In most rooms, cozy little lamps and warmer bulb temperatures quickly lift the darker fall evenings, but the fix isn't quite so easy in a kitchen, where so many lighting options need to be wired in. However, as the trend for portable lighting grows, so do the number of options and the versatility of designs, and we are now seeing chic plug-in and rechargeable lights that mean you can add these soft, warm pockets of light to your kitchen without having to call the electrician.

There are plenty of beautiful portable kitchen lamps that are ideal for adding a glow to countertops, but wire-free sconces have a more permanent look and can add more than just ambience to your kitchen lighting scheme. There can still be a touch of DIY to attach the light to the wall (usually a couple of screws), and you will need to install them near existing outlets, but it's far simpler and much cheaper than running new cables through the walls.

Plug-in designs have become far chicer in the last few years – Lulu and Georgia's Maisano Plug-In Sconce brings a vintage-style elegance to a cooking space, while Rejuvenation's Alpen Articulating Sconce adds a rustic texture to the kitchen. And if you're worried about the cords looking messy on the walls, you can even get really elevated Cord Stays to keep them tidy.

The best part? No professional installation needed. Here are 20 elevated designs to add a warmer, cozier layer of lighting to your kitchen in time for the holidays.

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