How to Update Your Oil Rubbed Bronze Lamp Bases Using 2 Tbsp of Paint

Valerie Burge
by Valerie Burge
4 Materials
$1
1 Hour
Easy

I recently did a nightstand make-over and then decided to update the bases on my stained glass lamps. The oil rubbed bronze just didn’t gel with my pretty new nightstands!

Step 1: 

I cleaned them with dish soap and water. Then I painted a portion of the bases and tops on the shades with mineral paint – in liberty blue – using a precision brush.  One coat.

Step 2: 

Next I painted the rest of the bases, as well as the little screws at the top, with metallic gold. I did 3 very thin coats.

Step 3: 

I did one final coat of gold glitter paint. Just a very thin coat (to match the hardware on my nightstands).

This only took about an hour to do, as by the time I finished one colour the other lamp was dry. So quick, easy and very inexpensive! And I think they look much better! Although I may re-do the blue with a softer colour at some point down the road. That's the beauty of this simple technique - the colour can very quickly change to whatever you choose!

Resources for this project:
Fusion mineral paint - liberty blue
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  3 questions
  • Aiokersonalicea1 Aiokersonalicea1 on Jan 31, 2019

    I inherited my grandmother's brass lamp. I have to rewire the internal wiring to bring it up to par.

    The finish is tarnished and dull. What is the best way to fix that, do I need to get Brasso or do I paint it?

  • Christy Roppel Christy Roppel on Jan 31, 2019

    I had a plastic "Tiffany" style lamp shade....I wonder what it would look like painted. It may look pretty with just the raised details and maybe distressed a bit....If I try, I'll post. What are your opinions?


  • Jeanstar Jeanstar on Feb 01, 2019

    The gold looks great. Where did you use the liberty blue paint? I don’t see it in the “after” photo.

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