I didn’t know how to title this post; How to get rid of the boob light? The easy way to hide the dome? Removing the boob, with almost no money and very little time? There is no better way to title this post other than just calling it what it is; Replacing the builder grade boob light or dome light with a lampshade.
For those of you reading who have no idea what I’m talking about, let me show you the ugly truth.
Let me first say that this particular light is even a step below the “builder grade dome light.”
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When my lovely home was built, they cut corners on quite a few upgrades, especially when it came to lighting. No joke, if the room didn’t have a fan (there were only two fans when we moved in), the rest of the lights were that ugly round “bulb.”
That’s was ok with me because you know I love a project anyway!
This project started in our front bathroom a few years ago. I found some old mini drum shades that I removed off of a chandelier. I got the idea that I could replace the builder grade glass drum with a lamp shade and not spend a dime!
I decided I could re create my builder grade bathroom light fixture hack, but on a larger scale.
We’ve currently replaced all of our builder grade light fixtures in every bedroom but the playroom.
I decided it was time to remove the old dome light and give it a face lift.
First things first, in order to start this project you need a drum shade or similar item you wish to use to replace the old dome.
I know most of you have an old lamp with a drum shade lying around. It doesn’t have to be a fancy drum or expensive lantern. As a matter of fact, depending on your decor in the room, the simpler the better. I’ve even seen people turn metal trash cans upside down to replace the old light.
Materials:
- Drum shade or lantern or any other item you wish to use. Make sure the opening at the top of the item is larger than the circumference of the light. I guess you could use an item with a smaller opening, but the base of the light would be exposed and it might look a little funny.
- Zip Ties
- scissors
- tool to cut the metal frame in the shade if needed
How to update a builder grade dome light
- Remove the old builder grade dome cover (this might be glass or plastic). Most of the time this includes un screwing it from the fixture.
- remove screws from the housing that it fit into.
- Unscrew the light bulbs.
- Check the zip ties and make sure they fit through the screw holes.
In my case, the screw holes were too small for the zip ties to fit through. I decided to cut the zip ties to make them narrower.
- Next position the lamp shade over the light fixture and make sure the metal frame fits around where the light bulbs will fit.
NOTE: This is where I made a mistake. I slipped the shade over the light and adjusted it to fit around the light sockets, but I did not account for the light bulbs. Let me show you below.
The metal wiring fits under one of the light sockets, but I’m going to need to cut the other side of the metal frame so when I screw the light bulb in, it wont touch the metal.
- Use the zip ties to tie around the metal in the lamp shade and SLOWLY tighten to make sure it fits evenly around the base of the fixture.
You can see above where I’m going to need to cut a part of the metal from the lamp shade so it won’t interfere with the light bulb.
- After you have secured the zip ties and tightened everything evenly, step back and enjoy your new light!
What do you think?
Do you have an old shade lying around that is just itching to replace the old dome light?
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Thanks for stopping by and as always I hope you’ve been inspired to find beauty in the blemishes.
Lindsey**
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