Prepare to be amazed. Your lamp buying adventures are about to be revolutionized.
You see, one of my favorite things about the above photo (besides my itty bitty baby and my antique door bed frame), are my mismatched lamps. They’re beautiful, and industrial, and make a statement….
…and they started out as hideous brass Goodwill junk.
Here’s the deal. You know those ugly lamps you ignore in your favorite junkin’ spots because, well, they’re awful? The ones that are everywhere, that only an 80-year-old would buy?
Like these?
True story, I took these photos today at one of my favorite antique malls in a matter of 10 seconds. Seriously, everywhere.
I buy them.
The easiest way to transform anything is a can of spray paint, and that’s exactly what these ugly lamps need. Most of the time, antique lamps are pretty high quality (assuming the wiring is still good). They’re made of good materials, ornate, and are built to withstand a nuclear explosion.
And they’re normally under $10 at your local Goodwill.
Customizing your own lamp, using an outdated brass base, has never been so easy… or as inexpensive!
Materials Needed:
– Ugly lamp
– Painter’s tape
– Spray paint
– Light bulb (I love using Edison bulbs, despite their price, for a industrial/modern look.)
Directions:
1. Clean lamp body with soap and water.
2. Apply painter’s tape around the socket, switch and where the cord meets the lamp. You don’t want any paint hitting the electrical components.
3. Pick your favorite color of spray paint (I’m a fan of Rust-Olem’s Oil Rubbed Bronze), and have at it.
4. Once painted and dried, remove painter’s tape and insert light bulb.
And… done.
I feel almost silly writing out these directions, but I have to share how simple this project is! Don’t feel limited by your options at HomeGoods ever again! You can customize everything from the style, color, bulb, shade (or no shade!), and have a one-of-a-kind lamp for under $20.
Can’t find two of the same ugly lamps? Who cares! Find two of the same height, and paint them the same color for a cohesive mismatched look.
Is your mind blown yet? 
Anyone else a lover of ugly lamps, like me?
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that’s a great tip, seriously! I might go looking for a lamp to transform it into something “new”
It’s such an easy project! You never know what you’ll find when junkin’!
I have actually done this … I bought some ugly gold lamps when I moved into my first college apartment. We sanded them down and painted them black and white to go with our black, white, and red living room decor. They came out really cute.
Your first college apartment, Corei?! Now I feel old. I was living in my first college apartment when I was coaching you all at Ritter!