A thrifted lamp gets a concrete rustic table lamp designer dupe look for $30 in 10 minutes using just spray paint.
The other day, while I was doing my usual thrift store stop in, I found the perfect contender for a rustic table lamp makeover dupe that would rival the $300-400 designer versions I’ve seen all over the place.
Table Lamp Before
Rustic Table Lamp Inspiration
Everywhere I look at McGee & Co, Amber Interiors, Stoffer Home, Lulu & Georgia, Anthropologie… all of the designer brands have some version of an earthy concrete rustic concrete table lamp.
So I set out to create a $30 dupe with just spray paint, and it literally look all of 10 minutes (not counting the wait for drying time).
By the way, I’ll drop some inexpensive designer dupe table lamps at the end of this post in case you don’t get as lucky finding one at the thrift store.
Look how cute this rustic table lamp turned out! (The pleated linen shade is starting to make a comeback this year too, by the way… just like the rest of the 80s/90s design revival it seems.)
DIY Rustic Table Lamp Using a Thrifted Ceramic Lamp
Supplies
The Steps
- Vacuum the Shade
Before you ever paint a secondhand lamp shade, it’s best to remove the dust first or else spray painting will just create a hairy mess (literally). I use the wand attachment on my vacuum cleaner to slowly go over the shade and remove any dust.
- Tape Bulb Socket and Cover Cord
To protect the bulb socket and cord from getting any tape on them, I just tape up the bulb socket and wrap aluminum foil around the cord.
- Apply Coarse Stone Paint
It’s best to apply 2 moderate coats of the course stone spray paint to help build layers of texture.
- Apply Fine Stone Paint
Once the course stone paint has dried, apply a light coat of the fine stone paint. Apply it lightly and sporadically at least 18-24 inches away from the lamp so that some of the base coat from the Course Stone color peeks through. Let dry.
- Paint Lamp Shade
If you already like the color of your lamp shade, you can skip this part, but since I wasn’t in love with the yellowy look of my thrifted shade, I applied two coats of flat white spray paint to it. Let dry.
The Finished Rustic Table Lamp
Once it was all dry, I stuck the lamp on our bedroom dresser and it looks right at home!
I fought tooth and nail not to accept that pleated lamp shades were starting to come back into “trend”, but I have to say now that I have one, I’m really in love with that extra bit of texture on top of the rust table lamp base.
The shade still looks yellow when the bulb is on since it’s impossible to paint the yellowy portion inside of the pleats, but I think it makes it look that much cozier.
Have you ever used this texture stone paint before? I really do think I’ve found a new DIY favorite.
Table Lamp Designer Dupes
Here are a few save vs. splurge designer dupes, if you’ve been on a table lamp hunt.
Table Lamp Save – Under $120
Table Lamp Splurge – Over $120
Frequently Asked Questions
I pretty much always prefer 3000K light bulbs in living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms, but that’s entirely up to your style. 3000K to me is just the “happy medium”. It’s not too blue light daylight bulbs are, but it doesn’t cast an orange hue like warm white.
There are three ways to measure for the appropriate sized lamp shade.
1. The bottom diameter of the lamp shade should be approximately equal to the lamp base height. 2. The lamp shade height should be approximately two thirds of the height of the lamp base.
3. The lamp shade width should be approximately twice the size of the widest part of the lamp base.
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