How to Remake Dated Lamps

HGTV Magazine asks: Would you let these lamps into your house? Get ready to do a double take!

By: Jennifer Berno DeCleene and Jodi Kahn

Before

With its sketchy-looking wiring, '70s smoky amber glass, and metal birds, you would probably pass right by this pair of lamps. But these bicentennial throwbacks—with eagles—are actually sleek, modern lighting just waiting to happen.

old lamps

Flea Market Lamps Before Makeover

These lamps were photographed at Berman's Auction Gallery

Photo by: Rachel Barker

Rachel Barker

After: A Cool Blue Set

Spray-painted high-gloss aqua, the dated lamps are now superchic. Teamed with leather ottomans, a burl wood console, and a graphic rug, they fancy up an entry—and play off the colors of the artwork.

Follow the steps below to see how it's done:

diy lamps makeover after

Two Blue Lamps DIY Makeover

These DIY lamps were featured in HGTV Magazine

Photo by: Susan Pittard/Studio D

Susan Pittard/Studio D

What You Need:

  • lamp-rewiring kit (at hardware stores)
  • Pom Wonderful juice bottle (at grocery stores)
  • screwdriver
  • lampshade
  • drill
  • spray paint
  • painter’s tape
  • wire cutters

Step 1  

Use wire cutters to cut off theplug at the base of the lamp. Unscrew the socket. Remove and discard the socket and the attached cord, the harp, and any decorative parts you don’t want (we removed the eagle)—they should slide right off the lamp’s center rod.

Step 2

Wash and dry the Pom bottle, then screw the cap back on. Drill a hole through the center of the cap—it should be the same diameter as the lamp’s rod. Drill the same size hole through the bottom of the bottle. Slide the bottle onto the rod.

Step 3

Use painter’s tape to cover the rod above the bottle. Spray-paint the lamp and the bottle. Remove the tape. Let dry. Spray-paint the kit’s finial; let dry. Rewire the lamp following the kit’s directions. Add the lampshade and the finial.

Lampshades: Light Source Cylinder 15"-tall linen lampshades, $42 each, wayfair.com; Lamp paint: Light Blue spray paint by Kolour, $4, bombingscience.com; Art: Cavallini & Co. vintage-map postcards, $13 for a mixed set of 18 (includes tin), papyrusonline.com; Frames: 11" x 14" frames with mat in white, $28.50 each, aifriedman.com; Table: For a similar look, try ebay.com (search for “burl wood table”); Ottomans: Sunpan Modern Baltec ottomans in ivory, $476 each, wayfair.com; Rug: Jared 5' x 8' wool rug, $559, nuloom.com; Wall paint: Buttered Sweet Corn by Glidden

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