UPDATE! Upcycle a torchiere floor lamp?

Nadja Stevens
by Nadja Stevens

UPDATE!!!

any ideas on how to upcycle this floor lamp...

my brain is in a creative slump and I can't think

outside the box LoL


It does work and I'd love to have it outside in the garden

BUT

I want to do something unexpected with it - as in -

no flowers, no solar lights! LoL


and thank you to all of you for chiding me

when you "thought" I wanted to use it as a lamp ;)



I just can't seem to see past the light itself...

can anyone else see something super funky

to be created outta this old thing???


  14 answers
  • Morgan McBride Morgan McBride on Jun 18, 2020

    I would definitely not put an indoor lamp outside.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Jun 18, 2020

    Hello if it were my lamp I would consider up styling with something like Circumferential sports equipment like skis hockey sticks or your favorite sports equipment.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Jun 18, 2020

    No, these lamps were not designed to be used outdoors.

  • Janice Janice on Jun 18, 2020

    Hi Nadja, please don't place this outside for use. It won't last in weather and could actually be dangerous. Why not get creative with the shade and decorate the shade with some colorful Sharpie pens or maybe decoupage some designs on it?

  • Cindy Cindy on Jun 18, 2020

    The only way I would use this lamp outside is to take it apart. Remove everything but the shades. Then put a solar light in where the light bulbs would have gone. Even at that it might not last longer than one season.

  • Mogie Mogie on Jun 19, 2020

    Electricity and the great outdoors don't mix well. If you need light outside buy a light made for using outside. Please you need to be careful.

  • K. Rupp K. Rupp on Jun 19, 2020

    No, don't put it outside, unless you are taking out all the electrical and cutting it down to just hold plants or something.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Jun 19, 2020

    I have that same lamp in my sewing room. Don't put outside, for sure. You can paint the silver with RustOleum hammered paint for a different look. Change the shades out with cages for a farmhouse look or paint them with a high heat paint.

  • Beth Beth on Jun 19, 2020

    I wouldn't put it outside, as others have said, but you could still upcycle it for indoor use. Here are some ideas for you: https://www.upcycledzine.com/12-upcycle-design-floor-lamp-ideas/

  • 17335038 17335038 on Jun 19, 2020

    I have found that lamps this style and price point are generally quite flimsy, so the parts do lend themselves well to being transformed into something else. The problem stems from how they are constructed inside:


    - the threads on the pole ends are shallow, and do not give firm hold

    -once taken apart, the threads get stripped and make it difficult to re-join

    -the electrical wires are short and do not offer any extra to stretch and re-attach

    -the 'metal' is not genuine metal; more like silver coated plastic



  • 17335038 17335038 on Jun 19, 2020


    My suggestion is to perhaps attach finials to the ends of the poles, and use them as additional light-weight towel bars.


    https://inmyownstyle.com/how-to-make-a-curtain-rod-and-finials.html

  • Grandma D Grandma D on Jun 22, 2020

    Of course you would need to prepare the lamp for outside use, and even then it has the potential to be dangerous if plugged in, so do be cautious. But if I wanted to do that, I would put dead light bulbs in, spray the entire lamp from top to bottom with Flex Seal or something like that to make it watertight. I then would remove the bulbs and put in working ones. Alternately I would put in solar lights. Then I would caulk a clear piece of plastic (maybe a dollar store plate?) on the top of each shade to make it water type. After that, I would decorate to suit me. One final thing, is to make sure that you protect the cord if it is going to be a powered lamp. You also may choose to replace or have replaced the power cord to put one on it that actually is intended for exterior use. Of course, you would want to do that before you do anything else to the lamp. I'm not suggesting you do any of this; I'm just saying that that's something I would attempt. Then I would protect it from direct water by using it on say a covered patio. Good luck with whatever you decide.

  • LeAnn LeAnn on Jun 25, 2020

    Add a water pump and plastic tubing and use the disassembled parts to create a water feature. If it didn’t splash too much could be a butterfly & bee watering station.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Jun 30, 2020

    If yu like to use it outside replace insides with solar lamp and let some pretty ivy like flowers go over them