DIY Restoration Hardware Lamp Hack

by Holly Prim

$50.00

1 Hour

Easy

I'll show you how easy it is to turn a glass jar into an atrium lamp that rival those sold at Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and the like!

how to make a lamp out of anything, diy, how to, lighting

Last summer I was shopping for decor for our basement, It was just slightly premature since we still had bare concrete floors and I'd already begun ripping down the suspended ceiling. Nonetheless, I found this amazing glass vessel at Southeastern Salvage for $29.99, I thought it would make the perfect atrium style lamp. It's about 17" tall and 42" around. Perfect size for a lamp base.

Restoration Hardware Lamp was on sale $375.00

Here's the look I was going for without spending $400.00 on a lamp. Mind you most of these lamps are sold without a shade which is even more money depending on the shade.

Fast forward six months and said vessel is still sitting on the floor in my kitchen collecting dust and wine bottle corks... Since the evidence is mounting that we have consumed a lot of wine since last summer, I decided it's time to stop making deposits and finally turn it into a lamp.

Last week, I was on the phone with my friend Jennifer, who happens to be a make your own lamp guru, she is the one that convinced me you can make a lamp out of AHN-Y-THING! I propose we schedule a date to make a project together and a lamp is on the top of my list. She was happy to guide me through the process and added that I shouldn't go out and buy a bunch of stuff to make it, she was sure she'd have everything I needed. I wasn't about to show up with just my glass jar in hand so I head to Home Depot to buy a few basics.

While in the lamp section I look over the lamp kits, on average they cost about $12.00-$13.00. There were a few variations so it depends on the type of lamp you want to make. With or without a harp to hold the shade, 3 way socket for dimming or a candlestick and bottle adapter, different color cords, etc. Basically, you can find a kit with everything you need to build any lamp, here's an example of what they include.

The mouth of my jar was too large to just place a socket in it and build the lamp from there, I racked my brain looking for something to fill that gaping hole. I thought a cork stopper might be cute, but I couldn't find one the correct size. One of the Home Depot associates graciously asked if she could help, but without seeing the jar her only suggestion was stuffing circular styrofoam in the hole, evidently I wasn't very clear about trying to make my $30.00 jar look like a $300.00 lamp. Naturally, I cruise the aisles looking for something I can fashion into a plug. I end up in the plumbing section, an unlikely place to find lamp accessories but I'm getting creative and desperate. Funny thing, I found what I thought could be a solution. A "Qwik Cap" which is a flexible PVC cap and looked just the right size to insert into the hole of the jar. Since it was flexible I knew it would be easy to drill through to insert the threaded rod. I wasn't a fan of it being black but I hoped Jennifer would have a way to mask or disguise it.

With a Qwik Cap, light socket, cord, drill bit and glass jar, it's time to head to Jennifer's house to assemble this thing! We go through her spare parts and find finials, harps, shades and even something to cover up my PVC plug.

I start by drilling the hole in the bottom/side of the vessel. Jennifer kept it steady while I drilled the hole through the glass for the cord, I didn't realize it was a two person job but it was pretty wobbly. It took several minutes to get all the way through the glass.

Half way through

So we taped off the drilling area to keep on point with the hole and hopefully not scratch the glass if the drill bit decided to "walk".

Jennifer had an itty bitty plastic cap to insert into the hole so the cord isn't frayed, glad she thought of that!

I have many more pictures and tips for this project, too many to share here so please click the link below and find all of the details on my blog!

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5 of 7 comments

B. Enne on Jun 02, 2015
Once again, here is an example of the diy project looking better than the inspiration piece!

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- Holly Prim on Jun 02, 2015
  @B. Enne Thank you for your kind words!!! Unfortunately, I'm not a photographer, so the pictures do not do this lamp justice, it looks 100% better in person... Need a new camera :-)
  
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- B. Enne on Jun 02, 2015
  @Holly Prim WOW it must be really something then, because I already thought it looked great. :)
  
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Dixie on Nov 15, 2016
If you're going to drill a hole in glass, buy a diamond bit, which costs about $20 for a half inch. When you start, angle the bit so it won't jump around. Also, you MUST keep it cool. I drill mine in the kitchen sink so I have water running over it at all times. Otherwise, you may crack your glass. It doesn't take much water, just a trickle but will save your piece. Good luck!

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- Holly Prim on Nov 15, 2016
  Thanks for the tip but I bought and used a 1/2" glass and tile bit, made by Bosch for $13.97 and it worked perfect, no water needed.
  
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