Say Goodbye To Boring Lighting - Try This Rustic Dollar Tree DIY Instead

The power of lighting with regard to a room's decor cannot be overstated. Done right, it can enhance colors and textures, contribute to the ambience and make your home look more expensive, highlight decorative features, and even set the mood of the space. Apart from the light, the fixtures themselves can do lots to add to the look you're going for. But instead of breaking the bank for fancy store-bought lighting or going for affordable but boring pieces, why not DIY an affordable wall light that looks so high-end with a few Dollar Tree supplies? You can spend just about $15 on the supplies and make a rustic yet elegant wall lamp similar to the rattan boho-style wall scones that cost a pretty penny. And as a bonus, this DIY wall lamp is cordless; therefore, it doesn't require the heavy work of installing switches on the walls or hiring an electrician.

You'll need five main items, all of which you can grab at Dollar Tree. A wire basket frame like this Essentials Round Wire Basket to serve as the lampshade, the Luminessence LED Hanging Lamp, a wooden plaque and a plank about 16 inches long to make the wall attachment, and jute rope. Some great alternatives for the twine that'll give an equally rustic finish is sisal or macrame rope. You will also need one e-Circuit Wireless LED Lights With Remote to convert the lantern into a cordless lamp. The tools required are a drill, screws, paint brush, and scissors. Also have some wood glue, hot glue, black matte paint, and small hanging hardware handy. 

The first step is to attach the hanging lantern lamp to the wire basket. Unscrew and remove the lantern's bulb first. Next, pop out its hanging wire handle on one side and loop it on the inside of the center base of the wire basket. Then, pop the wire handle back in place so it's well secured. Now your upside-down wire basket should already looks like a lampshade with the lantern dangling inside.

Next, tie the rope at the top of the wire shade to create the rustic hanger. Then use the twine to decorate the rest of the basket. The wiring acts as the bones to support the woven design, so this shouldn't be too hard. Start by wrapping the rope around the horizontal wire at the bottom of the frame and then the middle horizontal wire. Hot glue the ends in place to prevent the rope from unraveling.

Now wrap the rope in a circular pattern from the top center of the wire frame to make a coaster-like shape covering the top of the shade. Lastly, weave a crisscross pattern all around the sides of the basket. You can also come up with your own creative weaving designs like taking the thread in and out and looping it around each vertical wire as you go. There's really no right or wrong way of doing this, provided you produce a design that looks good in your eyes. You can also vary the final appearance by simply using different thickness of the ropes. Either unravel the rope to get thinner strands, or combine a few cords for a chunkier look.

With your wire shade completed, the next step is to attach the wireless LED light to the interior of the lantern where we removed the bulb. Use hot glue to secure it so it shines downward. Next, create the mounting base. First, take the 16-inch wood plank and cut it in half. Then use wood glue to attach both pieces to make a thicker 8-inch support piece. After, place the support block upright on the center of the wood plaque base to form the intersection of the projecting arm and the back plaque. Hot glue them in position then flip the plaque over and drive a screw through the back into the support block. Next, drill a hole through the free end of the support arm, wide enough to accommodate the twine rope.

To wind up this DIY, attach a small sawtooth hanger to the back of the plaque near the top. Paint the wooden wall bracket black, and once dry, thread the lamps' hanging rope through the hole. Adjust the rope until the shade hangs at the height you like, then mount the wooden plaque on the wall with a heavy-duty wall hook. Your budget-friendly DIY wall sconces will add a sleek and modern touch to any room without the need to hardwire anything. To make the entire setup look even more rustic, replace the plaque-shaped wood back with a reclaimed wood plank for a distressed finish. Alternatively, paint the mount another color. Go for your favorite hue or one that matches other decor pieces in your room.