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DIY flush mount ceiling light upgrade!

DIY

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Remember when I left my laundry/bath ceiling light fixture looking like this at the end of the $100 Room Challenge?

I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!

Yeah, it didn’t turn out quite like I pictured it.  The concept was good, the implementation- not so much.

I had planned to just go over that stripe with some Rub’n Buff.  But I saw this picture from Shades of Light and really liked that look for that space!

I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!

Beautiful, right?  And certainly worth the $525 price tag, I’m sure…but that’s WAY out of our budget.  Plus, I really need a flush mount in that space- it’s the one room in our house with kind of low ceilings.

I decided to try to re-create it.  You won’t even believe what I used.  The total cost?  Under $10!

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DIY flush mount ceiling light upgrade

Supplies

(This is weirdly kind of embarrassing and makes me proud at the same time)

Fabric Glue

Gold spray paint of your choosing (this is what I used)

Googly eyes (you read that right) (this link isn’t the exact brand that I used, but the reviews look good and the price is definitely right!) I used 12mm size.

I feel like I need to explain 🙂  I planned on using Krazy Glue, but ran out right when I started the project- and the fabric glue worked perfectly!  And the googly eyes- they fit the bill perfectly for something that was small,  right shape, flexible enough to adhere to the roundness of the globe, and most of all- cheap!

Step-by-step directions for your DIY flush mount ceiling light upgrade

  1.  Remove the globe from the ceiling (make sure the light is off, and the globe isn’t hot.  I put that in there as a disclaimer, but FYI, the globe in our space never gets hot to touch, even after being on all day, but use care with yours)
  2. Determine where you want your gold paint line to start, and tape a line off there.  If you’ve never taped a line on a round object- this is easier said that done, my friend!  It takes lots of trial and error.  My end result was far from perfect, but I was still very happy with it.  I don’t have a trick to make this easier- any ideas?I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!
  3. Cover the parts of the globe you want to remain unpainted with something- I used paper towels.
  4. Spray paint the globe with your gold spray paint. A light, even coat is essential here!
  5. If you want the base that attaches to the ceiling to match (I did), you’ll need to tape off the ceiling with newspaper and spray that as well.  I had actually already used Rub’n Buff (Antique Gold) on that part, and the match was close enough that I was good with it. (I’m going to tell you all about the fail related to that below)
  6. Spray paint your googly eyes gold.  I used 8 for my light- you can use as many or as few as you want for yours!
  7. Once your globe is dry, try it out in place with the light on.  Does the light come through evenly?  This is the hardest part about painting any glass light fixture- getting the paint even so that it doesn’t look splotchy when the light is on.  It can look perfect with the light off, but janky when the light is on.  If it isn’t even, you’ll need to give it another light, even coat.
  8. When everything is dry and you’re happy with your globe, remove the tape from the globe.  Do this carefully!  I was not careful enough and tore some of the paint off.  I ended up having to use a box cutter to score around the paint line.  Sigh. I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!
  9. Using a small drop of fabric glue, adhere a googly eye along the gold line of the globe.  I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!
  10. Continue doing so at even intervals, for as many as you want on your globe.  My trick for even intervals?  I just go directly across from where I placed the last eye.  Doing this will guarantee perfect (or close enough to perfect) placement every time.  You can see what I mean in this graphic: I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen! The numbers are the order that I went in.  Once I had 1-4 placed, I just went directly in between them to place the others.  I didn’t measure anything, just eye-balled it.  I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!
  11. Once that’s done, re-attached your fixture.  You’re done! Sorry for the dark picture- I finished this later in the day and the light was getting low!I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!

A DIY flush mount ceiling light upgrade FAIL, behind the scenes

I first did this project with Rub’n Buff.  It looked beautiful when it was done, like a true rich gold finish.  I loved it.

I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!

 

Until I turned the light on.  Then this…

I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!

No matter what I did, I couldn’t even out that finish with the Rub ‘n Buff.

You guys know that I definitely have a healthy relationship with imperfection, but this was too much for even me.  I had to start over.

Luckily, we had two more identical globes in our master closet so I just switched those out to start over with spray paint.  But I actually much prefer the way the Rub ‘n Buff one turned out when the lights are off- the richness of the gold finish is just so beautiful!

It was a little too dark for that room though, which is why I scaled back on the gold coverage when I spray painted.

 

I may still try to figure out a way to make this work.  Maybe some light sanding?

DIY flush mount ceiling light upgrade

So here’s the before from way back:

I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!

The interim:

I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!

The inspiration:

I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!

And the final result:

I needed a light fixture update in my bathroom- it was a builder grade white globe flush mount. I found one that was super expensive that I loved, but I was able to DIY one on a $10 budget instead! You won't believe the materials used! This would look so cool in a hallway, entryway or foyer, bath, or laundry room, and could even be used for a pendant light in a kitchen!

It’s definitely not a dead ringer for the Shades of Light pendant, but also, not bad for a $500 + savings, and a definite improvement over what was there!

Would you try this in your space?  Also, what’s the weirdest supply you’ve ever DIY’d with?

If you love this project, please Pin it, below!

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Comments

  1. Mary says

    I wonder if you spray painted to get the opaque look and then went over it with the rub and buff? Maybe you can get the effect you are looking for?

    • Beth says

      Mary! That is a fantastic idea! I will try that with the other globe that we have in our closet. I’ll update this post with the results. Thanks so much for the suggestion! ❤️

      • Ashleigh says

        Hi! I love this diy! Was wondering if you ever tried the spray paint under rub n buff thing?

        • Beth says

          Hi Ashleigh! I never got around to doing this- I was just thinking about this the other day! We’ve moved from this house though so I’ll always have to wonder if it would have worked!

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