Transform An Old Plastic Bottle Into A Thrifty Lampshade On A Dime With This DIY

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Fancy pendant lamps can cost hundreds of dollars. Heck, even so-called inexpensive fixtures can set you back $30 a piece. While you may be able to argue convincingly that you're worth it — and you are, by the way — you simply might not have that kind of cash to drop on lighting. Fortunately, you don't need a lot of money to make a cool lamp. Clever DIYers know that cheap materials don't always mean cheap-looking results. For example, by combining an empty plastic bottle with some affordable embellishments you can end up with a cute pendant light. No one will believe it's made from something that used to be filled with orange juice.

You'll need fewer than half a dozen supplies for this project. To start, find a large bottle with a small cap that can hold the fixtures for a pendant light without them sliding out easily, such as a 1-gallon water jug. For the fittings, something like this Lyoowng Hardwired Pendant Light Kit for about $13 or a Frideko Plug-In Hemp Rope Pendant Light for around $14 could work well.For the lampshade materials, start with jute rope. It can be natural, or, if you want your fixture to have a bit of color, you can try something like this PerkDecor Jute String in green or red. You'll also need a long knife, craft glue, scissors, and some embellishments, like satin rope and lace trim, to finish the shade.

Ready to tackle this easy way to repurpose a plastic water bottle around the house? If you're using anything other than a water bottle, you'll need to clean your upcycled bottle thoroughly before starting this DIY. Liquids like juice or soda leave sticky, sugary deposits. Once that's done, decide how long you want the lampshade for your pendant light to be. You can cut the bottle in half or cut away the bottom two-thirds of the bottle if you prefer a shorter shade. Make sure you're left with the cap end of the bottle to work with, since you'll thread the light fitting through the bottle opening.

Next, cut off the mouth of the bottle, where the mouth meets the body. Once that's done, wrap the twine around the bottle, starting at the top and working your way down to the rim of the shade. Use a craft adhesive that works on plastic, like Cyafixed Super Fast Drying CA Glue, to keep the twine in place. Add the satin rope and lace trim to the rim of the shade. Thread the cord of a pendant light kit through the hole in the top of the shade and screw a light bulb into the socket. Since the interior of the shade is made of heat-sensitive plastic, use an LED bulb, which is cool to the touch, rather than an incandescent bulb. Now, you're ready to hang your new light fixture wherever you wish.

The concept and materials for this lamp are simple and affordable, so there are myriad ways to make it your own. For example, instead of adorning the rim with satin rope and lace trim, you could finish the shade with a band of this Shuangart embossed imitation leather. This material features plant-themed patterns that give your pendant light a high-end, custom look. Wondering how to bring biophilic design into your home? Hang the completed pendant light in a corner alongside a collection of healthy potted houseplants, where it can even function as a DIY grow light if you switch in a grow light bulb.

You could introduce a hint of Victoriana to a room by trimming the rim of the shade with fringe trim, such as this Voomolove Knotted Cotton Tassel Trim. In the Victorian era, elaborate tassels and fringes adorned everything from curtain tiebacks to sofa pillows. Alternatively, if you want to keep the lampshade as is, swap out the fixture instead. One option is to go luxe with gold pendant light kits, like these Fonta Verde Hanging Pendant Lamp Bases. You get two fittings for about $41, so you could make a set of pendant lights to hang above your kitchen island or entryway console.