How to make a DIY hanging light from a clearance rack rattan lantern and a $10 thrifty find.
Our guest bedroom seems to be a never ending project. I recently finished painting the walls and making a DIY nightstand from an old stool, but the off-center ceiling light still needed a fix. That's where my handy husband stepped in with his DIY hanging lamp.
That's where my handy husband stepped in with his DIY hanging lamp.
I'm so excited to be sharing the blog today with my righthand man, my husband Roger. All of my friends with the Thrifty Style Team thought it would be fun to shine a spotlight on our husbands, sons or fathers, and have them do a thrifty DIY project and share it on their blogs.
You can check out the other handy husbands' projects at the bottom of the post.
So, without further ado...my husband, Roger, and his DIY hanging pendant lamp in our guest bedroom.
Hello there! I'm sure I won't be able to word this quite as well as my wife would, but here's goes nothing.
Ever since we added the powder room and closet in the guest bedroom, my eagle-eyed wife has been wanting to fix the off-center light fixture. It's not a big deal to me but I knew that she wouldn't rest until it was fixed.
After giving it some thought, I found an easy, and inexpensive solution...a DIY pendant light.
How do you make a pendant light from a ceiling light?
It's not as hard as you might think if you have the right parts and pieces. Plus you get a light that is uniquely your own.
Pulling together the parts to make a new hanging lamp
Kristi found a rattan lantern that had a glass candle holder in it on clearance during one of her shopping trips.
She loved the warm texture of it, and I liked the price, so I thought we could try to make our new pendant light with it.
What we needed was a light fixture, so I started searching and found someone local selling an old hallway light for $10. I knew that I could make it work.
Supplies
Find a complete list of supplies and step-by-step instructions in the How-To card at the end of the post.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- rattan lantern
- old light fixture
- extension cord
- u-bolt
- light fixture canopy kit
- fender washers
- wire nuts
- tape measure
- adjustable wrench
- drill
- step bit
How to make a DIY hanging lamp
The first thing I did was to take the light that I found apart. It was in pretty good condition but I only needed the part with the wires and lightbulbs. The rest went into my stash.
I'm sure I can find a use for some of the other pieces.
Speaking of my stash, I had some chain and mounting pieces laying around from other light projects from years past, so I grabbed them to see if I could use them.
After a bit of problem solving, I came up with an easy way to attach the light to the basket.
I used a mounting bracket and a u-bolt to attach the chain to the light fixture and the chain to swag the light in the center of the room, since the original light isn't centered.
So, I used the u-bolt with some fender washers to attach to the mounting bar.
This went on top of the cross bars for the candle holder in the basket. (I actually turned the lantern over so the bottom was now the top of the light).
Next, I attached the old hallway light from the under side to the u-bolt mounting bar.
My "new" light assembly is complete. Now I need to hang it and hook up the electric.
Hanging the "new" pendant light
***The first step in any electrical project is to turn off the power from the main breaker box. If you aren't comfortable working with electricity, please hire a licensed professional.
We did have to purchase a swag kit hook, extension cord and a canopy to cover the hole in the ceiling where the old light hung.
The swag hook was to hold the chain/wire for powering the light. I was hoping there would be a beam in the ceiling for the swag hook, but no such luck. We ended up using the toggle bolt.
The first thing I did, before I did any drilling, was to measure and find the center point in the room. Sure enough my wife was right, the old light was way off-center.
I hate it when she's right.
With the center point marked, I drilled a ¾" hole in the ceiling with a step bit, popped the toggle through and presto...instant hook.
We have plaster ceilings, and they are really thick, but luckily the toggle bolt just made it.
Next, I attached another mounting bracket (from my stash) to the new canopy so I could attach it to the old light box in the ceiling.
Now I was ready to hang the new pendant light.
I took the chain that was attached to the light and hung it on the hook at a good height for the room. Then I swagged it over to the old light box.
I had extra chain so I took 2 pairs of pliers and bent the links to remove the pieces that I didn't need. Once I had the right length, I attached it to the canopy and used the pliers to carefully bend the link back in shape.
