How To DIY A Budget-Friendly Thrifted Lamp That Looks High-End

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The right lamps can make or break any room, reinforcing the space's aesthetic and creating layered and dynamic lighting designs that functionally illuminate the room and create your desired mood. Unique and custom lamps can be expensive from retailers, where high end lighting fixtures often cost hundreds of dollars. There is, however, a great way to get beautiful lamps for a steal. Start at your local thrift store, where you will find abundant décor pieces that can be easily turned into lamps with the addition of a simple and inexpensive lighting kit, including vases, baskets, dishware, and other items that, with a little ingenuity, light up your space with an elevated and bespoke look.

While lamps are also plentiful in thrift stores, usually for only a few dollars each, the lighting aisle can be a mixed bag, not all of which may fit your décor needs. Making your own lamp from thrifted objects from elsewhere in the store not only gives you endless options for creating a unique piece, but can lead to creative and one-of-a-kind creations that stand out from cookie cutter retailer lighting options. In addition, materials that can be particularly expensive in lamp form, like handmade pottery and woven basket-style lamps, can become clever DIY lamps at a fraction of the cost of buying a similar style new. 

A great place to look in any thrift store is the home décor aisle, which usually boasts an assortment of pottery and ceramic pieces. Add a stunning lamp to your space with a thrifted vase glow up or use unique plant pots to make eye-catching lamps for your home. Make a vintage ginger jar into a lamp or DIY an adorable lamp using old teacups. Other inexpensive items you may find amongst the aisles, like mason jars, bottles, and other kinds of glassware can easily be transformed into the perfect decorative lamp.

The basket aisle can also be a great place to find a piece that can add texture and a natural feel to your new lighting, including ones you can turn into a beautiful hanging lamp. You can even make old thrifted books into lamps to add sophistication to your bookshelf. Other creative options include empty tea tins, old globes, and vintage appliances. Add a bulb to a large conch shell for a chic coastal style DIY shell light.

Lamp kits come in a variety of options, from more traditional corded fixtures to battery operated LEDs that require no power source. This means you can also choose a lamp that best fits your space, even creating something that will illuminate an awkward corner without outlets. You can usually find them for under $20 — this budget-friendly Armiika Lamp Making Kit from Amazon is the perfect example. There are also kits designed for specific items, like the DoRight Bottle Lamp Kit or the Creative Hobbies Lamp Making Kit for jars. You can also use a cordless LED globe as a lighting element with other items. 

While the instructions for installation may vary, the basic design of many is a cylindrical metal pole that attaches to the bulb element at the top, with the cord running the length of the cylinder or outside of it. Others are simply a bulb with a cord that attaches directly to the lamp object. While hollow items are often the easiest to make lamps from, you may have to do some limited drilling, either at the top to add the fixture or at the bottom to accommodate the cord. Otherwise, however, this is a fairly simple DIY that even beginners can pull off.