Turn Any Vintage Ceramic Canister Into A Rustic Lamp With A Simple DIY

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Canister lamps add a bit of vintage charm (and light) to any room. You can find vintage canister lamps on eBay for around $40, or pay several thousand dollars for one at an antique store. Fortunately, vintage canisters can easily be found at most thrift stores, yard sales, and estate sales for only a few dollars, and you can make your own unique lamp on a budget.

This genius thrifted lamp DIY uses a battery-powered puck light as the lighting source — no electrician or wire-handling required. Remove the lid of your canister and cover the hole with a wooden craft round, old coaster, or cut one to fit from a piece of cardboard (a great use for all your Amazon boxes). Glue a candle holder to the top. Find a candle holder that fits a wide candle, not a taper holder (although this taper holder from Dollar Tree works great when flipped upside down, and it only costs $1.25).

Place a puck light on the candle holder, such as these Star-Spangled Push Tap Lights which are $9 for a 5-pack. Cover with a lamp shade that is long enough to mask the unsightly puck light, but thin enough in diameter that it will hold in place. Buying a new lamp shade could be the most costly part of the project, so be on the lookout for one while you are sourcing your thrifted canister. 

If you find a cheap lampshade the perfect size for your ceramic canister project, odds are it won't be the right color or style. You can customize the lampshade to your taste in a variety of ways, such as decoupage or paint (use acrylic paint for a cotton shade and fabric paint for linen. You can also hot glue sisal rope around the entire shade for a rustic look. 

Then there's the canister itself. Some ceramic canisters are cute as-is, and others may need a little work. A canister lamp with a sugar label would be an adorable addition to your kitchen or coffee bar, but if you are planning to use it in your living room, it may require a simple coat of paint. Lightly sand your ceramic canister to help the paint hold and use an acrylic paint like ArtKey (or spray paint to save time). 

The use of a puck light makes this a simple DIY, but puck lights are atmospheric and don't give off the kind of task lighting you may need in your space. To turn your ceramic canister into a true lamp, you can purchase a Creative Hobbies Make a Lamp Kit. If using the lamp kit, forgo the candle holder and leave the lid on. Drill a hole in the lid and bottom of the canister to thread the wire through.