Use This Dollar Tree Hack To DIY A Stunning Lighting Feature Out Of A Bath Mat
If you've even tried to create (or recreate) a high-end designer aesthetic in your home, you know how costly a decorative lighting feature can be. Even at a big-box store like Home Depot, you'd most likely find yourself paying well over $100 for a modern chandelier-style light. What if, however, you could use a few $1.25 items from Dollar Tree to DIY a stunning lampshade that elevated your plain overhead light fixture into a statement lighting feature?
Fortunately, TikTok has your back. A creator known on the platform as @onthecheaptip posted a video showcasing how he gave his light fixture a major makeover using two wire wreath forms (one with spokes and one without) and two clear bath mats from Dollar Tree. To follow the tutorial you'll also need some picture or floral wire, scissors, and a pair of wire cutters. Depending on how much you'd like to customize your lighting feature, you may also choose to use spray paint and/or a short length of chain. Sounds like a great idea, but how does it work, and is it safe? Let's examine.
How to assemble a Dollar Tree lampshade
Putting together your Dollar Tree lampshade is simple, but not necessarily easy. First, according to @onthecheaptip, you'll need to use wire cutters to cut a notch into the spoked wreath form to fit the light fixture's cord or base. Next, spray paint the wreath forms if you wish to. Then, use scissors to cut down the bath mats to fit around the wreath molds without any overhang. Attach the bath mats to the upper (spoked) and lower (unspoked) wreath molds using the picture or floral wire. In the TikTok video depicting the process, hot glue is attempted to attach the shade but quickly abandoned — likely due to the plastic mat melting.
Once you've assembled the shade, simply use it to replace your existing overhead lampshade or place it over your exposed lightbulb. If you'd like to attach a length of chain to the light fixture's cord, use additional picture or floral wire to do so. Then, stand back and admire your stunning $5 DIY light feature makeover and thank your lucky stars for the creative endeavors of TikTok users everywhere. However, if you plan to actually use the light for more than a few minutes at a time you'll need to take some safety precautions.
Safety risks associated with plastic lightshades
Following the steps in @onthecheaptip's TikTok video will certainly produce a stunning light feature that no one will believe cost you only $5. However, there are scenarios in which spending a bit more money is worth preventing risks to your safety and the safety of everyone else in your household. If you've ever noticed that you don't see a lot of lamps with plastic lampshades for sale in a retail store, it is because the practice of placing plastic next to a heat source, such as a lightbulb, is not considered a safe practice.
Several universities that house students have issued warnings and even bans concerning lamps with plastic shades due to fires and incidents of melting, which produce toxic smoke. In order to prevent your hard work (and potentially your home) from going up in smoke, be very careful to select a lightbulb for your lighting feature that does not emit heat. LED bulbs remain cool to the touch and should not pose a fire hazard or melting risk. Simply choose an LED bulb below the maximum wattage rating of your light fixture to safely enjoy this DIY.