I love flipping through home magazines and high-end home catalogs! I especially love looking at light fixtures…but let's be honest, most of us, including myself, can not afford to spend a few thousand (let alone a few hundred) on new fixtures. So early on in our marriage, I began finding ways to jazz up my lighting and still stay in my budget.
1. Paint, Paint, Paint
If you like the shape of your chandelier or light fixture, but not the color, you can easily spray paint it to update the look. If even the shape is awful or overly dated, look on Craigslist or at garage sales. You can usually find a classic brass chandelier for under $30, I've even seen them free.
For our first home I purchased a 10-light brass chandelier for $3 at a garage sale. It worked perfectly and turned out stunning when painted black. When you paint, be sure to first remove the glass globes and light bulbs and tape off any glass. Apply a spray primer. Let dry completely and then spray paint. There are many paint options available in spray paint. I especially love using a black textured spray paint. It gives the look of black wrought iron.
2. New Shades or Globes
Sometimes all a fixture needs to give it character is a new globe or shade. You can find a wide variety at your local home improvement stores, online, and even in catalogs. And if you can't find exactly what you want online. You can purchase shades and fabric cover them yourself. I've even added ribbon and bows to shades in the nursery.
3. Make a NO-SEW Fabric Chain Cover
I first saw a fabric chain cover in my mother-in-law's home many years ago. Her home was, and still is, a wonderful blend of fabrics, textures, and colors. The addition of fabric to her chandelier brought such charm to the kitchen. I thought it must be terribly difficult to make, until I decided to give it a shot this year. And WOW, it was so simple. Here are the instructions:
1. Measure your chain and cut a strip of fabric 2 or 2 1/2 times the length and 3 times the width.
2. Standing on a ladder, wrap your fabric loosely around the chain (there should be at least an inch overlap). Starting at the top, hot glue the 1 inch seam (or overlap) together. You should be able to do a 3-4 inch segment at a time.
3. Once you've glued about a 1/4th of the fabric, begin cinching or scrunching it. I found it easier than cinching it all at once.
4. Once it's all glued and dried, even out the scrunching and THAT'S IT…YOU'RE DONE!
Best of luck with your lighting and have a wonderful weekend!
