There is no shortage of bad-choice lighting in our home. To refresh your memory:
(The fan in our bedroom, The chandelier in the dining room, the huge, rectangular fluorescent eye sore in the kitchen, and the very typical, boring light fixture in Greta's room--just to name a few.)
Yesterday, I set out to remedy Greta's lighting situation and for less than $16, I came up with a modern, clean-looking (and maybe even unexpected) solution that can be adapted for any style or taste. Pick a lampshade you love. Done. Well, kinda. A drum shape you love. Call me boring, or call me classy--I went with white. Don't let that bright color fool you, Greta's room is going to be a very clean and sophisticated child's room, so a neon pink light was out of the question. I thought about covering the shade a la projects of yore, but I fell in love with the crisp look of the $14.99 large white drum shade I found at Target.
So, first I took off my previous light--happily. I held onto the finial or cap-thingy that screwed onto that bolt-thing. (you should hear me ask for directions at Home Depot)
My shade's hardware that would have fit perfectly on a lamp base was much too large for the little light bolt. After searching Home Depot high and low for a cheap finial large enough to cover my bases (or hold that shade on), I came upon a 78 cent rubber washer and improvised.
Turns out, it worked perfectly! I just slid on the shade, then the washer and tightened the cap I still had from the previous light.
Before:
After:
I am calling it a definite improvement. It's modern, but practical. I had plans to put some white cloth as a diffuser so you couldn't see the lightbulbs underneath, but it is a little too close to the ceiling to change bulbs without access on the under-side--so I'm calling it done-zo. We also changed her switch to a dimmer for less than $13. *jaw-dropped* In my mind I always thought dimmers were so expensive!! I am so pleasantly surprised, I may just go on a dimming spree. Not only are they really energy efficient, but they allow us to do away with a lamp in her room (she was always trying to knock over her lamp) which gives me a lot of peace of mind as far as baby-proofing goes.
...aaaaannnnndddd that wraps up the light switcheroo.
What do you think?
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Just be careful with the dimmers because some CFL lamps can't be dimmed. You have to be sure to buy the kind with a dimming ballast. I think they are fairly common now but it's still a good thing to keep in mind.
Wow, a dimmer in a kids room makes sooo much sense. Major lightbulb moment for me! HA! no pun INTENDED!
What a cool solution!!!
(we are totally still tacky pink...fyi) I know Brinley's room with the first make over when we are in a house for GOOD!!!
PS....I found an awesome little girl dress tutorial that I am trying out tonight...I'll let ya know how it goes...
Ashlee,
You are absolutely right! Thanks for saying that, too. I had it all explained to me at home depot and we actually had to change out our bulbs pictured above before installing the dimmer. Thanks again!!
-Jules
Just be careful with the dimmers because some CFL lamps can't be dimmed. You have to be sure to buy the kind with a dimming ballast. I think they are fairly common now but it's still a good thing to keep in mind.