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25 Illuminating DIY Lighting Projects

Anjelika Temple

As Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Brit + Co, Anjelika Temple brings her voracious consumption of all things creative and colorful to DIY projects, geeky gadgetry finds and more. When she's not DIY-ing her heart out, you'll find her throwing dinner parties with friends or adventuring with her husband David, their daughters Anokhi and Indira, and their silly dog Turkey.

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Apr 28, 2013

It’s time to get lit! We have been swooning over all kinds of pretty lights these days. Turns out, it’s actually quite easy to create a beautiful chandelier or pendant from materials you may already have lying around, or those that you can pick up for just a few bucks. Definitely makes those pricey lights at furniture shops seem way overrated. Plus, as with anything handmade, you’ll likely tend to love and care for these beauties way longer than your average lamp.

From illuminated bouquets to waste baskets gone chic, here are 25 creative ways to create your own unique lighting scheme.

Cardboard Chandelier

Turn an old shipping box into a chic chandelier! (via Etsy)

Vintage Marquee

It was about time we made an official Brit + Co. marquee. (via Brit + Co.)

Wire Waste Basket

Love this floral print! Might have to create your own take on this clever hack. (via Poppytalk)

Geometric Wire Lampshade

It’s minimal, avant garde, and surprisingly simple to create. (via Weekday Carnival)

Cube Pendant Light

We’d love to make a whole bunch of these using brightly painted wood. (via Vintage Revivals)

Illuminated Bouquet

For this bit of floral illumination, you use a doily dimensional flower punch and an LED branch! (via Saved By Love Creations)

Mini Marquee

For a mini take on the marquee, get into it with neon card stock. (via Brit + Co.)

Electric Umbrella

This one is definitely more involved, but with pretty incredible results. We might try hacking it with individual LED lights and cleverly placed wire, but ours probably wouldn’t close as nicely as this one. (via Instructables)

Ping Pong Lights

We’re gonna go ahead and take this as inspiration for creating a whole bucket of illuminated ping pong balls. So fun for a birthday party or wedding after party! (via Instructables)

Yarn Lanterns

Yarn, glue, balloons, and corn starch are all you need to create your own colorful lanterns. (via Brit + Co.)

Light Up Headboard

Now this is pretty amazing. They drew on the design, drilled holes through the headboard, and backed with lighting. (via A Beautiful Mess)

Work Light Bundle

Work lights in a bundle actually look pretty darn stylish. (via Likainen Parketti)

Sputnik Chandelier

Definitely on the more involved side, this tutorial shows you how to turn a standard IKEA Maskros chandelier into a gorgeous sputnik chandelier using paper, paint, and small glass ramekins. (via Little Green Notebook)