Do you have a light fixture that has seen better days? Rather of discarding the artwork totally, why not give it a facelift? We’re going to show you 10 simple methods to update your lighting to better reflect your style and improve your room as a whole. Continue reading for a variety of lamp base, shade, and lightbulb possibilities!
1. Paint the base with spray paint.
Maybe you have a perfectly functional lamp that just isn’t doing anything for you cosmetically. Now is the moment to harness the power of spray paint. Go to the hardware shop and get a canister of a color that appeals to you. Best of all, this simple DIY project will just take a few minutes (plus drying time) and will cost less than $10 to accomplish.
2. Make use of Contact Paper
Contact paper isn’t only for the insides of your cupboards; it can also be utilized to breathe fresh life into an old lamp base. Blogger Megan Duesterhaus updated two simple lights with patterned contact paper that matched her taste for about $30. While the project was quite low-cost, we believe the finished product is quite opulent!
3. Change the Shade
Perhaps the shade on your favorite lamp has become a little worn over time. Don’t worry if you still adore the base and don’t want to part with the light totally. Simply take note of the shade’s dimensions and look for a replacement one that is around the same size in both height and diameter, and you should be good to go! And, while you’re doing it, why not have some fun by experimenting with a different color or pattern? This is a great opportunity to capitalize on some of the trends you’ve been noticing. Maybe you’ve been aching to try something a little more daring—try a bright coral colour, for example. If you can’t get enough of English decor, go for a paisley-patterned hue.
4. Make a New Shade
You can also easily DIY a new color to suit your preferences! When it comes to materials or textures, get creative and think outside the box. Blogger Andrea Champlin decided to spray paint ordinary wooden lamps a bright pink color and create new shades out of cork material. This is a great option if you’re searching for something unique or can’t find a fabric print that you like.
5. Replace Your Light Bulbs
Lightbulbs have the ability to change the ambiance of a room. Change the bulb on your nightstand if you don’t like the color it emits! This basic modification is affordable and takes little effort, yet it may have a significant impact. While you’re at it, why not go all out and get a color-changing light bulb?
6. Include “Age” in Your Base
Think again if you believe that a light must be shiny and fresh to be fashionable. Many interior designers adore the aesthetic of ancient earthenware lamps, but such items can be extremely pricey. Fortunately, if you’re up for a simple DIY project, you can easily reproduce this appearance. Blogger Erin Gerlach used plaster of Paris, paint, and, yes, dirt to transform a $3 Goodwill lamp from drab to fab.
7. Replace the Finial
The finial is the embellishment on top of a harp lamp that helps keep the shade in place. If you discover that yours is too practical for your tastes, go ahead and hunt for something with a little more flare. We’ve seen a variety of styles on the market, including some with quirky figurines attached, such as birds and bunnies, which would look great in a child’s room.
8. Include a Medallion
When working with ceiling light fixtures, add a plaster medallion to dress them up a little. This will give your home a vintage-inspired, old-world vibe without costing an arm and a leg. Plaster medallions may be purchased online for around $30 (and can be painted if the basic white color doesn’t appeal to you).
9. Say Thanks to Rust
If you have a lamp that is starting to rust, don’t be afraid that its beauty will be lost forever. Simply follow the lead of blogger Dara Dimitri and go to the hardware shop to get the items you need to get rid of the rust once and for all. After finishing the techniques outlined here, you may even spray paint the foundation a different color if you’re looking for an even more drastic change!