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Refurbishing an old lamp:4 different ways to pimp

A while ago I wrote an inspiration blog (more for myself than for you) about how to make a lamp yourself. With a view to our move, I wanted to get ideas to pimp an old lamp and of course lamps in general, because there is some room in our new house for new light! Here's some inspiration for you when it comes to lamps!

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Renovate old lamp or buy new lamp?

Of course you can browse the internet to buy a new lamp, but pimping an old lamp can also be very honorable work. In addition, you are working super sustainably and that is also worth something!

We have now made a loft bar ourselves for above the kitchen table, I will show you more about that soon. This blog is about refurbishing an old lamp by Tess vanhoudt. In addition, I have found some other examples of beautiful pimped lamps for you.

Pimped-wooden-standing-lamp by Tess

Tess found the lamp in the garbage. Talk about sustainability and second chances! It always makes me happy when I come across a gem somewhere and even though I don't go to the thrift store much, I like it there!

The lamp above is the result of the work that Tess has done. She only found the wooden leg with the bulky waste, in the following condition:

I actually think the best part about this is that anyone else would pass by this wooden leg, but that Tess saw something very beautiful in it. After pimping, the lamp has its own look, isn't it wonderful?

How did she handle the lamp?

She first treated the wooden leg with a spray primer. Then a layer of old white was applied (Action, Annie Sloan, Abbondanza) and then the old lamp was painted with 2 layers of Svenska blue. Finally, it is finished with Annie Sloan clear wax.

The bottom half is sprayed with gold spray can. If you look closely you can see that there is no straight line between the gold color and the blue part, it slowly merges into each other. Just put in a new cord with a fitting and a nice big bulb on it. And the old lamp has been beautifully pimped for a second life!

1. Pimp the lamp with a lick of paint

Just like Tess' lamp, the lamp above has also been given a lick of paint. You can pimp a lamp very nicely by working with a striking color that is also partly reflected in the interior (see yellow chair). Nice with that copper too. This way you don't have to buy another lamp right away, but it can last for a few more years. The yellow of this lamp also gives me an idea… I think I also have something here that could use such a color!

2. Refurbish and pimp an old lamp with rope

What a little rope can do to pimp a lamp! If you are more into the natural atmosphere these days, you can change a lamp in an hour with a ball of rope. This way it fits completely with your current interior.

If you like you can also work with multiple shades of rope. Keep in mind that the rope (at least at the beginning and end) needs to be glued to stay in place. For ultimate strength, use glue everywhere under the rope.

3. Cover your lampshade with old travel maps

How cool is this idea? Especially if you like to travel, such a lamp should not be missing. Pimping this lamp is also not that difficult. The lamp below is a bit more difficult, but what a picture!

4. Pimp a lamp with beads

Pimping this lamp is also not that difficult, you just have to come up with the creative idea!

This lamp is a real showpiece, especially for a children's room or at a play corner. With these wooden beads you can go in all directions. Choose a metal lamp from your collection, or remove a lamp from the cycle from its lampshade and make sure that only the metal remains. Spray the metal in a cool color and then start stringing!