Shut the Front Door! You Can Turn a Door Into a Lamp?

by Valerie Ott

We turned an old shutter into a light that warms up the room, frees up table space, and illuminates art!

Affix a sconce to a door or shutter

First, find an old paneled door or shutter...the more patina the better. Determine where you want the light sconce to go and drill a hole for the cord to sneak through. Feed the cord through the hole then affix the bracket for the sconce just above the hole, leaving a half-moon if you can, so the cord will be even more discreet.

Attach sconce to door or shutter

Screw the sconce onto the bracket.

Fabric-covered lampshade

I covered the plain white shade with some pretty cotton fabric for more color and hung some artwork on the door/shutter as well.

Sconce hung on old door/shutter

We propped the door/shutter behind an antique dresser. I love this spot for it because it not only illuminates the room, it gives height between the curtain panels, it frees up space on the dresser, and it acts like an art light.

Lamp on Door/Shutter

Since the toggle switch to turn the sconce on is on the cord (and the cord is now hidden behind the door/shutter), we turned the toggle to the "on" position, let the cord hang all the way down the back, plugged it into a power strip, and situated the power strip so that it's within easy reach but hidden just behind the back leg of the dresser.

For more project ideas, check out Home Made Modern!

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1 question

Gladys on Apr 11, 2016
Did you know that there are remote controls that you can buy for plugging the cord into and then plug the transmitter (?) for the remote signal, into the wall? Then you just have to hit the tiny remote to turn your lamp on. I have two of them. I used to get them at Radio Shack, but with them in bankruptcy, I'm not sure where they can be bought. (I see you're in Hudson, OH.....I'm originally from Barberton, then Akron)......"Hey Neighbor!" Now in WI though. Thanks for your post. I love the idea and am considering making one, if I can find a wooden shutter. The ones I have are plastic.

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4 of 7 comments

Lori on Apr 14, 2016
Such a good idea. This would be an awesome way to get bedside lights, two shutters, just leaning against the wall, great for renters. You could even add a shelf. You might want to attach it behind just to keep it from falling but that's super easy. We will be downsizing to an apt in the future and I'm keeping this idea, thanks.

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- Gladys on Apr 15, 2016
  @Lori If you make one that way, I'd love to see it because I will probably be moving to an apt. within the year. Thank you!
  
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- Lori on Apr 15, 2016
  It's a deal, if and when, I promise to post. I know I've seen similar ones on Pinterest Gladys.
  
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Pat on Feb 14, 2023

Totally cool, and classy!

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