With cooler autumn days comes the fall of chilly, darker nights. The earlier dusk means you’ll have to rely more on indoor lighting to brighten your home. Standard overhead lighting, whether in a new home or apartment, often leaves much to be desired in terms of design aesthetics. So before you flick on your fluorescent fixtures and basic bulbs, get crafty! There are tons of stylish lighting DIYs you can use to brighten up your space. Here are a few projects to get you started.
Intricate Design
After searching for a reasonably priced lampshade for her vintage ceramic base, Justina of Justina Blakeney decided to take matters into her own hands. An evening spent cutting up colored duct tape left her with a fabulous geometric design. While shapes with straight edges are easier to create, circles and ovals will add variation to the predominately angular pattern.
Sleek and stylish is the name of the game with this lamp DIY by Tracie of Cleverly Inspired. Precut metal sheets used to cover radiators become a bedroom statement piece in a matter of hours. Choose sheets with an interesting, intricate cutout design to maximize the design’s impact.
Common Objects
Wilma of By Wilma created a quirky lampshade out of an ordinary object- a wire fruit bowl! The exposure of the light bulb adds an industrial touch, while bright yellow spray paint keeps the project fun and modern. For this DIY, try finding a thrifted bowl and old lamp with a sturdy base to transform.
Road maps are great for more than travel guidance! This pendant lamp by Allison of Zipper 8 Design uses recycled maps to make worldly lighting. Create one of these for your home office or library, and you’ll be inspired to explore the globe.
Nod to Childhood
Remember those little action figures you played with as a kid? Hannah of Story by ModCloth took a cue from childhood when crafting this superhero-packed lamp using hot glue and copper spray paint. Gift alert: this DIY would delight the little one or toy collector in your life, so feature their favorite characters for a personalized project they’ll absolutely love.
Here’s a childhood favorite that’s sure to bring back fond memories: fortune tellers. Affectionately referred to as “cootie catchers,” the origami staple gave Allison of Zipper 8 Design inspiration for this one-of-a-kind pendant light. A basic paper lamp is the perfect base for this project and provides a wide range of diameters. Line a few smaller ones across a room, or create a single large one to make a statement.
A Touch of Romance
Vintage lamps can add an effortless charm to your home. But sometimes that perfect piece needs a little DIY love to make it new again. Kinsey of A Beautiful Mess added romance to her vintage score with a handcrafted shade made from doilies. Creme or ivory doilies will maintain the well-loved look of your project, but bright white can help combine modern and old school appeal.
Featured on Tatertots and Jello, Terra of Mama Says Sew created her own version of a romantic ruffled lampshade she spotted in a popular retail store. The frayed edges of the burlap layers add a rustic touch while still maintaining the feminine flair. This project is also great for a vintage lamp transformation- just spray paint the base for a whole new look.
From a tweak to an existing lampshade, to an entire lamp made from scratch, there are plenty of DIY lighting solutions to suit your taste and skill level. Which one of these projects caught your eye? Tell us in a comment below.