Next, I took the extension cord that I purchased, cut each end of the cord off and used one end to wire the "new" lamp. Then I snaked it loosely through the chain to the canopy and hooked the other end up to the wires in the old ceiling light box.
One thing to keep in mind when using chain to hold a light is to make sure the wire is loose in the chain. You want the chain holding the weight of the light, not the wire.
I attached the canopy to the light box and turned the power back on.
That's it!
A totally unique DIY pendant light for a guest bedroom. Maybe it will distract my wife from the crown molding that we still need to install.
I hope this inspires you to find a use for thrifty pieces and other miscellaneous parts just laying around the house.
Thanks Honey, for making and installing my "new" hanging lamp. I really love how it looks, and I love that it's centered.
P.S. I still haven't forgotten about the crown molding. 😉
We have more DIY lighting posts...
How to Make a DIY Wireless Sconce
DIY Pendant Light Fixture
How to Make a DIY Hanging Light
A DIY hanging lamp from a $10 thrifty find and a rattan lantern. Such an easy project to do with an extension cord and a swag lighting kit.
Materials
- rattan lantern
- thrifted hanging light
- brown 12' extension cord
- u-bolt (¼-20 thread)
- 4, ¼-20 wire nuts
- light fixture canopy kit
- fender washers
Tools
- screwdriver
- adjustable wrench
- wire strippers/cutters
- drill
- ¾" step bit
- pliers
Instructions
- Very Important! Before you start any work on the ceiling light, turn the power off to the fixture.
- First we took apart the thrifted hanging light so we could use some of the parts, namely the part of the fixture with the 3 lightbulbs
- Make a bracket to hold the lamp together. First, slip the u-bolt through the end of chain
- Now put 2, ¼-20 nuts on each side of the u-bolt
- Place 2 fender washers on each side of the u-bolt
- Put the remaining 2, ¼-20 nuts on the u-bolt to hold the fender washers on
- Now take the mounting bracket and slip it between the fender washers in the middle of the u-bolt
- Tighten the nuts with your fingers on the u-bolt to clamp the bracket in the center
- Use a wrench to finish tightening the nuts so the bracket can not move
- The mounting bracket goes on top of the rattan lantern and the canopy of the new light goes on the bottom, or the inside, of the lantern (this holds the lantern in place).
- With the lamp complete, it's time to hang it
- First, measure to find the center point in room. (You may need to drill a hole and use a toggle anchor if there isn't a beam to hold the light up).
- Attach the swag hook to the ceiling in the spot that you want the light to hang.
- Hang the lamp using the chain from the hook in the ceiling, at the height that you want it.
- Attach the new lamp canopy to the mounting bracket
- Swag the chain over to where the new canopy will attach to the original light box in the ceiling.
- If the chain is too long, shorten it by using 2 pair of pliers and twisting. Remove extra chain and attach twisted link to the new canopy. Twist chain back into shape
- Cut ends off extension cord and feed the wire, loosely, through the chain over to the new canopy.
- Cut and strip wires and attach to the correct wires in the ceiling light box and the new light fixture. ***make sure the power is off to the ceiling box!
- Install the canopy in the ceiling, over the old light box, and you are done!
Notes
***It's very important to turn the power off to the light box from the main breaker box. If you don't feel comfortable working around electricity, hire a licensed professional!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Don't forget to check out the project all of the other men are sharing.
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cindy says
Haha, a man's work is never done! Great job Roger, it is a totally unique light and works beautifully in this gorgeous space!
Kristi says
Thank you, she worked me to the bone on this one. Well, maybe not, It was fun to help out.
Roger
Vicki and Jenn 2 Bees in a Pod says
Fabulous job, Roger! You and Kristi make a great team! Love the new lighting and your creative ways of making her dreams come true!
Kristi says
Thanks, trying to lend a hand to help her out. Team work makes the dream work.
Roger
Bliss says
You the man Roger! DIY and now a blogger too. Mr. Chatfield has skills.
Kristi says
Thanks, but Mr. Chatfield needs to put down the pencil, this writing stuff is hard.
Roger
Jacque says
Amazing light! He did a spectacular job with this one.
Kristi says
Thanks, Every once in awhile a squirrel finds a nut. LOL
Roger
Carol Rodenbaugh says
Great job Roger-- you are one handy husband.
