I love my apartment, but I have one-sided beef with my kitchen ceiling light. As a renter, the landlord-decreed overhead light — aka a “boob light,” sconce, flush mount; a jezebel by any other name would still look as tacky — is just one those things that we, as the renting serfdom, have had to accept. They’re ubiquitous, inescapable, and wildly dated, but replacing mine felt like a complicated or even Herculean task.
Recently, however, Instagram started serving me ads for a brand called Tulip that claims to make renter-friendly, easy-to-install flush mounts:
Tulip’s solution seems simple: Why not just cover up your big, fugly landlord light with a slightly bigger, beautiful linen shade? And that simplicity speaks my language. Tulip’s approach also seems to be part of a larger influx of DIY, renter-friendly home improvements on the design scene; as someone who is constantly redecorating and adjusting details in her home, I’ve made note of the rising popularity of peel-and-stick wallpaper, stick-on backsplash tiles, and instant-upgrade sconces from brands such as Poplight that are designed to make installation as simple as sticking on a Command hook.
Depending on your DIY bandwidth, there are quite a few solutions for swapping out, or at least improving the appearance of, your unsightly flush mount boob light. You can start with a (mostly) pre-assembled lamp, such as this Nancy Meyers-esque linen option from Joss & Main, or this flush-mount with a gold interior, and there are plentiful under-5-minute-long tutorials on YouTube that will virtually hold your hand through the installation process.
On the other hand, if you’re like me and your bandwidth for DIY work stretches not much farther than a coat of chalk paint and a beginner’s drill, I have also found a selection of extremely chic, extremely idiot-proof flush-mount swaps that require no fiddling with cables, snipping of wires, or even drilling. Whether you’re semi-handy or not handy at all, these are the best easy-to-install flush mount swaps that look way more expensive than they are.
Installing this shade is as easy as sticking a Post-It on a wall
Tulip’s Gem line is inspired by the delicate glow of paper lanterns, and comes in a dozen colorways — including the toile Gem Caledonia, which would be especially charming in a kitchen. The versatility of the natural colorway has sold me, and installation is as easy as using either peel-and-stick adhesives or a set of drywall screws, both of which are provided by the brand.
A scalloped shade brings romance into the kitchen
This floral-print flush mount can bring some much-welcome greenery into your kitchen all year round. It does entail some tinkering that goes beyond a peel-and-stick approach, but the instructions are very straightforward and the kit comes with everything you need to get the job done in just a few minutes.
Gathered fabric can soften a space
Stripes are also having a bit of a home decor moment right now, particularly in the form of all the striped, cottage-ready linens and tablecloths dominating design blogs and brands (looking at you, Pig in a Blanket). I would even go so far as to call them the 2025 inheritor of the check print trend — and this gathered fabric flush mount light cover looks like a Martha’s Vineyard vacation home guest bed skirt for your ceiling.
Your vibe is a little more mid-century modern
This no-tools-needed recessed light shade is very Topanga Canyon circa 1977, and it’s under $50. Best of all, no tools are required at all to install it.
Now go bask in the glow of your non-Landlord Special kitchen light. Bye, boob light.
