Light fixture upgrade on a budget

Question

I have these awful 'hollywood' style light fixtures in two of my bathrooms, but I am on a tight budget and can't afford the cost of completely replacing them. Any ideas on how to make covers for them, or any other ways to transform these without spending too much?

Therese C · Answer

The idea I think you are searching for is to update the look and still have adequate lighting? I have are a couple of very inexpensive but classy ideas. I will post up a quick drawing for you.

Therese C · Answer

In both of these designs, remember that the bottom of the frame is open allowing for added light. Good luck and let me know what you decide to do! Both of the ideas I worked up would cost (in our area) less than $30 to make.

Carissa Harris · Answer

Thanks! Those are good ideas! I will have to keep those in mind.

Carissa Harris · Answer

I wish I could find lamp shades that clipped on sideways, that I could clip on the bulbs but have the light angled down.... I can't seem to find anything for the individual lights.

Therese C · Answer

Walmart used to have clip on shades in the lighting department that I believe would swivel as needed.

Becky P · Answer

I just spray painted mine with a oil rubbed bronze paint. Works for now until I get around to redoing that bathroom.

Z · Answer

My first thought was something very similar to Therese's idea in framing a four sided box allowing it to set over the edges of your current fixture. When you mentioned lamp shades I searched for 'half lamp shades' and came up with these that would fit a standard sized bulb. http://www.specialtylampshades.com/21902-white-half-shade.htm They and all the others were way too pricey though so I thought about making your own using a clip on bulb adapter like this... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Clip-on-Bulb-Adapter-for-Lampshade/261264072375?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D16802%26meid%3D566919433976663278%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D7926%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D281147652955%26 ... and then keep your eye out for small clearance lamp shades to remake.

Carissa Harris · Answer

Thanks Becky! I was looking for those and having a hard time finding them. I guess it might end up being cheaper to find a good deal on new lights afterall....

Margaret Dick · Answer

I would not want to loose those mirrors. Mirrors in bathroom is a strong positive in my book. I have seen folks glue decorative picture frames to update the look. They used trim board. You could use trim board that matches the cabinet. With this bath you could do two frames and separate the 'sides' of the bath. Then change light fixture to a more modern look.

Margaret Dick · Answer

My daughter spray painted her light fixture with the dark paint. All the fixtures in their house was gold. It worked well. Not sure how safe it would be to cover these lights. There is a lot of heat coming from the lights. I also found when I took down lights that large and wanted to go smaller that the hole in sheet rock was larger than most new fixture would cover!

Tegma · Answer

Check Wayfair.com daily.... I bought a $200 light there, for $24.99! It's beautiful and very stylish!

Chris aka monkey · Answer

i could not afford to change mine i bought pink bulbs change the look a lot also come in many other colors xx

Liliana Wells · Answer

Lowes has excellent prices on lighting fixtures, if you decide to stretch to get one of those. You could also sell the one you have now on Craigslist to recoup some money. You may want to look into a decorative border above /sides of the lights to detract fro the harsh glare of the bulbs. We would like to see what you decide to do. Good luck.

Melissa · Answer

Have you tried the local Habitat's ReStore? They have an abundance of lighting fixtures, at very low cost!

Jean DeSavage · Answer

Becky, that's a great drawing of your light box. However, I would use an open plastic grid for the top instead of solid wood, it would keep things cooler. Also that way you would have light shining up and down. If you paint the inside of your box white or silver it will help the light to reflect brighter.

Becky P · Answer

Becky, you are so handy at the drawing stuff!

Leslie F · Answer

my wife and I hate those dressingroom lights too.We have cut the bottom out of mason jars and used the mason jars to go over the light bulbs and they look great especially in a small bathroom.

Therese C · Answer

@Z I tried to use those curlie-Q bulbs that are 'supposed' to last forever...they are so dim and annoying to me that I went back to GE clear bulbs in all lights except bedrooms; for those I use soft white. I guess I am strange about the lighting in my house. But, back to the fixture, yes I designed it as a way to cheaply get by until the financing is right otherwise. :)

Melissa Gutilla · Answer

check and see if u have a local restore store. We have them here in Virginia they sell donated items and left over items from the habitat for humanity homes. All the fixtures in my house are the gold color also. Yuck! I bought a light for my stair well from them for 30.00 and at Home Depot it was over 200.00. You just have to keep stopping in until u see something u like. Ours always has new and used items.

Carmen Evans · Answer

You could make a pelmet either out of stiff board or timber and cover it with a lovely fabric to complement your bathroom, this should hide the globes but it may create a dimmer look in the room.

Kincaid99 · Answer

Using a paint that is for light bulbs, to stand the heat, paint the top half of the globe or a stripe around the middle to dress them up and cut down on the glare, you could also repaint the fixture to match the stripe on globe.

Tracy patterson · Answer

I don't know your style or colors but when I looked at it I see it flat mat black with Edison bulbs .. Google image Edison bulbs

Connie Salsman · Answer

These fixtures, although they are wide, have only one connection on the back. Check out local thrift stores for other styles. Even pendant styles could be mounted on wall and hung from ceiling hooks over the sink. Also, textured spray paints (like hammered or leather) give nice looks to these fixtures.

Angie · Answer

Google 'vanity shades of Vegas'.  She's on etsy and I believe she has a website. Makes little covers to cover those ugly lights!

Cztromley · Answer

i am in the same boat but am a renter. I do have one idea I am going to try in our 'Miami Dolphin bath' (his of course and in the master) There is enough gap between fixture and wall to slide a wire hanger in-so... I am going to  try to make an 'L' shaped hanger to go from wall across above bulbs hooking the front to hold old Miami Dolphin license plates. There are only 4 bulbs in ours and two plates will work nicely. The guest bath is another one and still waiting for the right idea to fit the 'Russian' theme-items from Dads journeys.

Dori Loga · Answer

Make a cover for them.

Kim Curtin · Answer

I just thought I'd let you know about my on-line store - www.vanityshadesofvegas.com I create custom fabric covered Vanity Shades designed specifically to hide those ugly 'Hollywood style' vanity lights. Choose from over 600 designer fabrics.

Light fixture upgrade on a budget

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