Kristi says
Thanks, I try.
Roger
Juliet says
Brilliant work ... wonderful solution and it looks perfect in the room! Can’t wait to show this to my husband. He’s going to be thrilled!!!
Kristi says
Hey now, don't make me the bad guy. He'll need a few years to think about it.
Thanks
Roger
Rebecca @ Hello Creative Blog says
SO GOOD!!! Great job to both of you. 🙂
Kristi says
Thanks so much, it was fun.
Roger
Lynn Julien-Nelson says
Go Roger! Go Roger! Great post.!
Kristi says
Thank you, Always glad to help my other half.
Roger
Brenda Lane says
That looks just great! You guys are so creative. Great blogging too.
Kristi says
Thanks, we work well together.
Roger
Julie says
This is so cool, Roger! You definitely have a good eye for good finds!! You 2 make a great pair. Fantastic tutorial BTW!!!
Kristi says
It's all about keeping your eyes open and being patient when walking around thrift stores. Sometimes you win, most of the time you lose.
Roger
Jane says
ROGER did good! I have an off center light in our dining room and it has driven me crazy since we have moved here. You two are a great team!
Kristi says
Thanks, Just make the table centered under the light, or maybe eat in the dark. LOL
It only took us a couple years to fix it.
Roger
Cindy says
This was great. Loved having the men posting. They work hard helping with our projects we aren't able to tackle.
Love the new light and it not being centered would have made me crazy too. Clever to use the lantern. Many of those lights are a fortune.
Enjoy the rest of your day
Cindy
Kristi says
All this centering of lights could drive a guy crazy, if you don't look up you can't tell if it's not centered.
Thanks
Roger
Chris Agtang says
Your project turned out great! I would love to see what it looks like turned on at night. You two are the perfect DIY team!
Kristi says
Thanks, I leave the photo's to Kristi, If I take the picture you might see just the ceiling.
Roger
Kristi Dominguez says
This lamp is too cool! It is perfect for that space! Your Honey did a great job! Wishing you all a wonderful Father's Day weekend! <3
Kristi says
Just trying to help out where I can, glad everyone likes it.
Roger
Kim says
Well obviously he keeps everything just like my handy hubby does. Nothing gets tossed from projects around here. Every screw is saved yet when he needs a certain size he'll go to Home Depot to get new ones. Love the new light and off center drives me nuts, too!
Kristi says
You never know when you will need that one screw from your first house many moons ago.
Roger
Courtenay @ The Creek Line House says
Oh my gosh. This looks like a million bucks! I had no idea that it was made from repurposed elements from the photo that I saw on Instagram! Great work!
Kristi says
Thanks, one man's junk is another man's treasure.
Roger
Kaycee says
Well hello Roger, it is great to finally meet the man who is helping Eagle Eye, ops, I mean Kristi, transform The Cottage and sweet Minnie! I love what you did here, the light fixture looks fantastic and you really were thrifty in sourcing the necessary parts to complete the light! Thank you for including such a complete and easy to follow tutorial. I hope Kristi gives you a bit of a break before you are back in the guest room hanging out with the crown molding!!
Kristi says
Eagle Eye is very happy, I never put anything in the garbage, always saving for a rainy day. As for the Crown, lets not bring that up to much, wink wink, not my favorite job.
Roger
Linda at Mixed Kreations says
Your new light looks awesome! The hubby did a great job on it, and I'm glad it is centered how you wanted. That would of drove me crazy as well.
Kristi says
Thanks, The wife is very happy with tho whole centering thing. As for me, I thought it was just fine.
Roger
laura janning says
Roger, the light came out amazing. thanks for all the detail ( men are much better at that then we are)
Maria says
Wow it turned out beautiful! Great workmanship
Kristi says
Thanks so much, Maria! 🙂
Shelly says
Great job Rog!! Looks great!
Kristi says
Thanks so much! He did a great job!
Toni says
Such a great DYI.....good job Roger! The rattan fixture really tied all your other natural elements together! Love it. Such a cute guestroom!
Kristi says
Thanks so much Toni! Yes, the fixture was the perfect touch in this room, and solved the off-center issue. 🙂