How to Create Funky Lighting with LEDs: DIY Lamp Ideas

Do you love to change around the lighting in your home?

Light fixtures, lamps, and pendants can be quite pricey and often aren’t worth what you’ll pay for them. If you’re thinking of switching out your normal lights for LED bulbs and want to switch up your lighting fixtures while doing so, consider taking on the project yourself.

We’ve laid out a guide to some DIY lamp ideas which will revamp your home and cut down on energy costs at the same time.

What Is LED Lighting?

If you aren’t familiar with LED lighting, now is the time to learn the ropes. LED, otherwise known as light emitting diode, is about 90% more efficient than your typical light bulb. This is why homes and offices around the world are making the switch.

You can expect these bulbs to last longer, produce less heat and reduce your energy bill every month. These bulbs won’t burn out, so you won’t have to walk into a room and find out you have no light. Instead, they’ll begin to dim over time, alerting you that it’s time to swap them out for new bulbs.

You can expect your LED lights to last about three years. That’s much longer than your usual bulbs. Now that you know why you should make the switch to LED lights, let’s explore all the DIY ways to create lighting for yourself at home.

Ceiling Lights

Sounds ambitious right? Think again! There are plenty of ways to DIY a ceiling light at home. These pieces will add some personality to your space and be a great conversation starter when you have guests over. Here are some to try out.

Mason Jars

These trendy pieces aren’t reserved for the ground anymore. Lately, you may have seen mason jars put on the floor with candles inside of them at parties and weddings. The glass is a terrific way to reflect light, making it glow with a romantic and warm ambiance.

Achieve this aesthetic at home with a ceiling pendant. Get colored mason jars (they come in blues, greens, and even a burnt orange). Most mason jars come with a metal top to screw on. You can make a small hole in the top of that metal to then string a light through and attach a bulb on the other side.

Twist the top closed and you have yourself a pendant. Try getting a few mason jars in different colors and sizes to make a showstopping piece.

Industrial

Industrial lighting is very on trend but you don’t have to invest in a pricey light fixture to enjoy this look at home. Head to an antique store or even a garage sale and keep an eye out for a funky piece of metal, the more aged it looks the better.

Try to find something in an interesting shape that looks like a piece of art on its own. You can wrap an Edison bulb or two around the piece so that it’s held up toward the ceiling where your bulbs are. Secure the piece of metal to the ceiling with a chain or other strong material that nails into the ceiling.

Basket Pendant

If you want something a little warmer and less industrial, try a basket pendant. Head to that same flea market, antique store or garage sale and pick out a few baskets in a style you like. You could get matching ones or have them all look different for a more eclectic vibe.

Cut a small hole in the bottom of the basket and hang them upside down so the open part faces the floor. You can also cover the conduit in a twine or basket-like material so that the whole piece looks like one.

Floor Lamps

Column

An antique column is something you can likely find at a junkyard or flea market for very little money. These are easy and funky floor lamps and simple to make. If the column is in good shape, leave it as-is or try giving it a fresh coat of pain, especially if it’s not in a color that works for your home.

After a fresh coat, you can drill a hole in the top of the column and run a wire through the bottom, and poof, it’s a floor lamp. Pick a shade that matches the column and you’re done!

Books

Clearing out your home and have a bunch of old books you’re planning to throw away? Think again and consider making them into an antique-inspired floor lamp. Determine the way you’d like to stack the books from the bottom up, then drill a small hole in each book so you can run a wire to the top.

Get an Edison bulb and an industrial, metal shade or wire basket to complete the look. Don’t forget that if you don’t have any books lying around you’d like to use, you can always hit a flea market and get books for a dollar or less.

Sidetable

Get functionality and style with this type of lamp. If you don’t have room for a floor lamp and a side table, or can’t find a table lamp you like enough to buy, drill a hole in the top of the side table and run a wire through the bottom.

Be sure to get a shade that’s big enough to balance out the width of the nightstand or side table on the bottom so it looks purposeful and the proportions match.

Try These DIY Lamp Ideas Today!

If you’re looking to redo the lighting in your home but don’t want to break the bank, try some of these DIY lamp ideas. You’ll create one of a kind pieces that are unique to your home, making it feel warm and special every time you look at it.

We’d love to help you make the switch to LED lighting. Contact us for more information and don’t forget to check out our blog for more lighting tips.