Good morning sunshine and happy Monday! I hope your weekend was fabulous and full of happy things. It was a good one over here. We mostly just piddled around the house doing a few little projects and hung out inside while a pretty nasty snow storm passed through yesterday. It was actually kinda nice since we had nowhere to be and nothing to do. Don’t you love when that happens?? Sunday snow storms are a-ok in my book. Anyway, I am so pumped for today’s post because I finally get to share the new barn lights we put in our reading nook. Alllllllll the jazz hands!! Seriously, this little change has made a HUGE difference and I can’t wait to show you. I mentioned recently that I’ve been wanting to add some pizzazz to the reading nook for a long time now, and this was the perfect little fix. I love a good before and after, so let’s start with how the reading nook looked before:
And here’s how it looks now with new barn lights:
Such a big change right?!! I can’t believe how simple home decor elements like two little barn lights can add so much more character and charm to this space. I chose these affordable gooseneck black lights from Amazon (they’re all sold out now, but here’s a very similar option for the same price). And since we don’t have electricity in the reading nook, we used these LED battery powered puck lights instead of light bulbs. We just screwed the lights to the wall without any of the electrical wiring. Then we decided to use long strips of heavy duty velcro to attach the puck lights (there are several ways you can do this. Check out this tutorial from Nesting with Grace to see how to attach similar lights with wire). It was SO easy and since we used velcro, there will be no issues removing the lights when we need to change out the batteries. The whole thing took maybe 30 minutes at most.
I also decided to paint either side of the nook white and I’m sooooo glad I did. Again, it was a simple change that made a big impact. To be honest I’m growing tired of Autumn Blonde (the creamy yellow color on a lot of our walls) and I wanted to bring a fresh look to this little nook. It always amazes me what a bit of white paint can do! It has magical powers.
I’m thinking about adding some wide molding around the edges and top of the nook just to give it even more character, but these barn lights are a really good start. I’m pretty happy with the new look. I love it so much more, and I’m honestly mad at myself for not doing this sooner. How in the world did it take me over two years to add lights in here?! Eeesh. But at least I’ve got them now and I kinda want to go around the house adding more barn lights like this to every single room. So simple and easy!
Well I’d love to hear what you think of the new lights in the reading nook! And be sure to let me own if you have any questions. You guys know I love to chat!
Here’s a few other affordable farmhouse style barn lights that would also work well with battery puck lights:
Brilliant! Thanks for sharing.
I like your new lights I read your post every day and love all your new ideas. I painted my kitchen in sept and went with the farm house look I love it and I’m slowly going to redo every room so I love seeing your ideas.
Thanks so much Linda, I’m so happy that you drop by every day. Sounds like you are making great progress on your home, keep it up!
Hi Sarah. It’s amazing how little changes make such a difference. Great idea with using the puck lights! Also can you share where you got the pillows in the nook?
Hi Janet, those pillows were made by my mom like 20 years ago, but you can find lots of similar ticking strip pillows in this post: https://sarahjoyblog.com/farmhouse-style-ticking-stripe-pillows/
This post is right on time -just this morning I was on Ikeas website looking for a battery powered barn light (cutting holes in drywall and bringing in an electrician isn’t an option right now ) to hang above my kitchen desk and one for over my laundry room sink. I didn’t find anything and THEN……. I opened up your email and I couldn’t believe it !!!! This was a gift ! Thanks for sharing it. I’m going to look at the tutorial and will email you with any questions . You are the best! Oh and your idea to paint the sides of the nook white -genius!!!
Oh my goodness Marilyn, how crazy is that!! Perfect timing. Yes please email me if you have any questions, you know I’m always happy to help!
The lights add a beautiful touch to your reading nook! & adding the white paint to the sides is a great improvement too👍🏻
Love reading your posts💜
Xo
Thanks so much Jade! xo
Love this reading nook and the puck light idea!! Never would have thought of that. Thanks!!
Thanks Sherri!!
I love this Sarah! We’re going to be adding some lights very similar to this in our living room. Might just scoop up the ones you suggested since they fit the puck lights. Beautiful!
