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This DIY Lamp Hack Looks Like a Million Bucks (But Is Made with Materials You Already Have)

 byKelly Dawson
Kelly Dawson
Kelly Dawson is a media consultant based in Los Angeles. She is a prolific writer for notable publications including Cup of Jo, Vox, AFAR, Dwell, Martha Stewart Living, McSweeney's and Architectural Digest. Kelly is the three-time guest editor for Refinery29's "Voices of Disability" series, two-time guest host of "Call Your Girlfriend," and deputy editor at Apartment Therapy.
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published Jun 15, 2022
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If you’re saddled with a plain lamp you’re growing tired of, you already know some of the more obvious upgrade solutions, like swapping its shade or painting its base. But that’s not where thelamp makeover possibilitiesend. With a little creativity and a few supplies, you can turn your standard-issue light fixture into a piece with designer style.

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Take this lamp redo from DIYer Geneva Vanderzeil (@genevavanderzeilon TikTok). The lamp Vanderzeil started with was nothing to write home about — just a thin black base and a plain lampshade. But she was able to give it a totally new look with an unexpected material: old plastic bottles.

Vanderzeil started by gathering a number of large bottles in the same size and shape — hers were Sprite bottles gathered from a party that all had a conical shape on top. Then, she cut off the top section to use only this cone part. Cutting off the mouth of the bottle and making a slit on the side allowed her to slip the cones onto her lamp’s base.

Vanderzeil配对锥,更广泛sections connected, making a series of oblong shapes that she taped together to secure. (If you’re following along, you’ll want your lamp base to look almost bubble-like.)

Once she was satisfied with the shape, Vanderzeil appliedjoint compoundonto the entire surface; after allowing it to dry, she sanded lightly and followed with white paint. The result is a lamp that looks like a designer find, thanks to its sculptural style andon-trend plaster-like finish.

The best part of a project like this is that it doesn’t matter what the lamp’s base looks like, since it will be completely covered. That opens up a range of options for makeover candidates, from dorm room leftover lamps to hand-me-downs that aren’t quite your style. And, of course, the materials are cheap — the bottles are leftovers, and the joint compound and paint won’t run you more than $10 apiece — which makes it all the more attractive as a DIY. Make it all the more fun by hosting friends to drink up the contents of your chosen bottles the night before, then complete this project in the span of a lazy weekend afternoon. I’ll cheers to that!

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