Use Lanterns and Paper Shades to Hide Ugly Lighting In Your Rental

Do you remember the first time you saw a set of boob lights? For me, it was probably during a party inside a gross apartment off campus during my college days, but that’s all a beautiful blur. When I moved into my first apartment in New York City, I couldn’t have cared less about the overhead lighting—I was so excited to be living in a space of my own, sans roommates. But when I upgraded from a studio to a one-bedroom a few years later, I couldn’t help but notice the harsh glare of not one but three boob lights on the ceiling. Not only were they a major eyesore, but they completely killed the vibe that I was trying so hard to intentionally curate. (It was quite literally obstructing my vision.) Every morning when I woke up and made my way from the bedroom to the bathroom, I scowled at the ghastly sight of the boob lights mounted above me.

Whenever you ask any person with an eye for interiors what the most important element in a room is, the first words out of their mouth will always be lighting. As a renter, there are many cosmetic changes that I’m forbidden from making, and lighting replacements are toward the tippity top of that list.

I know this is a minor inconvenience, but when you live in a home like mine that is decorated with an assortment of beautiful objects, boob lights have a way of really standing out. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve fantasized about installing a chandelier, but since I’m not planning to stay in this apartment forever it hasn’t felt worth the expense.

The fact that a product like this didn’t previously exist is pretty mind blowing to me because the concept is genius. What was once an obtrusive lighting fixture has transformed into a lantern that emits a sexy glow in the atmosphere. I’m amazed by how something so simple could have that huge of an impact. The vibes in here have shifted so drastically that now I never want to turn off the lights. (This is the next best thing for feeding my lamp obsession.) Until then, I’ll be customizing my shades with the help of some friends in the art world. As for my overhead ceiling fans, I’ll have to let that slide for now—that’s a design dilemma to save for another day. Let there be light!