Project DIY: Vintage Lamp Update

We love a good DIY project! Not only is it fun to give new life to old things, it is a great way to keep items out of the landfill. Part of a sustainability mindset is finding ways to use what we already have and therefore purchase less.

The DIY Project: Turning this two-tone vintage lamp into a statement piece

Why I Love It

I have to confess that I did not like this lamp when I saw it. It was free and I only wanted the lampshade, but needed to take the entire lamp to get it. Having the lamp home, I began to appreciate it more. I liked how solid it was–it had substantial weight to it for such a delicate looking piece.

Once I was able to look past the two tone colour, I also began appreciating the details of the lamp.

The Plan

After Krista introduced me to the Colour of the Year, I chose to go bold and paint the lamp one solid colour. I often use foam brushes to pain furniture, but since there were so many small details on this lamp, I used smaller, fine tipped brushes.

Supplies List

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• Paint
• Paint Brushes
• New socket
• Screwdrivers
• Lampshade

The Process

As you can see in the photos below, the lamp’s socket is dismantled. Part way through my project I realized that the switch wasn’t working! With the help of Google I learned that it was a quick fix after a trip to the hardware store to purchase a new socket. As the colour of the hardware was difficult to match, I used the original casing with the new socket.

After layering four coats of paint, a rich coral colour was achieved.

The Finished Product