Is your favorite vase bringing everything its got to the table? Next time you think aboutbuying a new light fixture for a nightstand or credenza, grab that vessel (or a bottle or jar) and transform it into a lamp instead. Any shape will work, and I love to use quirky vases that make a statement, writes Brisbane, Australiabased stylist and maker Geneva Vanderzeil in her first book, Home Is Where You Make It, on shelves March 3.
Dont panic: Theres no major electrical work involved. All you really need is a basic lamp kit. The only potentially difficult part is assembling the hardware, but there are lots of places online where you can buy packsthat are already assembled, she continues. (Vanderzeil snagged hers on Etsy, but you can find a similar one with all the fittings for $14 at The Home Depot.) Whether youre reusing a piece youve owned forever or upcycling a thrift-store find, this hack is all-around less expensive than purchasing a ready-made option. In this three-step excerpt from her new book, Vanderzeil shows us how its done at lightning speed.
The Supplies
- Lamp kit with side access
- Vase
- Lampshade
- Light bulb
- Superglue
The How-To
Step 1: Assemble the lamp kit and attach it to the vase cap thats included in the kit. I used a lamp kit with a side entry so that I didnt have to drill a hole in the ceramic vase. I just positioned the finished lamp with the cord to the back. If your lamp kit has a bottom cord entry, youll need to drill a hole for the cord to come out.
Step 2: Glue the vase cap to the top of the vase using superglue.
Step 3: Once youve finished putting the lamp together, attach the lampshade to the socket fitting, and then attach the light bulb.
And you thought that vase was the light of your life before.
FromHome Is Where You Make Itby Geneva Vanderzeil, published by Tiller Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Copyright 2020 by Geneva Vanderzeil. All rights reserved.
See more stories like this:
Ive Used These Container Store Shelves in Every Apartment Ive Had
We Solved Our Entryway Shoe Pile with a Simple Storage Swap
The Backsplash DIY Thats the Answer to Our Rental-Kitchen Prayers