“Ask your landlord first before drilling any holes, though.

Its simple to patch up, but some rentals are strict so proceed with caution,” Khuu warns.

Want more design inspiration?

Kristen McGowan battery-powered wall sconce example.

Kristen McGowan

It adds dimension to your walls and functionality to your space," she says.

She points out that there are now non-hardwired options available including plug-in and battery-operated varieties.

Khuu says this is one of her all-time favorite lighting hacks as well.

Kristen McGowan wall sconce lighting hack.

Kristen McGowan

Then mount the sconce onto the wall with the screws provided or with double-stick tape.

Then use a slim cord cover to hide the cord inside for a cleaner look.

These can go above art pieces, a kitchen window, a bookcase, or a mirror.

Kristen McGowan plug-in wall sconce hack.

Kristen McGowan

When its time to move out, simply use something like Goo-Gone to remove the adhesive.

You canadd strategic light stripsanywhere you like with so many options to choose from, Khuu says.

Other Passive Strategies

McGowan recommends choosing a light fixture with a white or light neutral lamp shade.

Kristen McGowan layered lighting hack using battery-operated wall sconces.

Kristen McGowan

Whereas metal or opaque lamp shades are more for focused lighting or for creating a dramatic effect.

For brightening up a room, Khuu suggests going tone-on-tone without a lot of contrast to soothe the eyes.

Think zen-inspired interiors where the color palette is soft and muted," Khuu says.