Oh you will love the way they look in your living room Lindsay!!
What a great add! Makes the reading nook cuter than ever! Thanks for sharing Sarah!
Just the solution I needed to add light inside my pantry! Thanks for sharing!
Yes definitely! And they come with a remote too so you can make the lights warm/cool and adjust the brightness.
How awesome is this & how creativity outside the box definitely impresses me!
LOVE the barn lights!!
Thanks Dina!!
Love the lights! They add so much character! I’ve been eyeing similar ones for my bathroom.
Thanks, I love them. Now I want to add some to every room!!
Super great idea, Sarah! Very pretty, too! Question, have your found that the puck lights give off enough light for reading there? It’s great that they even have a remote, and different brightness aspects! I pinned this for later!
They do!! I just remembered that it came with a remote and that adjusts the brightness quite a bit, plus you can make it a cool or warm light!
Super! Thanks for the extra info! Also, are your replies supposed to come to our email? Just wondering. Thanks again, Sarah!
I believe you should get an email when I respond to your comment. Just as long as you marked that little box that say to notify you with follow-up comments!
Ok, I do mark the box, but never get notifications. Thought you might want to know. ☺️ #bloggerslife
Great idea. Do you think I could use your technique with the puck lights under my kitchen cabinets? I don’t have under lighting and really would like something
Thoughts?
Oh yes definitely!! I think that’s how they’re most commonly used actually. The ones I got have a remote too!
Thank you. I have a coffee nook that needs a little extra light. This will be perfect!
They might be perfect then Sherry! But FYI, the lights I got from Amazon don’t put out a ton of light.
Looks sooo great, girl!!! I’d read there with a big cup of coffee! 🙂
yessss girl, it’s the perfect spot for coffee and a book!!
Wow, Sarah!! It really did make a big difference – I love it!!
We’re up in Casper, WY and we got at least 10 inches of snow – finally!!
They kept forecasting it and it finally really dumped Saturday night.
We need the moisture as I know Colorado does, as well!
Have a great week!!
Oh wow you got way more than us! I think we maybe got 7-8″ here at my house. We all definitely need the moisture, it’s been so dry!
So cute and cozy! Love the lights😍 I think wide molding to frame out the nook would really make it even a more of a focal point, as well as help protect the corners of the walls from wear and tear. Thanks for sharing!
Exactly, I’m hoping to do that soon!!
I had a light I tried under counter before and it didn’t do well. …do these lights “light” good?
Well I wouldn’t call it good light, they’re pretty wimpy when it comes to how much light they put out.
Wait!! I just remembered that the light came with a remote so I was able to adjust them to be brighter. So I change my answer, they ARE giving good light now.
That is the coziest nook ever!
Hi Sarah. I’m thinking of replacing my bedside lamps with these. Do they provide light as a substitution?
I love this space. You design a beautiful niche here. I would love a spot such as this to call my own.
This is such a wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing detailed instructions and where to buy the materials.
Thank you Sarah ! I LOVE this idea. Never would I have thought to put battery puck lights in there. Your reading nook looks fabulous ❤️❤️❤️
I love this Idea and I ordered the lights but just wondering how you stuck the Velcro on since the light fixture comes down a bit so there is no flat surface to suction the Velcro to to!
I love you reading nook and have enjoyed seeing pictures of it since you first posted. Apparently, I didn’t read until today that the barn lights weren’t hardwired! Love your puck idea! I want wall mounted lights above my coffee station, but haven’t wanted to hardwire. I have my lamps on there all day. Questions: How much light do the pucks provide? How long do they last before batteries need to be changed?
I’d love to try this if they provide enough light for a decent time!
This is the absolute CUTEST idea! I am definitely trying.
Love this idea! Pinned ♥
thank you Dee!!
HI Sarah! I love your nook 🙂 I am debating whether to put one in our master bedroom as we have this 52″ L x 24″ W space that is cut into the wall. Just not sure if that is large enough to do a nook?