DIY Bedside Lamps

Embellishing your own lamp gives you the freedom to be creative in your room's decor. By including natural elements such as stones, twigs or moss in your home, you can add an interesting organic feel to the space. The unexpected use of natural items inside the home can be a beautiful addition to many decor schemes. If your decor is comprised entirely of purchased items, the space can sometimes feel staged. By decorating bedside lamps using found items, such as twigs or driftwood, you can bring nature into the space and can create a focal point for the room. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Purchase two inexpensive matching lamp bases and shades. The lamp bases will be entirely covered in twigs, so it does not matter what they look like. For the best results, choose cylindrical bases that are not as wide as the shade.

2

Collect between 30 and 40 twigs that are just slightly taller than the lamp bases. If needed, trim the twigs to the proper height using clippers. Only trim one end to preserve the organic uneven look of the twigs. The more twisted the twigs are, the more interesting the lamps will look.

3

Glue the twigs in one layer around the entire base of the lamp with the untrimmed end facing up. Make sure that there are no visible parts of the base, or the effect will be ruined. A hot glue guns work best for this step as hot glue binds to most surfaces. Hold the twig to the base until the seam of glue has dried completely.

4

Tie a piece of twine or string around the twigs and glue in place with two dots of hot glue. Place one dot directly under the knot in the string at the front of the lamp and one on the back of the lamp. The string gives the impression that the twigs are one bundle.

5

Attach the shade to the base using a light bulb to hold it in place. Most shades attach with a wire circle that is placed around the light socket before the bulb is screwed in. Make sure that the shade doesn't conceal too much of the twigs or the organic look of the lamps will go unnoticed.