• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Start Here
  • Shop Favorites
  • About
    • Welcome To My Repurposed Life Home of Repurposed Furniture
    • More About Gail
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Information
  • Gallery
    • Repurposed Furniture
  • Repurposed Items
    • Building Supplies
    • Miscellaneous Household Items
    • Picture Frame/Chalk Board
  • DIY
    • Home Reno
    • outdoor living
    • Painting
    • Shop Talk
    • Tips for Around the House
    • Build It
      • Furniture
      • Home Decor
      • Storage
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store
      • Easy
      • Holidays Seasonal
  • Furniture
    • Chair
    • Desk
    • Dresser/Chest
    • Headboard | Bed Parts | Cribs
    • Kids Furniture
    • Table
    • Kids Furniture
My Repurposed Life® Rescue Re-imagine Repeat
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Project Index
  • Furniture
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Repurposed Items » repurposed Brass Vanity Light

    repurposed Brass Vanity Light

    Published by Gail | Published March 27, 2020 | Updated March 27, 2020
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    Thrifted brass vanity light gets a new look with spray paint. It even gets a new purpose as a solar light sconce for a backyard camper retreat. What a great way to add color and lighting. Choosing the right solar lights has proven to be a challenge, but I will win out in the end! #MyRepurposedLife #brass #light #repurposed #spraypaint #solar via @repurposedlife

    First, let me say this repurposed brass vanity light didn’t turn out quite like I expected. In fact I’d almost say I really don’t like the way it turned out. So, when you see the steps I’ve taken, if you have any insight about what you would have done differently, let me know.

    In my defense, I had to use what I had on hand, unable to shop for different options. You see, it’s really the solar lights that I don’t like. Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?

    Brass Vanity Light

    brass vanity light

    Did you know that for years I had a $5 spending limit on my thrift store finds? That’s before the blog starting making money. But I still scour the aisles for the BEST deal I can find.

    cheap 3 light wall sconce

    Do you shop the ReStore? Their prices drop as the time goes by. I can’t imagine why someone didn’t scoop up this brass vanity light in the months and months it was there. What I didn’t know was that eventually they go even lower than the cheapest price listed. I purchased this 3 light wall sconce on March 6, 2020. When I checked out, it rang up for $5 !!!

     

    brass vanity 3 light wall sconce

    Here’s a closeup so you can see it in all it’s glory. Would you have picked it up for $5 ?

    Dismantle Brass Vanity Light Fixture

    snip wires on sconce

    First you need to unscrew the candle cup and snip the wire that is holding the socket in place.

     

    remove socket from brass vanity light

    After snipping the wires, bend the threaded piece back and forth until the tab breaks off.

     

    threaded nut for light

    I like to reuse all the hardware that I can—that tab would just be in the way.

     

    pull wires out of 3 arm wall sconce

    Next, pull the wires out of each arm of the brass vanity light.

    *this post contains affiliate links, read more here*

    How To Clean Thrift Store Finds

    clean repurposed vanity light with tsp

    Since we never really know what a thrifted find has been through, we need to expect the worst. I like to use TSP  for cleaning and degreasing. This spray on TSP substitute worked really well! It removed grime I couldn’t even see.

     

    rinse tsp

    Don’t forget to rinse away the TSP. You probably won’t have to scrub it, the TSP cleans really well if you let it set for a few minutes.

     

    use leaf blower to air dry washed sconce

    Because I’m an impatient DIYer, I used my leaf blower to help dry the joints on the brass vanity light. You’d be surprised how much water can “hide” and ruin your spray paint project.

    Spray Paint Brass Vanity Light

    spray paint brass vanity light MyRepurposedLife

    It was a little challenging to get the spray paint into all the little nooks and crannies of the wall sconce. I prefer to do several very light coats of paint. Always read the directions for best coverage! Times vary by brand and the type of paint.

     

    painting brass light fixture

    I could paint everything this color!

    Solar Lights on Brass Vanity Light

    experiment with lights

    I experimented with some $1 solar lights. I’m sort of leaning toward removing the wide candle cups.

