how to paint a gold lamp base
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I bought this lamp at a yard sale for $2.00 over the summer. IF you own a lamp like this I apologize for insulting your lamp, but I think it is really ugly. I’ve never been a fan of gold.
How to paint a gold lamp base
Here she is ready for her makeover, as I show you how to paint a gold lamp base.
Protect the lamp socket and wiring when painting
I covered the socket with a plastic bag.
I also put the cord in a baggie—hindsight, I should have painted it too! 
This is after one coat of primer. Using my HomeRight Finish Max Fine Finish Sprayer makes all of my painting jobs go so much quicker!
Crisp White Linen by Glidden.
Don’t forget to paint the small finial on the lamp
I stuck the cute little finial on a twig to paint it.
It already looks a LOT better, don’t you think? (except for the gold cord) I used my Homeright paint sprayer making this a very quick and easy makeover. (You can get the same look with some spray paint if you don’t own a paint sprayer)
Glazing (antiquing) a white lamp
I glazed it with some Jacobean stain, applying it then wiping it off. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to take a picture with your left hand while holding the camera with a rag because you have stain all over your hands?
Don’ you LOVE fall? Look at all those leaves!
This lamp didn’t have a shade. This is a shade I had laying around the garage. I have NO clue what type of shade this is, or what type of shade would look good on this lamp.
I’m open to suggestions about the shade.
What style/color of shade would you recommend? Do you think I improved the lamp? Or would you have left it gold? Perhaps you would have painted it a different color? In any case, don’t pass up an ugly $2 lamp!
UPDATE:
This is the current shade on the lamp. did you can see the tutorial for the repurposed fence sign, I Love You A Bushel and a Peck?
gail
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so much better! love.
I have a lamp similar to the one you just repurposed. I found your article because I was searching for lamps painted gold. I’m going to turn my drab lamp into the ugly gold one! It will be strikingly beautiful in my bedroom.
I love it! I’m so happy you found my article helpful Pamela.
Don’t be a stranger,
gail
Looks good! Definitely needs a colored shade. I just spraypainted some ugly lamps too but mine are line green…hopefully I will get them finished this weekend and post the project. I love spraypaint! 🙂
jamie @ sewrockin.com
You hit it right with the lamp! Love the crackle, too. Can you invert the shade? I usually try something like that before I get frustrated and throw it out or really mess it up with tacky embellishments. Now, I wait for it to talk to me and tell me what it wants to be.
Great find, a steal for $2. I’m not a fan of gold either but I love the shape of the lamp. It looks fabulous with the white finish.
OH yes, the gold had to go. I love it’s new look. It is screaming for something a little less shiny on the shade. It is a bell shade you have on there, if you aren’t afraid of spraying it, I would try and spray paint the shade and then do the writing on it. Or cover it with fabric that has writing on it, or burlap. Or just go thrifting or shopping for a new one that is less belled. Great job Gail! Oh and I love the info Layn gave you, great tips from Ballard
Love this lamp make over – AND the price – wow!
I’m your newest follower and love for you to visit my blog and become friends!
I definitely think the new color is better! I’m not sure about the shade, I think it’s the color of it that doesn’t seem quite right. Try putting a fabric scrap or even a shirt over it to give you and idea on what color might look better. You could paint the shade!
It looks so much prettier. Wonderful transformation!
Dee
Wow, its amazing what a coat of paint can do. I thought about you today when I was at the good will and see this awesome table, and it had a sold sign on it, Jeez!.
Sharon
That look 100 times better! The gold was just way too gold! I kind of like the shade you have on it.
Beautiful finish Gail.
That lamp needed your rescue in a big way! I was liking the white but the stain made all the detail pop.
I have no “shade”advice. I usually just take the lamp with me to the store and start trying on shades, like dresses until one speaks to me.
Great ‘ugly’ lamp!
Not so ugly now…
I think the shade is a little under dressed…
Maybe a Simple/Basic Black Dress would look good? Not sure of the rest of the room… not too frilly. Unless that is the style in the guest room.
good job.
Pat
I am a new follower to the blog, and I just have to say I love all of your projects!
The lamp is a DEFINITE improvement, I myself am anti-gold. I think I have successfully traded out all the ugly gold accents in our old repurposed home!
I think a dark brown shade that is close in color to your stain would really finish it off great. I think a drum type shade would work great like the others have suggested.
Great job again, you provide me with the inspiration to fix up some of my finds that need a facelift.
Bye Bye Gold, hello beautiful. You absolutely did the right thing. Looks SO much better.
According to Ballard Designs, they just had the Know your Lighting in their August catalog this year…
9 shade shortcuts:
1-round lamp base- use a drum shade
2-square or angular base use an empire shade
3-mix opposites to make a contemporary statement.
4-cant decide? go with a tapered drum
5-shade height should be 2/3 height of the lamp base
6-shade width= 2x lamp base width
7- vertical piping says traditional
8-smooth leans contemporary
9- hardware should be hidden.
The shade you have looks like a tapered bell. Ross and Marshalls usually have a good selection of shades. The other day I scored some awesome shades at Target. Walmart even had a fair selection…
Hope this helps.
BEAUTIFUL!!
I think I would have passed up that ugly gold lamp had I seen it… but seeing what you did with it… I’d grab it up next time! I am like you… I have no clue as to the lamp shade. I would simply have to take it to a store and try on several lamp shades to see what I liked best.
That’s awesome! It looks so great.
You definitely did right in changing the color of the lamp. Really do like the white with brown stain. A drum lamp shade in a nice brown would make this really pop. You need something round to make the bottom stand out more.
The transformation is perfect, now for a new shade-how about a dark brown color or other dark color coordinating in the room?
It looks great!
I think you could do a color for the shade! Maybe a nice dark blue, or even a rich brown.
I love what you did!! There are some inexpensive lampshades at Walmart – they are a burlap-like background with script written on them. I think that would be perfect on your lamp.
xox
Wow, an amazing transformation on the lamp, but if I am being completely honest, I am not a huge fan of the shade. Painting definitely updated the lamp, but the shade…not so much. It looks a little to small for the lamp, IMO. I think a nice basic drum or even a rectangle shade in either white or a dark color to compliment the stain, would look nice.
I know shades can be pricey (try Ross or Marshall’s…great prices) and you may not want to invest, but since you asked…I had to offer my opinion, for whatever that is worth, lol!
ugly no more! it looks lovely!
Hi, Gail
I love the lamp, it turned out lovely!
Vanessa
Wow this looks sooo much better! I like that you glazed it too after painting, lovely!
Perfecto now Gail! That gold had to go.
Your paint job really brings out all the details on that lamp. Like you, I’m not sure about lamp shades, the flare seems to suit the curves of the lamp base.
Nice lamp for the guest room!
I love it! I’m not a huge fan of gold either.