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    Home » Thrift Store Makeovers » Ugly brass lamp

    Ugly brass lamp

    Published by Gail | Published February 18, 2010 | Updated June 30, 2021
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Do you have an ugly brass lamp?
    brass floor lamp needs updating
    I do. It’s not a bad lamp, it’s just a little too brassy to suit me. I like floor lamps, I do not like this ugly brass lamp, nor do I like this shade! Notice the brown trim, and brown blinds! I painted the living room trim, and I got new flooring!

    spray painting ugly brass floor lampWhile I was working on the fireplace makeover it got above 50 degrees for one afternoon. I took the lamp ugly brass lamp outside to give it a light sanding and spray it with some primer.

    I used a baggie to protect the socketI covered the socket with a sandwich baggie, using tape to hold it in place. It's very important to keep the spray paint out of the electrical parts.

    a baggie keeps the paint out of the socketIt allowed me to spray all around it without damaging it.

    brass lamp painted whiteIt was about 2 weeks later when the weather warmed up enough to spray paint the color on the lamp. I think leaving the primer on the ugly brass lamp for so long made a big difference in how well the paint adhered.

    (update 2019 and I'm sad to say I still have this lamp, but happy to say that the paint has held up perfectly)

    brass lamp gets painted whiteI used Rustoleum Heirloom White. (Look how pretty all that white trim looks!)

    white floor lamp

    I’m not thrilled with the shade, I still have the plastic on it for 2 reasons. I may return it to the store, and if I decide to keep it, I want to keep it clean until I finish all the building.

    I painted my brass floor lamp white

    What do you think about the shade? Is it a keeper? You know I know nothing about decorating.

    I find myself looking for ugly brass things at the Peddler’s Mall so I can give them new life. It’s amazing what a little paint will do. My ceiling fan has brass details too. I know all the decor shows take ceiling fans down, but I find them too useful! I refuse to give in to fashion and give up comfort and practicality. 🙂

    gail

    See other great lamps and lighting updates and repurposes here

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    1. michelle@somedaycrafts

      February 24, 2010 at 8:03 am

      Thank you for getting rid of the brass!!!! Love the white. Thanks for linking this up to somedaycrafts.blogspot.com for Whatever Goes Wednesday!

      Reply
    2. Emily {Frilly Details}

      February 21, 2010 at 11:53 pm

      What a difference! That is one cute lamp :). Love the white woodwork, too.

      Reply
    3. Prior

      February 19, 2010 at 5:32 am

      I have one of those; yours turn out so well, I think you should come paint mine! Lezlee

      Reply
    4. Frugal Home Design

      February 19, 2010 at 2:57 am

      Don't you just love spray a paint! Great transformation.

      Reply
    5. .:blessedmommy:.

      February 19, 2010 at 2:38 am

      Lovely job on the lamp!

      Honestly, I like the shade. If anything, you could pick a deeper color to complement any other decor in the room but only if you don't rely on the lamp for lighting. As it is, the shade is classy and looks nice, and I love the Heirloom White on there. 🙂

      Reply
    6. Anny

      February 19, 2010 at 2:13 am

      Even more proof that brass needs to be covered in white! Bah the 80s 😉

      Reply
    7. Teri

      February 19, 2010 at 12:34 am

      I'm really not a brass fan either...but it never occurred to me to paint it! Brilliant! I'll have to keep my eyes open. 🙂 Love the lamp shade!

      Reply
    8. bec4

      February 18, 2010 at 11:37 pm

      It looks great and these brass lamps are a dime a dozen (ok maybe not that cheap) at thrift stores. Oh and the round table below is an amazing find!

      Reply
    9. Marla at Always Nesting

      February 18, 2010 at 8:32 pm

      Love the new look. Looks very Potterybarnesque. That's my favorite shade of white.

      Reply
    10. Marla at Always Nesting

      February 18, 2010 at 8:32 pm

      Love the new look. Looks very Potterybarnesque. That's my favorite shade of white.

      Reply
    11. myletterstoemily

      February 18, 2010 at 6:19 pm

      your lamp looks amazing! i have such
      respect for do it yourselfers like you!

      will dig deeper into this great blog.

      thank you!

      Reply
    12. Lori

      February 18, 2010 at 3:23 pm

      We wouldn't want to live without our ceiling fans when it's hot in the summer. Looks like you can make almost anything fashionable.

      Reply
    13. Pam

      February 18, 2010 at 2:12 pm

      Have one just like this and actually thought the other day that when it warms up I was going to spray paint it....Now I know for sure I will. Love it. Shade looks great too.

      Reply
    14. Caroline

      February 18, 2010 at 1:51 pm

      Such a difference!! Who thought that brass ever looked good...lol. It looks so great painted! = )

      Reply
    15. judi

      February 18, 2010 at 1:43 pm

      gail, I have painted several of my ceiling fans which were once brass. I took them apart, roughed up the finish and sprayed away. They look so much better. I agree that they are so useful, especially in the summer. This also saves the expense of purchasing a new one in another finish. I'm sure you will love the outcome. Can't wait to see!
      ~judi 😉

      Reply
    16. handbags*n*pigtails

      February 18, 2010 at 1:40 pm

      Looks great! Now if I ever see an ugly brass lamp I'll know it has potential. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
      Sarah

      Reply
    17. Christine

      February 18, 2010 at 12:55 pm

      love the lamp! I've seen other bloggers paint their fans...perhaps that's a possibility for you. 🙂

      Reply

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    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!

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