Ninedays Blog

We're always seeing it on DIY shows like Trading Spaces, Design on a Dime or anything on the DIY Network where these designers take something old and make it new for cheap.

Well it's my turn! And that's right folks you read it here first, for under $20!

Steps to Updating Your Old Lamps

Step 1: Start with Ugly

When I moved into this house my parents left three little lamps for me if I wanted them. They were gold with these ugly lampshades but this charming glass jar look that I really want to fill with anything. And by gold, I mean they a terribly gaudy shade of gold. Gold...not so much my thing.

Step 2: Take it apart, prep and clean

I took apart the the lamp and since I couldn't completely separate the wiring and the other pieces I taped up the wiring with blue painters tape so I could get to get to spray painting. I also wiped off any dust and dirt on the lamp pieces, some websites recommended I scratch the surface with steel wool, but I didn't cause I live on the edge like that.

Step 3: Time to Spray

Then off to the basement to pray the metal pieces. I was careful not to over spray and hit any of the exposed wiring and the glass piece. Don't forget to let it dry the recommended time on the spray can my spray paint was 24 hours so I let it sit for 24 hours.

I chose a simple, not to shiny silver since it's more my style.

Step 4: Put it all back together

After a quick trip to target to grab 3 little white lamp shades @($5.14 ea) I had made over all 3 lamps and they look phenomenally better than they did before.

It probably only took me half an hour (while watching TV) to take the lamps apart and tape them up. Then painting took no more than another half an hour and let the dry overnight. A very quick and inexpensive way to fix two lamps rather than spend $10-15 a piece to get new ones!

Total Cost: $19.59

• $4.17 (Spray Paint)
• $15.42 (3 Lamp Shades @ $5.14ea.)

Now I'm thinking I might find a glass etching kit and give that a whirl again...it was a blast when I did it in middle school.

Tip: Don't be afraid to mess up. You probably won't anyways. I doubted myself about needing to spray a gloss coat, but then I read the spray can and realized it recommended not to use a finishing coat so ta-da problem solved.