Who doesn’t love a good thrift store makeover? Tammy from Rustic Orchard Home is sharing her tips and tricks for turning an ordinary thrift store lamp into a stunning, high-end statement piece. Using a mix of creativity and Dixie Belle Paint products, Tammy transformed a tired find into something you’d be proud to display in any room. Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or just starting out, this project is the perfect way to add a touch of elegance to your home decor while staying on budget.
(The following is an excerpt from Rustic Orchard Home. Read the full article here.)
When I was doing this thrift store lamp makeover I had no idea I was creating a designer dupe until my friend told me it looked just like a lamp sold by Pottery Barn. So, I went looking and found one from Crate & Barrel too! Mine cost way less coming in at $3.50 thanks to half price day at Goodwill. Now I’m on the hunt to find the exact shape offered by the high-end guys. Until then, I’ll show you how I created mine for way less.
Supplies you’ll need to do your own thrift store lamp makeover:
- Lamp
- Sanding Block
- Primer Spray Paint
- Painter’s Tape
- Caviar Dixie Belle Chalk Paint
- Sea Spray Texture Additive
- Chip Brush
- Fluff Dixie Belle Chalk Paint
- Brown Best Dang Wax
- Wax Brush
- Cinnamon
- Satin Clear Coat Spray Paint
- Drop Cloth Dixie Belle Chalk Paint
You’ll need an old lamp for this project. As I mentioned above, I got mine at Goodwill. It was marked at $6.99, but thanks to half price day on blue tags, I got it for only $3.50!
I started by scuffing, sanding and priming the lamp base.
I knew I wanted to paint the shade white; however, I quickly realized I didn’t have enough white primer to cover both the shade and the lamp base. Therefore, I decided to use grey primer on the lamp base instead, allowing me to save the remaining white primer for the shade.
After the primer had fully dried, I moved on to the next step by grabbing some Sea Spray powder and Caviar Dixie Belle Paint. With these materials in hand, I began creating texture on the lamp base.
I added the Sea Spray powder to the Caviar paint and mixed until I achieved a brownie batter-like consistency. .
Next, I applied the mixture from top to bottom with a chip brush.
Once that first layer was on, I let it dry just a bit, then I dabbed the brush in to create peeks.
Then, I let it dry a bit longer and smoothed out some of the peaks randomly around the base.
This is what it looked like with just the Black Sea Spray mixture. It looks great just like this and I love the texture it gives – but I wasn’t done yet!
For the next step, I watered down Dixie Belle Fluff and brushed it on all over the base.
I worked in sections, adding the white onto the base and then misting where I just added it. Then with a dry paper towel, I dabbed at the paint to create more texture.
Play with this part and add as little or as much as you want to create the look you like.
Once I was satisfied with the look, I let it dry fully before moving onto the next step.
Once dry, I added the brown wax in random areas on the whitest parts so I could see the brown on top of the black/grey.
Finally, I painted the shade using the color Drop Cloth and a chip brush. I only painted the outside of the shade since the inside had already been primed.
And here is my finished product! I’m really happy with the way it turned out – especially when I factor in how inexpensive it was to create.
Here’s a quick look at the high-end version versus mine. The shape is different, but the overall look is practically the same. What a happy accident!
Tammy’s thrift store lamp upcycle is proof that with a little imagination and the right products, you can create something truly extraordinary. Ready to tackle your own lamp makeover or another upcycling project? Dixie Belle Paint has everything you need to get started, from versatile paint lines to finishing touches. For another great thrifted upcycle project by Rustic Orchard Home, check out our blog, Upcycled Wooden Candlesticks.
