I don’t know about you but I hate spending money on lamps. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good lamp… they bring function, balance, and style to a space. I just don’t understand why they’re so expensive? The good news is that there are plenty of lamps taking up shelf space at your local thrift store for super cheap. Hopefully these projects will inspire you to make a stylish lamp for a fraction of the cost!
1. Add some panty hose to a shade and you have a stunner. So easy right? How many times would you have passed up the above lamp at the thrift store. Not now, right? See the tutorial and the other “panty hose lamp” that Mandi from Vintage Revivals makes here.
2. Don’t pass up those ceramic lamps in the thrift store. Just like the metal ones, they can be painted. See how Jen from I Heart Organizing painted her ceramic lamp here.
3. Buying a thrifted lamp is cheaper than buying lamp parts at your hardware store. Grab a cheap lamp, a cool vase, and make a new lamp. See how Jessica from Mom for Real made this lamp. She figured out how to do it without even drilling a hole!
4. Pick a thrift store lamp with interesting detail. It will look expensive and one of a kind once you paint it. This DIY post goes into how you can prep an old dirty lamp for paint. (Hint: you can also spray paint a lamp shade too!)
5. Dress up those skinny little table lamps with a thrifted ceramic animal. Check out how it’s done here.
6. Did you know you can tint glass with alcohol ink? Alcohol ink is scrapbooking ink commonly found in local craft stores. I didn’t know this either but I might have to try this one!
7. Give a thrift store lamp a little abstract detail. You need to check out the “before of this lamp” to understand how stylish this lamp has become.
8. This lamp was once a $2 thrifted lamp. It got a little updated with foam board and spray paint. Yeah, you need to check this one out.
9. I’ll be honest, painting marble intimidates me. But, this DIY looks seriously easy! It requires a tub of water, spray paint, and the ability to roll the lamp base in the water. Check it out here.
10. The ombré effect can make a vintage lamp look super unique. I love the fade from black to white on this lamp. See how it’s done over on A Beautiful Mess.
