Floor lamps make beautiful (and functional) forms of lighting in the home, especially for those of us who are against the harshness of the big light. However, the main downside is what to do with all those wires. Lighting cords can create such unappealing clutter, taking away from the ambiance of a beautifully lit space.
Luckily, designer Nate Berkus has presented a DIY lighting idea to counter the ever-present problem. It may be controversial to some, but he has taken to Instagram to show off how he cuts a hole in his rug to hide his lamp's cord. It's a small sacrifice for the seamless payoff.
'I approve of this hack, (but be careful trying it at home)', Nate states in the caption of the clip. Want to recreate it for yourself? All you will need is a sharp tool, a rug (maybe avoid anything super expensive unless you plan for your lamp to live in that exact spot forever more), and a lamp. We've broken the process down into three simple steps below.
1. Cut a small hole
Using a precision tool, such as a carpet knife, craft knife, or drill (with a bit on it that's wide enough for your wire to run through), carve a small hole into your rug. The key is to keep it just small enough to fit a lamp's cord, so that there are no large, visible gaps in the rug.
Carving an X, rather than digging out a proper hole, is in fact a better way to ensure that there is minimal damage and a less obvious mark in the rug. We can see Nate has kept his carving small, as you can always expand it if the cord does not initially fit. You want it to be a really snug fit.
2. Push the cord through the hole
Once an adequately sized hole has been cut in the rug, push the cord through it and secure it underneath the rug. Make sure the entire length of the cord runs through it, and that there are no tangles in the cord as these will create bumps underneath the rug.
3. Secure the cord
Place the lamp on top of the hole to completely hide the marking, allowing it to have an invisible appearance. Nate places one of the lamp's legs on top of the hole, instantly hiding the cutting and creating a seamless look. Ready to try this DIY? We rounded up the essential items to achieve the project below.
This carpet knife features three professional-grade blades as well as a push button for easy use. Remember, go for a small X rather than a hole when doing Nate's DIY for minimal damage to the rug.
This antique-inspired, brass floor lamp is great for adding a vintage feeling to any living space, and is elegant in its silhouette.
This tufted rug is perfect for adding shape and texture to your room while keeping this neautral. It would look fantastic with a well-positioned floor lamp placed overtop of it.
While this hack might be unconventional to some, with the proper tools and a steady hand, cutting a small opening in a rug could be the ultimate solution to cord clutter – and that is something we can get behind.
