Transform Your Boring Builder Grade Vanity Light With Spray Paint

4 Materials
$22
30 Minutes
Easy

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One of the easiest things we did during our farmhouse bathroom renovation was fix the dreadful vanity light. I really didn’t want to spend money a new bathroom light, but we HAD to do something about the builder grade vanity light. It was boring and didn’t fit with the farmhouse feel that I wanted for our master bathroom. I was shocked when we figured out how to give a builder grade vanity light farmhouse style – it was SO easy !! We were able to use what we had instead of buying something brand new, which saved a ton of money. In fact, we only spent $22 on the supplies needed for this farmhouse bathroom light transformation.

If you’re really confused why this photo is a different bathroom and a different light (3 versus 2)…long story short, I lost some photos due to a hard drive that went kaputz, so I don’t have a good “before” photo of the same light in our Farmhouse bathroom….but I promise it looked JUST like this, but just with 2 lights. 


Step 1. Take Light Off Of Wall.

Before you touch the light, be sure you turn off the electrical breaker for the light. Once the electricity is off for the light, remove the glass shades and bulbs. Next, unscrew and pull off the light fixture. Once you can see the wires behind, start with the black wires first and unscrew the wire nut (which is the plastic cone looking thing) and pull the wires apart and then reattach the wire nut over the wire coming out of the wall. Next, do the same thing with white wires. Never leave the wires coming out of the wall exposed.

Step 2. Cover Sockets.

Put some painter's tape over the empty sockets so you don't paint them.


Step 3. Spray Paint Light.

Next, you just start spraying your light in even, light coats with the spray paint. We did about 3 coats of flat black spray paint (or an oil rubbed bronze color).


Step 4. Reinstall the Vanity Light.

Last, you just reinstall the bathroom light right back where you found it on the wall. Reattach the wires and bolt onto the wall.


If you notice, we installed our vanity light upside down. I liked the way it looked having the light bulbs paint upwards instead. We also did NOT add those glass light covers either. That’s the fun part of this light! I love that you can see the light bulbs.


I think the boring builder grade bathroom light really starts taking on a whole new farmhouse feel when you attach the old fashioned light bulbs. We use these ones throughout our house and love how long lasting they are….(in fact I’ve never had to replace one yet after living here nearly 3 years!!…but you watch, just because I said that one is going to go out, like tomorrow!). Whatever type of old fashioned light bulbs you purchase, be sure you buy the LED ones!

Ta da! Yes, it’s really that simple to give your builder grade vanity light farmhouse style. All you need to do is give it a few coats of spray paint and add the old fashioned looking light bulbs. Hop on over to the full blog post to more pictures of this light in our farmhouse bathroom!

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Chelsea @ Making Manzanita
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  3 questions
  • Shelby 🐈 Shelby 🐈 on Aug 06, 2018

    I love the new look of your fixture. Do the edison bulbs cast a yellow light in the bathroom?

  • Connie Connie on Aug 06, 2018

    Do those light bulbs produce enough light for applying makeup?

  • LisaAnn Gill Hamilton LisaAnn Gill Hamilton on Aug 13, 2018

    Nice, however, wouldn’t that be dark when trying to put makeup on?

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