shade options!
SOURCES: Outdoor Sofa | Reversible Patterned Throw Pillow | Striped Throw Pillow | Coffee Table | Cordless Rechargeable Lamp | Wicker Shade | Similar Faux Hedge Apples
For even more finds, check out these options below! Tap any of the images below to learn more about each of the items shown.
Additional Light Fixture Posts You May Enjoy
Looking for additional lighting posts? Be sure to check out the following articles. Tap any of the titles below to learn more about each of the subjects.
- Battery Operated Wall Sconces
- Designer Style Light Fixtures From Amazon
- Bathroom Sconce Lights
- Swing Arm Sconces
- Stylish & Affordable Bathroom Vanity Lights
- Modern Traditional Wall Sconce Lighting + Our Staircase Plans
- Coastal Chandeliers
- Stylish & Affordable Exterior Light Fixtures
- Stylish Ceiling Fans
- Stylish Flush Mount Light Fixtures
- Stylish Table Lamps for All Budgets
- Lighting Look For Less: Beaded Chandelier
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Thank you so much! These are great options. I’ve been looking for rechargeable lamps that have timers and have not been able to find any. Did you include any with timers?
I’ll keep my eyes open for lamps with timers! But I do know that both the lightbulbs and undercabinet light sticks do have timers.
Thanks Sarah! Love your blog!
Thank you Terri! 🙂
Thanks for sharing these versatile lights! I love the idea of having these kinds of solutions where a plugged lamp isn’t an option, or electricity is interrupted during bad weather.
We have battery-operated wall sconces in our bedroom, where outlets are scarce. These are great when the power is off during inclement weather, too.
We only have one rechargeable IKEA bulb in a living room lamp, which charges while it is plugged into the wall outlet. When the power goes out in a storm we can turn on the bulb and it provides great light.
I found your post on rechargeable light bulbs and lamps incredibly informative and helpful. The detailed explanations of the technology behind these lights and their benefits really opened my eyes to their potential uses. Your personal experiences and practical examples, such as using rechargeable bulbs in hard-to-reach places and for emergency lighting, were particularly insightful. The variety of options you shared, along with the pros and cons, made it easy to see how these solutions can fit into any home. Thank you for sharing such valuable information and tips!