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• • • •
Time
2h00

Use spray paint to update an old lamp
Even thought Grandma's lamp didn't quite fit with my room decor as it was, a little spray paint and rub n buff was all it needed to step up to the occasion.

Posted by Nourish and Nestle Published See Nourish and Nestle's 7 projects »
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  • How to make a lamp / lampshade. A Repainted Lamp - Step 1
    Step 1

    I've 'refinished' lamps in the past and always found it easiest to take the lamp apart by unscrewing the rod in the middle. I tried to that this time, but found that the bottom base really didn't want to be removed and I didn't want to force it. The bottom base of the lamp is really pretty and I did want to preserve it, so I just tucked painter's tape behind and all over the base covered the cord and the hardware up top with bags.

  • How to make a lamp / lampshade. A Repainted Lamp - Step 2
    Step 2

    From researching, I realized I probably needed a spray paint with a primer given the gloss surface of the lamp. I bought Krylon ColorMaster Paint + Primer in both Ivory Gloss and White Gloss. I knew I wanted an off-white, but was concerned the ivory would be too yellow, which it was. I figured if I needed to, I could blend the two colors, which is what I did. The ivory was way to yellow, so I spray painted the entire base with the white and then just ‘misted’ the ivory over it. I had to go back over a couple of times with the white and ivory to get it just right.

  • Step 3

    Despite the fact that I purchased ‘gloss’ paint, the finish was not very glossy. So I purchase Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating which claimed to give it a ‘gloss finish’. Truthfully, not so much. But I would’ve used the acrylic spray paint anyway just as a protective coating. The gloss just wasn’t meant to be, which I’m O.K. with.

  • How to make a lamp / lampshade. A Repainted Lamp - Step 4
    Step 4

    Once the lamp was painted, the metal base at the bottom cried out for some attention as well. Enter Rub n’ Buff in Antique Gold. The Rub n Buff on the metal base was like that needed piece of jewelry on your little black dress, except in this case, your little white dress. It really just finished it nicely.

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