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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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September 6, 2013

Brass Lamp Makeover: gilded and spray painted lamp shade

navy and brass lamp makeover with painted lamp shade

I found it residing waayyy back in the corner on the bottom shelf hiding behind all of the other lamps.  You know back there in the brass wasteland.  I loved its beautiful shape and cute little shell finial but it was looking a little shabby topped off with an tattered pleated shade four sizes too big.

brass lamp makeover

I decided to rescue her, minus the shade, with whispers and glances following me out the door.  “Doesn’t she KNOW brass is so 1987?!”   BUT I knew.  I knew…brass is back…and paired with navy, why it’s plain HOT! HOT! HOT! (Name THAT 1987 song!) 

I dug out an old shade that had seen better days and had lost its lamp base long ago.  I purchased my favorite new shade of blue, Indigo Streamer.  The same paint I used on my spray paint bookcase makeover and formulated a plan….this brass bombshell needed a spray painted lamp shade!

spray paint and gilded lamp shade makeover tutorial

TUTORIAL:

lamp shade
valspar indigo streamer
painters tape (2 sizes .94 inch and 1.41 inches)
brass gilding liquid
angled paint brush

Tape off spider so all metal is covered.  Using the painters tape create largest stripe by wrapping paint around the bottom of the shade.  smooth tape so that there are not gaps allowing paint to seep under.  Place second piece along edge of bottom tape as a “divider” between stripes.  Place third piece above this one.  Remove middle piece of tape.  Make sure second piece of tape is pressed down smoothly to avoid paint seepage.  Lightly spray several coats of paint on the outside and inside of shade, until you have proper coverage.  Once paint is dry, carefully remove tape.  Using angled brush carefully gild bottom stripe. Allow to dry.  Remove tape from spider and place on lamp base.

brass lamp makeover with spray painted and gilded lampshade

See how hip an old brass lamp can look with a trendy navy and gilded lamp shade?

navy and brass lamp makeover with spray paint and gilded lamp shade 2

Who’s snickering  now over my brass lamp purchase? 😉

Brass Lamp Makeover with spray paint and gilded lamp shade 1

signature

Here’s three more amazing “trash to treasure” makeovers!

trash to treasure

how to make wooden letters trash to treasure

Wooden Molding Letters from KariAnne of Thistlewood Farm

sassy message board thumbnail
Sassy Message Board from Rain On a Tin Roof

treasure-box-300
Little Girl’s Treasure Box from So Much Better With Age

Have you entered our Libby’s Slow Cooker Giveaway we having going on right now? What are you awaiting for! 

26 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Tutorials Tagged With: lamps, spray paint, spray paint projects

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gayle says

    September 6, 2013 at 5:15 AM

    Love it!! Hot, hot, hot!!

    Reply
  2. laura@Top This Top That says

    September 6, 2013 at 5:18 AM

    love the painted lamp shade. looks marvelous!

    Reply
  3. Lisa @ Lisas Creative Designs says

    September 6, 2013 at 5:18 AM

    Beautiful! The lamp looks very fresh and elegant!

    Reply
  4. Anita says

    September 6, 2013 at 6:29 AM

    I love it too!! So updated and retro at the same time. I’ve been bringing out my brass too and mixing it in with everything else.

    Reply
  5. Martina says

    September 6, 2013 at 6:32 AM

    Love it!! That shade is perfect for that pretty lamp!

    Reply
  6. Anne@DesignDreams says

    September 6, 2013 at 8:25 AM

    Brass is baaaaack!!!!! It looks awesome with the navy blue. Great job!!

    Reply
  7. Brenda Kula-Pruitt says

    September 6, 2013 at 11:33 AM

    I’m not laughing. I’ve always loved blue and that shade is one of my favorites. I knew blue was coming back into vogue. It’s gorgeous with the gold lamp. Just gorgeous.
    Brenda

    Reply
  8. Ashley says

    September 6, 2013 at 12:17 PM

    Wow.. never would have thought a brass lamp could have looked so well! Love it : )

    Reply
  9. Miss Charming says

    September 6, 2013 at 12:40 PM

    Seriously, LOVE this! One of my favorite lamp makeovers.

    Reply
  10. Jenna says

    September 6, 2013 at 12:44 PM

    So, navy and gold is my thang. If this lamp turns up missing, it wasn’t me. I love it. A lot. A lot.

    Reply
  11. Jessica @ Decor Adventures says

    September 6, 2013 at 1:25 PM

    Love it. Gold is to HOTT! And perfect with navy and that pumpkin you snuck in there – I see it 🙂

    Reply
  12. Cheryl siciliano says

    September 6, 2013 at 3:38 PM

    I had those exact lamps in 1984 and a camel back navy sofa. Love what you did to the lamp!

    Reply
  13. Betsy(@coastal-colors) says

    September 6, 2013 at 4:03 PM

    What a fantastic makeover! I’m thrilled brass is making a comeback! I think it adds such a touch of elegance to a room. Heather, the shade is amazing! You turned an outdated lamp into a jewel!

    Reply
  14. Judy says

    September 6, 2013 at 6:18 PM

    I love your brass lamp…it looks awesome. I wish I hadn’t given mine away years ago now. Very chic makeover!

    Reply
  15. Pat says

    September 6, 2013 at 6:25 PM

    Love it! You did a marvelous job with this ~

    xo
    Pat

    Reply
  16. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says

    September 6, 2013 at 7:55 PM

    LOVE the navy & brass combo!! Looks great.

    Reply
  17. kristin says

    September 7, 2013 at 7:49 PM

    This is such a pretty transformation!!
    XXOO
    kristin

    Reply
  18. Anne says

    September 8, 2013 at 3:30 PM

    Beautiful transformation!
    xx
    Anne

    Reply
  19. Heather says

    September 8, 2013 at 5:41 PM

    Gorgeous!!! The navy really makes the brass pop!! Love the stripes on the shade too!

    Reply
  20. Alexis @ Persia Lou says

    September 9, 2013 at 3:05 PM

    That lamp is awesome. Great find!

    Reply
  21. Loribeth says

    September 11, 2013 at 2:16 AM

    What a terrific find. I’ll admit, I probably would have passed it up, but only because I haven’t jumped back into the brass thing yet. Still, you made it look darling with that lamp shade! Great job! I know I wouldn’t have thought of it!!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Sassy Fabric Covered Message Board {Trash to Treasure Series} – Rain on a Tin Roof says:
    September 6, 2013 at 3:14 AM

    […] Navy and Brass Lamp Makeover from At The Pickett Fence […]

    Reply
  2. Trash to Treasure! - So Much Better With Age says:
    September 6, 2013 at 4:01 AM

    […] Heather from At The Picket Fence […]

    Reply
  3. How to Add Gold Accents to Furniture Using Spray Paint and Rub-n-buff says:
    September 9, 2013 at 6:26 AM

    […] Gilded and Spray Painted a Lamp Shade Gilded and Framed Botanicals […]

    Reply
  4. A Southern Summer Home Tour 2014 - At The Picket Fence says:
    June 6, 2014 at 3:37 AM

    […] spray painted and gilded lampshade  […]

    Reply
  5. Blue Home Decor Ideas …I've got the blues! - At The Picket Fence says:
    June 26, 2014 at 7:16 AM

    […] took an old thrift store lampshade and with a little spray paint and gilding liquid, gave it a fun contemporary […]

    Reply

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Because, if heaven has a fragrance, I’m fairly certain it smells like lilacs.

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