Lamp Refresh

Lighting is instrumental in setting the atmosphere in a room. This can change depending on the time of day and your intentions for the space.

Incorporating several layers of lighting in a room will provide different perspectives and experiences all in the same design.

Along with natural light, which is my most favorite light source, a pendant or chandelier can cast light throughout the entire room. Sometimes, however, you want subtle lighting to create a more intimate setting (wink wink).

Using floor and/or table lamps adds another layer of light and versatility to the space. Lighting can add a cozy reading spot, create a moody ambiance in the room and add depth to your design.

There are so many lamp options out there, it can be overwhelming to pick something. For my space, I wanted the colors and style to blend into my décor instead of being the focal point like a chandelier.

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Below are lamps found on Wayfair that matched my desired look.

Another thing I noticed was THE PRICE. Lamps are expensive, especially the larger options with a pottery style base. I loved the natural pottery look, but I really didn’t want to shell out $100-$200 for a lamp. Time for a DIY project!

This project required a Thrift Trip (my favorite kind) to Goodwill where I found a few lamps with the general shape I wanted. They were not my color scheme and didn’t have a shade, but it was nothing some paint and a trip to Target wouldn’t fix!

I loved the texture of the squatty pink one and wanted to keep the two toned look, just not these 1992 tones. The tall blue one needed some texture and paint to create the aged pottery appearance.

First, I cleaned everything with my TSP Cleaner. This gets all of the dirt and grime off and is a great degreasing cleaner. Next step, I painted the pink vase with Fusion Mineral Paint (color: Little Lamb). This paint can be used in all type of projects and I use it for all of my furniture projects.

After letting the mineral paint dry for a couple of hours, I used Fusion Mineral Paint in Coal Black (My most favorite color) and dry brushed over the grey paint. Dry brushing means to dab a bit of paint on the very tips of the bristles and lightly drag over the surface, you are not going for full coverage. This technique leaves some of the bottom color showing through.

Click Here to see an example of dry brushing

Meanwhile…I covered the blue lamp in two coats of primer. Make sure to use a primer that bonds to all surfaces. I had some leftover Bullseye Primer so I added two coats to the lamp base.

Now comes the interesting part…

To add texture, I used joint compound. My husband is in the middle of finishing the basement, so I “borrowed” his mud container and used a paint brush to apply a coat to the lamp. You can purchase this at any home improvement store. I waited 24 hours, lightly sanded and then added another coat of compound.

You can sand and smooth out the texture as you see fit. I left some of the holes and texture because I wanted a more rustic look. After the second coat had dried for 24 hours, I layered the grey and black paint the same way as the first lamp.

The lighter color was showing more than I liked so I mixed the black mineral paint with a little bit of water and created a “wash” of black as the final coat. This darkened up the grey and blended the colors a little more.

After finishing both lamps, I found new shades at target for $20 a piece. They have several shapes and colors and I chose a white one for the taller lamp and a natural color for my favorite squatty lamp. The total cost was $23.00 a lamp, not bad!

What did you think of this DIY, is it something you would try? Let me know if you attempt a lamp refresh!