The Brilliant TikTok DIY That Upgrades Thrifted Lamps With A Napkin

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A beautiful table lamp can instantly elevate your space by adding both light and personality. While sleek, modern lamp designs look great with certain home decor trends, antique-style lamps are a timeless statement that never truly go out of style. However, vintage lamps that are in good condition can be hard to come by and often cost a pretty penny. Fortunately, this clever DIY allows you to recreate the look of a charming, classic lamp for a fraction of the price.

For this lamp upgrade, all you need are patterned napkins in the vintage pattern of your choice, like this set of Blue Floral Guest Napkins by the Gift Boutique Store on Amazon. Along with your lamp and napkins, you will  also need sandpaper, spray paint, and Mod Podge. While there are several ways to DIY a budget-friendly thrifted lamp to make it look high-end, this DIY is incredibly easy to put together. When you're done, you will have a beautiful custom lamp that looks like you got it at pricey vintage shop. 

While the steps are straightforward, this DIY offers plenty of customization options to make it your own. With minimal spending required, it's also an affordable way to give a cheap lamp a luxurious upgrade. However, aside from choosing the patterned napkins that suit your space best, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind before you get started.

To get started with this lamp upgrade, you first need to clean the lamp base and prep it for painting. If your lamp is ceramic, this can be done by either scuffing the surface with sandpaper or applying a coat of primer. Both of these methods help to ensure that the paint adheres. If the body of your lamp is brass, a metal primer will need to be used. When the surface is prepped, apply a coat or two of white spray paint to create an even finish.

When the paint has dried, separate a few decorative paper napkins. The napkins previously linked are three-ply, so be sure to separate every layer, since the only one you need to use is the one with the pattern. If you have difficulty separating the last two layers, rub a credit card gently along the side of a corner until the pieces separate. Then, pull the pieces apart slowly at a wide angle. Finally, cut out pieces of the pattern, apply thin layers of Mod Podge to the lamp, and place the pattern pieces onto the lamp base with the crafting glue. To prevent the paper from yellowing over time, apply Mod Podge Spray Sealer to your finished product as a protective topcoat. As a final touch, consider adding a border around the bottom edge of your lamp base with an acrylic paint marker in a bold color, such as gold. 

This DIY will easily give a budget-friendly lamp a designer look, and it can be customized to suit your preferred color scheme and pattern. Disposable party napkins come in a wide variety of styles, from colorful floral designs to character-themed prints. However, it's important to note that the base color of your lamp will show through the paper. The lamp should be painted in a shade that does not clash or compete with the paper covering.