Poplight makes battery-powered wall sconces that stick to a wall with adhesive and peel off without drilling, patching or an electrician — built specifically for renters who want real ambient lighting without touching the wiring or the lease. The Denver-based brand went from a Kickstarter campaign to a Shark Tank deal, and now sells eight colorways of the same fixture. This guide covers how the install actually works, what's inside the light, what the full range costs, and who it does and doesn't suit.
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How the Install Actually Works
Poplight's pitch is 'no tools, no stress': the fixture mounts with an adhesive base that includes a built-in level, so it goes up in seconds and comes down without drilling a hole or damaging paint — the core requirement for anyone who needs their landlord's walls to look untouched at move-out. The brand also sells a dedicated install kit with extra adhesive and alcohol wipes for surface prep, which matters more than it sounds: adhesive-mounted fixtures are only as reliable as the wall prep behind them.
What's Inside the Light
Each Poplight runs on a rechargeable, removable USB-C battery pack rated for up to 9 hours on a charge, putting out roughly 3 watts / 300 lumens — enough for accent and ambient lighting rather than a room's main light source. Brightness, color temperature and a sleep timer are controlled through a free iOS/Android app rather than a physical switch, which is convenient day to day but does mean the light depends on a phone and Bluetooth to adjust rather than a wall switch.
Colors and What They Cost
A single Poplight is $99, available in eight colorways — Dusty Rose, Marigold, White, Sage Green, Vermillion Red, Blue, Mushroom and Matte Black — with limited-run colors occasionally discounted to around $89. Running costs beyond the fixture itself are modest: an extra battery pack (so one can charge while the other is mounted) runs about $34, a six-pack of replacement adhesive strips is $6, and a spare USB-C charging cable is $8.99. Buying a second or third unit is the main way the price adds up, since most rooms benefit from more than one fixture.
The Founders and the Shark Tank Story
Poplight was started by Rose and Caroline, a married couple who built the fixture after struggling to find affordable, renter-friendly wall lighting for their own first home together. The brand raised close to $200,000 on Kickstarter and later secured a deal on ABC's Shark Tank, and describes itself as women-owned and LGBTQ+-owned. That origin story is also the clearest explanation for the product's whole design brief: it exists specifically to solve the 'renter can't rewire a wall' problem, not to compete with hardwired designer sconces on light output.
The Catches Worth Knowing First
Three things to check before buying. First, at 300 lumens this is ambient and accent lighting, not a replacement for an overhead fixture or reading lamp — buy it for mood, not for task lighting. Second, the battery needs recharging roughly every 9 hours of use, so a light left on for evenings at a time will need periodic charging (or a spare battery pack) rather than running indefinitely like a hardwired fixture. Third, adhesive-mounted fixtures are only as secure as the wall surface and prep — textured, unpainted or very old plaster walls may hold the adhesive less reliably than a smooth painted drywall wall, which is exactly what the install kit's alcohol wipes are meant to address.
Who It Suits
Poplight fits renters who want real ambient wall lighting without losing a deposit or waiting on landlord approval, and who are comfortable controlling a light through a phone app rather than a wall switch. It suits people furnishing a first apartment or a temporary living situation where nothing can be permanent. It fits less well if you need bright task lighting, want a fixture that never needs recharging, or are mounting on a wall surface that can't take an adhesive pad reliably.
Frequently asked questions
Does installing a Poplight damage walls or require an electrician?
No. It mounts with an adhesive base and comes off without drilling or patching, which is the whole point of the design for renters. No electrician or wiring is involved since it runs on a rechargeable battery.
How long does the battery last, and what happens when it dies?
Each Poplight runs up to about 9 hours per charge on its removable USB-C battery pack. Many buyers get a second battery pack (about $34) so one can charge while the other stays mounted and lit.
How bright is a Poplight?
Around 3 watts / 300 lumens per fixture — enough for ambient and accent lighting, not a replacement for an overhead room light or a reading lamp.
What colors does Poplight come in?
Eight colorways at the time of writing: Dusty Rose, Marigold, White, Sage Green, Vermillion Red, Blue, Mushroom and Matte Black, each $99 for a single fixture.
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