Happy Thursday, dear friends! I’m so glad you all enjoyed the mirror round up I shared on Tuesday! If you’re in need of inspiration for a mirror makeover, definitely check out that post! Today, I’m back to inspire you with 17 simple and thrifty lamp makeovers!
I rarely purchase new lamps. Thrift stores are full of beautiful lamp possibilities! Most will definitely need new shades, but it’s amazing what paint and a new shade can do for a dated lamp!
I linked to the original posts below each after photo if you want to see more details!
Enjoy!
1
Up first is this set of lamps I found for $5 each at the thrift store back in 2016:
These would have matched my home beautifully back in the 90’s!
I stuck with the stripes, but they are much more my style now!
My mom had these shades in her stash and painted a boat on each for me to match!
$5 Thrift Store Lamp Makeover
2
At number two on the list is this whimsical lamp I found:
A quick paint job and recovering a shade I found for 99¢ to match gave it a quick update:
My mom claimed this one right away.
Lamp Makeover {& the Big Purge of 2017!}
That was just a small makeover, but I also shared all the JUNK I purged from our old garage in that post! Check it out if you want to see my trash. 🙂
3
This next lamp was a thrift store clearance find for $4:
I though it was so charming but much better in a beachy blue!
Cute, right?
And yep, it’s a lamp!
Dated House Lamp Update
4
This next one wasn’t the prettiest thing in its before state, but I saw all those pretty details!
At $3 at the thrift store, I knew it would be so pretty painted!
I already had this shade on hand. I originally found it at Tuesday morning.
$3 Thrift Store Lamp Makeover
5
This next lamp was a cutie that I found at the thrift store for $4:
It was a pretty lamp, just not my style.
I decided to go coastal on this one too!
Unfortunately, someone knocked it over in my booth and it broke, but it was pretty while it lasted!
Beach-Inspired Lamp Makeover
6
And look here…the same lamp in a different pattern!
I went a bit different for this one, adding a stripe instead and rosettes to the shade for a sweet look:
7
Wow, check out the fancy shade on this one!
Good bye, fancy pants!
I love this in more neutral tones!
$6 Rooster Lamp Makeover
8
This next lamp was the perfect candidate to try a new color on:
This was my first time trying Antebellum…
I also shared how I wet distress in that post. This had the perfect base color for that, but Golden Gem Mousse would be so pretty on those details if that weren’t the case!
How to Wet Distress (& a $5 Lamp Makeover)
9
This was a clearance thrift store find at less than $3:
I took it apart and created a whole new lamp!
I also shared how to rewire a lamp in that post!
How to Rewire a Lamp (& a $3 Thrift Store Lamp Makeover)
10
This next one was part of a smalls post…I just loved the pretty blue:
But that shade had to go, so I tried a deconstructed look:
Some of y’all weren’t fans of this look, but I kind of loved it!
Painting the Smalls #7
11
This one was also part of a smalls post:
I went super simple on this one!
Painting the Smalls #5
12
This is one of my favorite lamp makeovers. I found this one for half off of $15, so just under $8:
Sea Glass and Black Wax did wonders for this one!
It’s a huge lamp!
Thrift Store Lamp Makeovers
13
I shared this next one in the same post. Would you believe it was only $4??
SOLD! Haint blue looks good on it!
But my favorite was the solution I came up with for the finial…a wooden knob that I added a mini knob transfer to…
Thrift Store Lamp Makeovers
Cute! I use that lamp for extra lighting in my booth.
14
I almost always pick up lamps when I find them in pairs. This set of buffet lamps weren’t super cheap, but still worth it at $8 each:
I updated them with my favorite stripe treatment in Cotton over a Driftwood and Cotton mix:
I already had the shades that I had found at HomeGoods a while before, and they worked out perfectly! HomeGoods is my favorite place to find reasonably priced shades.
Thrifted Buffet Lamps Makeover
15
I found these two lamps probably years apart. I went to make over one of them and realized I had a match to it in my stash!
