How to Paint a Lamp - Shabby Chic

Lamps can be so expensive!?!  I mean you can easily drop $100 on a good lamp here in the Pacific Northwest.  For an average lamp, you're still looking at spending that same amount on a pair of them.  Well, this is your lucky day.  I'm here to tell you that you don't have to spend a fortune on a lamp or two that matches the style of your home.  In fact, you can even re-do those lamps you have in the house that don't seem to fit with your style anymore.

First off, your lamps do not have to match in each room.  In fact, it creates more interest and texture in a room when they don't.

In these next two photos you can see that NONE of my lamps actually match, yet they still go with the room and create a balance.

  

But a lamp like this one below, doesn't quite fit the look of the room or the light and bright feeling I am striving for.

So .....you can start this project with any old lamp.   Find a set for cheap at a garage sale or thrift store, or pull out that set you put in the attic last year because you didn't know what to do with them.

I wanted to create a shabby chic look, and I wanted it to be light and bright.  So I chose to paint it white.  And with this project, chalk paint is the only way to go in my opinion.  It literally sticks to EVERYTHING.

I am still working on this can of linen white Rustoleum chalk paint from other projects, so I didn't have to buy anything.  You can buy it on Amazon and I have put a link below for your convenience.

Rustoleum Chalk Paint - CLICK HERE!

I literally slapped it on, two coats.  Drying inbetween of course.  But no prep, no sanding, no cleaning.  I just started painting.

Here's what it looks like after 2 coats of the chalk paint.

 Next, I grabbed a sheet of 150 grit sandpaper out of my garage.  I always have some handy for my projects, but you could buy a sheet for less than a dollar if you don't have any.

The lower the number or 'grit' of sandpaper, the rougher the paper is.  So a 60 grit would have been too rough and would take off too much of the paint.  150 grit is a finer grit that works perfectly for this kind of project.  And I'll be honest, it's all trial and error.  I have had to repaint projects because I used the wrong grit!  But that's okay too, you can always repaint and do it again.

 I sanded just so it would wear through evenly all over the lamp.   

I may or may NOT have tried sanding this lamp in the living room while our family was watching the World Series last night?  It didn't go over very well. :)

That was literally it.  I didn't even seal it with wax or anything because it's a lamp and doesn't get alot of handling.

BEFORE and AFTER!

So don't buy new lamps, redo the ones you already have!  Or buy some cheap ones and fix them up.  You can even find lamp shades at the thriftstore or inexpensive discount stores that could give that lamp the finishing touch you are looking for.

Here's a few that I like that would look great on this lamp.  I plan to trade out the plain white when I find what I'm looking for.

 

 

As always, please share your projects with me!  I would absolutely love to see and hear about your lamp redo project.  And if you ever have any questions, I would be more than happy to attempt an answer for you.  Have a great weekend!