DIY: Beaded Light Fixture (Contributor Post)
When decorating my young daughter’s bedroom, I knew I wanted a fun light fixture to really tie everything together. The criteria? Nothing sparkly and small, in both price and size. I fell in love with this light from Restoration Hardware months ago and couldn’t get it out of my head, even though there was no way I was spending $300+ on a kid’s fixture.
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I searched for wooden beads to make it myself for the longest time and finally found some at Michael’s. I grabbed a bunch ($40 worth) in various sizes and hoped for the best, knowing full well that it could very likely be a “nailed it” moment (if you’re on Pinterest then you know what I mean). This is what I started with:
I went into this blindly, haphazardly stringing beads onto fishing line and tying them onto the plastic dome that was in her bedroom since we purchased the house. About halfway through, I began to doubt that it would even stay on the ceiling…I never took into account the weight of all of the beads! Thankfully, it wasn’t too heavy but unfortunately, I tied the strings too tight and they didn’t drape ‘just so’. So, I painstakingly re-beaded each strand and started again. Learn from my mistakes and do a few test strands before rushing into things. I would also recommend using a thin wire instead of fishing line to make it more heat resistant.
I picked up some leather lace (also from Michael’s) and crafted a tassel to attach to the bottom. A little white spray paint on the base and I was done!
I love the final product and I'm already scheming up other fixtures for our house. Let us know if you give it a shot!
Ashley
"Hello, I'm Ashley from
, a blog featuring my adventures in the kitchen and following our renovation of a 1940's farmhouse in Minnesota. I love to cook and bake, write, explore thrift and antiques stores, drink strong coffee, and dabble in home design. I would describe my style as simple and classic, but also eclectic. I love finding second-hand furniture and home decor, as well as antiques from various eras, and making it all come together for a cohesive interior."