Thrift Store Lamps Makeover for my new Guest Bedroom

In my post about finishing my guest room closet you guys saw a mirror I picked up at the thrift store specifically for this room. In the same trip I spent only $30 (!!!) on two lamps to complete the space. Just like the mirror though at least one of the lamps was dying for a makeover so I decided to spray paint all three of them in a chrome by Ace hardware. I had it on hand and thought it would add a little bling to the space. Coincidentally the mirror and one of the lamps was already practically in that same shade.

The big brass floor lamp however was decidedly NOT in a silver finish. I know some people may have kept this old (and very heavy) floor lamp in its brass finish but it just wasn’t my jam. As soon as I brought it home I realized it was actually many things that were decidedly not my jam. The socket was GIANT – made for a much larger than “normal” light bulb. It was then that I realized it also wasn’t designed for the type of lamp shade I had purchased either.

It was designed for a glass globe that would sit on top of it and shine directly up. So I had my work cut out for me to change it enough for what I wanted. First thing I did was head to Amazon for a light bulb converter because I wasn’t going to be spending extra on a giant blinding light bulb when all this needed to do was be a bedside reading lamp.

Turns out these lamps are common and I’m not the only owner of a lamp that looks exactly like this with no interest in also purchasing a giant bulb. The screw in converter I ordered was $8.99 at the time. I took the lamps and the mirror outside and gave them all a couple of coats of chrome spray paint by Ace hardware. And I thought I was set… that is until until the converter arrived.

Unfortunately, because the converter had to be extra big to fit into the large socket the lamp shade I purchased wouldn’t fit over it and thus, wouldn’t work. (damnit) The other common lamp shade (the harp style) wouldn’t have worked at all and I wasn’t going to buy the clip on bulb kind and spend even more money.

So I got creative.

Steel clippers to the rescue! I cut the round piece off of the center of the shade which left me with three strong pieces of steel rod. I bent them at about three inches up so they pointed straight down.

I then squeezed them into the base of the lamp around the bulb (where a glass shade would have sat) and the pressure actually made the shade quite sturdy! I didn’t know if this was going to work but it isn’t any more wobbly or annoying then any other normal lamp shade. (It may actually be better)

The shade does sit a little lower than I would have liked but I don’t think its noticeable. At my height I still don’t see the top of the bulb when I stand in the room. That was a bit more complicated then I had anticipated but I still got a steal on the lamps. I like that they’re different with their shades and style but still compliment each other!

My new guest bedroom is really coming together though I still have a couple more small projects to complete.

I need to cut the stool down so it fits the desk better and I have an old jewelry box my grandparents made that has always needed to be finished. I’m going to do a stain and paint combo and I think its going to be lovely on the dresser in the closet!