One of the things I want to do when we have a bit more disposable income to spend on the house is invest in some light fixtures. We’ve still got the standard ceiling light fixtures that came with the apartment, save for a cheap chandelier that we got at home depot in the kitchen because I couldn’t particularly stand the one that the kitchen came with (although the one we currently have is sort of out of sync with how the rest of the apartment has turned out). The main priority would be to get an electrician install a light above our dining table – in winter months I feel like we eat most meals in near-darkness. But while at Ikea the other day, we thought it would be nice to have a paper lantern light in M’s bedroom above her bed when we were browsing the housewares section. And so we bought the cord kit and the lantern, and installed it…but wait. Where the hell was the light switch? There is no light switch?? What the hell, Ikea???
Oh god, I know. So annoying. My solution is to hook it up to a plug-in dimmer, then put the dimmer somewhere convenient.
Ikea sells them: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90063173
good suggestion. But the outlet is somewhere inaccessible, behind the bed, so I don’t think that would work. So for now, mark is unscrewing and screwing the lightbulb when we want it on for story time. Yes, very annoying.
Hmm, yeah really annoying. I think they’re mostly meant to be used in half-hot outlets, the ones where the top part of the outlet is connected to the switch near the door. Those are really common in inexpensive homes where there is no overhead light in the bedroom, but I’m not sure about your house…
Oh man, that sucks. I wish I had a genius idea for you.
I love how Claudine is looking up at the lamp in the picture. 🙂
I got a light cord kit for a paper lantern at Cost Plus and it has a light switch on it. I think the kit was like $9.99.
Hi! I’m a long-time reader and sometime eater of your baked goods. 🙂
You can pick up a really great replacement with a switch in Chinatown. I got mine at the Pearl River Mart very cheaply.
BklynGirl, ah yes, pearl river would be a good place to get a replacement. The Ikea one was so cheap and the cord was very long, longer than most, which is why we picked it up, but you know – never thought to check to see if there was a switch. Thanks for the tip.
I’ve got the same issue, but my solution prob won’t work with an inaccessible outlet (I plugged mine into a surge protector with an on/off switch that sits on my desk).
How about “The Clapper”?
Tina, I actually thought about the clapper and clapped my hands, haha. Congrats on the baby by the way…I will be reading your blog for updates.
TOTORO! I loved that cartoon when I was little (Well, I still like it now)
You can buy a switch at a hardware store. I had a this problem with a lamp, so I cut the cord and installed an in-line cord switch, it’s very easy and only cost a few bucks.
I’ve had issues with Ikea lamps before, mostly due to strange bulbs sizes that you can’t find anywhere. But they are more trouble to return, so they are still crammed under my bed.