Ten years ago if you asked me what kind of lighting I had in my home I would have replied “ceiling lights and lamps.” Oh boy have things changed. Lighting can change the entire look and feel of a room. Not only are there ceiling lights and lamps, but also wall sconces, pendants, chandeliers and you get my point. Lighting can be expensive so not everyone can run out and buy new. Instead of sharing actual lighting products, I’ll be sharing simple DIY lighting ideas and Updates I’ve created over the years in my homes.
I’ve always said that it’s easy to decorate a home when you have money. What if you don’t have a lot of money but still want to create a certain “look” in your home.
Turning trash to treasure is the basis behind why this little blog began.
Disclosure; this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect the price you pay. This disclosure statement refers to the rest of the Amazon links in this post. See more on my disclosure page.
It all started when we purchased our builder grade turned modern farmhouse home. Talk about a BASIC builder grade home.
Table of Contents
How do you update a can light or recessed light to a pendant light without hardwiring anything?
Let me show you!
One of the first DIY lighting projects I tackled was to add a pendant light over the sink where we had a can light. I purchased a recessed light conversion kit from Ballard Designs. This is perfect for beginners because it doesn’t require any hardwiring. This is all you do have to do;
- Unscrew the existing recessed or can light
- Screw your new conversion kit into the light socket
- Enjoy your new pendant light!
I did find a more budget friendly recessed light conversion kit from Amazon. This one doesn’t come with as many options.
Let me show you how I swapped the pendant light’s existing burlap shade for an industrial farmhouse style shade for under $10.
What a great option for those of you who have existing pendant light covers that you don’t like! Just buy a new pendant light shade!
Speaking on the subject of changing the look of your lighting with a light shade…
In one of our spare bathrooms I got tired of the ugly glass light shades on the bathroom light fixtures.
Don’t they look dated?
I promised my husband I wouldn’t spend any money, so what’s a girl to do?
I repurposed a few lamp shades I never used and swapped the glass ones out. This was a free light fixture update!
Not a huge change, but I do feel like it brought this fixture back to the modern world! Hindsight I would have taken the whole fixture down and spray painted it too. Another day another project…
Now that I’ve shared how to update a small bathroom light fixture with a few lamp shades, let’s talk about updating a builder grade dome light with a lamp shade.
This was a simple project that a beginner DIY’er can complete. I won’t go into details because you can see all the details in my post below.
Now that I’ve shared all about updating a light with a new shade, let me share another simple way to update a light.
A light fixture or lamp update with paint
I’m all about transforming something with paint.
What kind of paint do you use to update a lamp or light fixture?
There are tons of options but in my opinion spray paint would be my number one choice if you are trying to paint a large surface area. For a smaller surface, like a lamp, I love using Rub N’ Buff.
If you are still on the fence about what type of paint to use, I’ve got a post all about how to choose the right type of paint for any surface.
I transformed a black lamp base with Rub N’ Buff for an antique gold finish.
I love Rub N’ Buff. It’s so easy to use and looks great on anything!
Back to the subject of updating a light without hardwiring anything…
How to update a wall light without existing wiring
I just completed a post all about my new wall sconces with puck lights. This is a great lighting hack if you want the look of a wall sconce without having to hire an electrician!
In a nutshell, all I did was stick a puck light to the inside of a wall sconce. Best part, it’s remote operated!
Updating old lighting or adding new lighting can be easy and affordable.
I hope I’ve given you a few ideas on how to update your own lighting.
DIY Lighting ideas and updates
simple DIY lighting ideas and updates that anyone can create for the home. I've shared affordable lighting ideas and updates.
Check out how to hang LED strip lights in the bedroom with this easy tutorial with great tips and tricks.
This is such an easy way to add light to a wall sconce without hiring an electrician!
All I've done is replace the old glass pendant with two small lampshades!
Swapping out a lampshade is the easiest way to update a pendant light without breaking the bank or doing a lot of work. I've shared how I swapped a dated pendant light cover for a more industrial farmhouse look.
Most of us have at least one of those ugly builder grade dome lights in our home. See how I easily swapped the dome out with a lampshade to update it!
If you don't like the finish of your piece of decor, don't throw it away. Use a product called Rub N' Buff to transform the finish to something more your style.
Let me know in the comments if you have a lighting hack you’ve DIY’ed in your home.
Lindsey**
Leave a comment