This post is part of a 31 day series – “31 days to decorate your home on a budget.” You can read through all the posts in this series here.
And if you don’t want to miss a post you can subscribe by email, join me on facebook, or follow this blog in your reader. Thanks for reading along!
When I first started following décor blogs, light fixture transformations amazed me!
The fact that you can take a light fixture like this:
and turn it into a light fixture like this is amazing! And the fact that you can buy light fixtures for around $5 at thrift stores amazed me too! 
This is what I started with – your basic, builder-grade, brassy dome light.
Then I found this beauty at Goodwill for $4.04!
(Thrift stores and yard sales are great prices to find light fixtures. I find them ALL the time! I am in the process of changing out most of the fixtures in our house and I usually find fixtures priced around $5 or less.)
(I found 2 just like this, this one is a little smaller. I couldn’t find the before picture of the one I have in my hallway, so just imagine this is it. 🙂
I unscrewed the screws on the top and bottom of the cage part to release the glass pieces. Then I hung it outside on a large garden hook or tree limb so I could paint it from all angles. I also painted the chain, cord, and ceiling cover.
Enter my favorite spray paint – Krylon Brushed Metallic in Oil Rubbed Bronze (ORB). (I buy it at Wal-mart for $3.94 a can. But you can find it at any home improvement store.)
Spray on 2-3 light coats, let dry, and then put it back together.
Now comes the hard part, beg your husband to help you install it (or if you get really inpatient desperate just put it up yourself – AFTER turning off the power to the whole house at the breaker box, just to be safe )
And there you have it! A beautiful, new-to you light fixture for $4 + the cost of paint.
Or if you already have a light fixture like this:
Just take it down, give it a coat of paint, and reinstall it! For less than the cost of a can of paint!
Have you ever spray painted a light fixture?
Have you used Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint before?
{cj}
Oh yes, around our home, spray paint and light fixtures are great friends! =) I’m actually spray painting a chandelier today that I got a yard sale for $1. So much fun to take the ugly brass and make it pretty!
Yes it is! I have more that I need to do. And a few more that I need to install (or get David to help me) Adding it to the honey-do list for Tuesday 😉
Thank you for posting this. Its exactly what I need to do to my dining room light. Do you spray all 2-3 coats at one time or let them dry in between coats? Did you wear a mask when spraying? Thanks and love your dining room transformation too!
Is it possible to do the brass hardware on doors too?
yes!
I’ve been looking forward to spraying my vanity lights for awhile, but now I am getting cold feet worrying about safety. The fixture gets a little warm to the touch….is it safe to paint? Do I need to use high heat paint? Thanks of any insight you can provide. 🙂
hmmm… I never considered the heat. I wouldn’t think it would get that hot?? I have only done hanging light fixtures not vanity lights. But maybe to be safe you could use high heat paint – it is easy to find and does the same thing.
we did vanity lights at our old house. no problems at all. 🙂
we spray painted all the brass fixtures, as well as the tp holders and towel bars!!!
I have a fixture that hangs from a chain and has an electric cord / wires weaved in and out of the chain. Do you also spray the electric cord if it is entwinded with a chain?
I’m wondering the same thing!!!
I’m so glad to have found this site. Great finds and ideas! It’s to easy to just go buy things. The fun is finding great stuff cheap and transforming.
My life and career due to medical reasons has completely changed. Finding new interests has been a challenge. I never had the time or patience for things like this. Now I LOVE it. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
Yes to both! I love the rubbed oil bronze spray paint…and have painted light fixtures, hardware, doorknobs, planter stand….prep well. Prime the doorknobs as they’ll be handled a lot.
Prep door handles, how?
I have a light fitting like this. I want to convert it from the 4-bulb light that it was to a one-bulb light. Can it be done please?