I also found this set of shades in my stash. I found them both at thrift stores at different times also!
This charming set sold the day I dropped them off!
Painted Thrift Store Lamps & How to Cover a Lampshade
16
I shared this next lamp in the same post as the set above. It was $6:
Paint and a new shade did wonders for this lamp!
I shared how to cover a lampshade in that post…
Painted Thrift Store Lamps & How to Cover a Lampshade
17
And finally, I shared these more recently. I scored the pair for only $10:
Adding decoupage paper to these lamps turned them from blah to one-of-a-kind! Except there are two…so one-of-a-kinds?
$5 Buffet Lamps Updated with Decoupage Paper
And that’s 17 thrifty lamp makeovers!
I always browse the lamp aisle at the thrift store!
Many of these needed new shades, and boy, can they be costly. I always keep a look out for shades at thrift stores and yard sales, but if I have to buy one new, I start at HomeGoods and TJ Maxx. If you have an At Home store near you, they have a large selection that is reasonably priced also.
If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy these too!
15 Ordinary Items Repurposed
15+ Simple Basket Makeovers
10 DIY & Upcycled Trays
12 Thrifty Shelf Makeovers
12 Thrifted & Upcycled Box Makeovers
10 Upcycled Headboards
23 Thrifty Chair Makeovers
I’ll be back on Tuesday with my Trash-to-Treasure girls sharing what I did with this swivel mirror I had left over from a dresser I redid:
Update: See how I chopped it up to make something entirely new HERE!
Have a fantastic weekend!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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Mary Kaiser says
Wow, I remember every single one of them! Its fun to look back at them. You are so talented in giving every lamp you get a new lease on life! I love all of them.
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! I’m glad you enjoyed the look back! XOXO
Leticia Beam says
Wow! your work is very impressive… I LOVE all of them!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Leticia!! XOXO
Janice Holt says
You know I never tire of looking back at your posts and enjoyed this one. You give us so many ideas. I could not figure out how the little house was a lamp; kept looking to see where the shade went. Then you showed us. Thanks again.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Janice! That little house lamp was such a cutie! Enjoy your weekend! XOXO
Denise Cox says
DANG girl… I LOVED the mirrors… and I enjoyed the lamps as well (I haven’t been with you that long… 😢). They are ALL beautiful!! Admittedly though, like your other groupies, the “deconstructed” was my least favorite (sorry, it didn’t even make it on my list.. Lol). You know I adore coastal and #1 was my favorite of them!! Your Mom’s sailboats did it for me… 👍☺️. The skinny lamp you weren’t particularly fond of (I think #4) I DID like!! I love the skinny lamps and anything with detailing, just like the mirrors. It AMAZES me how a bit of white paint does so much to add personality!! You inspire me so very much to try and do a simple project!!! Hope you’re having a BLAST with your son and family. Although, I don’t suppose the weather is cooperating as of late??
Christy says
Thank you, Denise! I am drawn to all those pretty details on lamps too. I’m glad you got see several that were new to you. We have the remnants of Elsa moving in today, so that should be fun lol but clear skies ahead for the weekend woohoo! XOXO
Christina says
My goodness, this is so fun! Thank you so much for these beauties as well as for all the links. I can’t wait to visit the other posts. Thanks so much and I know you are having a great time with your family!!
