I am constantly changing the accessories in my house, I’m also a ‘secret’ hoarder of all things décor, so this DIY upcycled lamp is perfect.
Completely unique, exactly what you want, AND kind to the environment! What more could you want?!
All you need is some air-dry clay, a rolling pin, a knife, and an old lamp!
*Quick disclaimer: I am not a qualified electrician, however this doesn’t involve any fiddling with wires etc
Before you start, it’s worth having a rough idea in mind or you could end up spending a lot of time on something and have nothing to show for it.
1. Gather your materials, your lamp and clay are the main things you’ll need, along with a small bowl of water. You may also want to raid the recycling bin for tubs and pots, they can make for great support under the clay
2. Remove the lampshade and make sure your lamp is clean and dry, clay and dust don’t go well together
3. (OPTIONAL) If you are adding shape to your lamp with other materials, attach these first using paper tape or a hot glue gun
- I made a tall lamp using a small wide lamp and an used cardboard coffee tin by gluing the lamp to the tin
4. Take a chunk of clay and roll it out to 0.5-1cm thick, you don’t want to go too thin or you’ll end up with bit of the lamp showing through
5. Begin covering your lamp with the clay, starting at the bottom. It’s best to work in sections to avoid being overwhelmed. Don’t worry too much about the finish just yet, just make sure the whole thing is covered (be sure to leave the wire and bulb holder enough space)
6. Once the entire lamp is covered, smooth the clay out using some water (too much can make the clay crack as it dries so be careful if this isn’t the effect you want!)
- I wanted a rustic, old pottery look for my tall lamp so I used a lot of water
7. Wipe away any excess clay from the bulb holder and wire
8. Leave the lamp to dry fully (24-48 hours)
9. (OPTIONAL) Decorate with acrylic paint (did you know our Jesmonite pigments can be mixed with white acrylic paint and used the same way as normal acrylics)
- For my tall, cracked version (below) I dry-brushed a darker colour over the cracks once the vase colour way dry to accentuate them
10. Put the lampshade back on (or decorate it, post on this coming soon!) add a bulb and plug in!
There are so many incredible ideas you can bring to life using this technique, why not browse your favourite homeware brands to find styles you can recreate?!
Comment any questions and finished pieces below- I'd love to see them!
Ella x