     

    turquoise painted repurposed brass vanity light fixture

    The painted brass vanity light fixture was very easily attached to the fence with two wood screws. This is when I started not liking how it looks. The arms seem to go in a funny direction since in reality, they’re upside down.

     

    painted brass 3 light wall sconce with solar lights MyRepurposedLife

    I used spray paint on the heads of the wood screws. These solar lights are temporarily placed on the arms of the painted brass vanity light. I had two different solar light styles to choose from and I didn’t like either style. (the others were shown earlier while working in the kitchen)

    This new solar light fixture is to the right of my gate, and the repurposed shutter vertical garden succulent planter is to the left of the gate. I’ve been busy cleaning up the backyard camper retreat and it makes me happy to add more color to the space! In times of stress, it’s great to have a place that makes one happy.

    Please Save & Share on Pinterest!

    This is where I’d like your opinion on what you would do about the solar lights?

    I hope this project inspires you to makeover a brass light fixture even if you don’t repurpose it!

    gail

     

    Related Content:

    Repurposed Lights, Lamps, Chandeliers & More

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    Related Content:

    • Floor Lamps and Solar Lights
      Floor Lamps and Solar Lights
    • Dollar Store Solar Light Ideas
      Dollar Store Solar Light Ideas
    • Wine Bottle | Solar Lights
      Wine Bottle | Solar Lights
    • Glass Globe Solar Lights
      Glass Globe Solar Lights
    • Chandelier Solar Light | Hanging Solar Light
      Chandelier Solar Light | Hanging Solar Light
    • Hanging Solar Lights | Small Lanterns
      Hanging Solar Lights | Small Lanterns

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      See comments Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Phyllis

      April 19, 2020 at 7:34 am

      Hang it upside down and use globe solar lights? I wonder if the solar collectors are omni-directional?

      Reply
    2. Lynn

      March 27, 2020 at 12:38 pm

      I have cut the black 'stems' in half and used them. They look better shorter in some lights.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        March 30, 2020 at 10:05 am

        Thanks Lynn! I've done that too for a chandelier I did. As soon as I can get out and shop, I'll update the project and the photos.

        gail

    3. Karolyn Love

      March 27, 2020 at 9:33 am

      Hi, Gail! And yes, I would definitely pay $5 for this! I see what you mean, kinda looks unfinished with the lights just sitting on it...maybe something in the shape of a cupcake paper turned upside down and attached to the area of the solar light above the "stem" part. That way it would hide that whole connection to the lamp and just display the upper part of the solar light with a pretty "skirt" of sorts!!?? Make sense? (I, too, love that color!!)

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        March 27, 2020 at 10:52 am

        Yeah, unfinished is a good way to describe it. 🙂 I do get what you mean. I thought about small saucers and even washers. But with this "stay at home" business I could only use what I have on hand. 🙁

        I'll scrounge around in the garage to see what I can find. Thanks so much for your suggestions.

        gail

    4. Jennie

      March 27, 2020 at 9:24 am

      The dollar solar lights work great. Before you stick them outside and they get dirty give the solar collection plastic a couple of coats of clear nail polish, or a friend used a spray acrylic clear coat. They both seemed to last Less than a year with regular cleaning. Here our sun is so hot it does melt the clear plastic on the tops. And turn it milky color.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        March 27, 2020 at 10:50 am

        Jennie,

        I've never heard of that before. The cheap ones I put out last year in the backyard are still hanging in there. Solar lights sure have improved over the years, haven't they?
        Thanks for your tips!
        gail

    5. Dottie

      March 27, 2020 at 8:37 am

      Love the color! I think if you can paint the caps of the solar lights the same color, you'd like it better.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        March 27, 2020 at 10:49 am

        That's a fabulous idea Dottie. I've done that before, don't know why it didn't occur to me to do it this time! I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me!

        gail

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

    More about me →

    Join Our Mailing List

    ​

      Click the topics you're interested in below:

      Subscribing above means you agree to our Privacy Policy​

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      SEEN ON

      Might I Suggest

      • Start Here
      • Furniture Makeovers

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      About

      • Gail's Favorites on Amazon
      • About

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 My Repurposed Life · Privacy Policy · Disclosure