Christy says
I’m so glad you enjoyed seeing these again, Christina! Have a fantastic weekend! XOXO
Sue Mellette says
Love revisiting the lamps, just like the mirrors. I like the rooster makeover, as I have a rooster lamp and have been tempted to paint it. Seeing yours again has given me the inspiration I needed to get going. White it will be! I love the sea glass and black wax lamp. The contrast in color and tone is striking. Also, the floor lamp is a charmer, especially with the “Bee” finial! How talented you are from deconstructing, rewiring, remaking, recovering shades, to using decoupage transfers! So impressive! It is always fun, for me, to take another “walk” down memory lane, particularly yours!! This one did not disappoint. Thanks for sharing all your artistic and creative talents! Continue to enjoy this week and weekend with your family.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sue! I’m so glad you enjoyed this look back! There are so many ways to update an old lamp…have fun with your lamp and enjoy your weekend also!! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
Great Lamp roundup! I love all your makeovers for the lamps and your tip about using a knob for the finials is brilliant! I seem to get lamps with missing finials and when I buy one separately, it costs more than the lamp I’ve bought at Goodwill! Your shades make such a beautiful impact too. Hope the birthday is great!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! The wooden knob worked out so nicely! And you’re not kidding…those finials can be pricey! XOXO
Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says
Love this roundup. They are all gorgeous but that rooster lamp is my all time fav!!! 🐓 🤗💙 XOXO
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend! That rooster one definitely came a long way!! XOXOXO
Sharon says
Amazing creative work…. Alway look forward to your emails…. 🥰
Christy says
Thanks so much, Sharon! I appreciate you following along with me!! XOXO
Lizzy says
These are so pretty. It’s amazing what well-applied paint can do.
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy! Absolutely! XOXO
Michele M. says
Ah-mazing! Every lamp turned into a beauty!!!! What great scores, Christy!
Hard to say which is my fav, but I’d say that pair of striped buffet lamps is way up there in my favs. Well done, lady! Neat seeing them all put together, too. Enjoying that a lot.
Christy says
Thank you, Michele! It is fun to see them all together…and those striped ones rank high on my list too! XOXO
Mandy says
OMG! I’m in love with all of these lamps! I must admit I’m obsessed with lamps for some odd reason and my husband thinks I’m insane. I’m drooling over your rooster lamp. LoL
I have painted old lamps and it makes such a huge difference! The price of new lamps is outrageous!! My daughter saw a large seashell lamp she loved that was priced over $200 and I made one just like it for a few dollars.
Thanks for showing all your ideas. Now I can show my husband I’m not crazy! (Well…not about my lamp thing anyway. 😂)
Christy says
Yay!! Thank you, Mandy!! New lamps really are so expensive, and the thrift stores are full of lamps that just need a little love. $200 is just crazy for a lamp, and I bet yours is just as nice if not better! Yes, show your husband…you’re welcome ha ha! XOXO
Catherine Cave says
I am so inspired by all these lamps that I’m going out this weekend to find lamps!! Thank you as always!!!
Christy says
I love that you’re feeling inspired, Catherine! I hope you score big!! XOXO
Pamela Allen says
I loved them all. I can’t imagine having all that white in my house. One messy granddaughter and 2 greats. Black hand prints every where. I appreciate your lovely designs, wish I could use them.
Christy says
Thank you, Pamela! I have two boys and all the white has actually never been an issue. We keep food in the kitchen and that helps a lot lol! But you could paint yours any color you wish! XOXO
Joanne D. says
I have one of those Patriotic (July 4th) lamps – exactly like that with the Birdhouse bottom! I haven’t put it out in years. Just keep moving it to the back of my 4th of July decorations.
I love the Coastal look much better! All of your lamp re-do’s are just perfect!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Joanne! I had a lot of Americana decor at one time, and I would have drooled all over these in their before state, but I too love them lightened up now…hmmm do I hear a lamp makeover in your future?? XOXO
Gloria Pflager says
So much inspiration — thanks for sharing, again! I need to get busy on my own stash of stuff. Question for you: how do you match the shade/harps with the lamp? is there a trick? I struggle with getting the proportions right when needing to replace a shade/harp. help?
Christy says
Thank you, Gloria! The shade should be about 2/3 the height of your lamp and about twice the width to look in proportion to your lamp. XOXO
Betty Bilnoski says
I’m so glad you shared this! It’s so nice to have all of them in one post to save for future reference. I’m especially interested in the $3 tall crystal lamp that you rewired (good info to have) and shortened for your office. I have two lamps that are identical to this one and I’m finally ready to attempt to paint them.
Christy says
I’m so glad putting these all in one post was helpful! I remember you mentioning you had a set of the tall crystal lamps. Good luck with them! XOXO