DIY Chandelier Makeover with Spray Paint

If you’ve been around my blog or social media pages for any amount of time, you know that I am a frugal gal on a budget and like to save money anywhere I can. Home decor is where I tend to save the most. Updating outdated pieces is the easiest and best way to change up your decor on the cheap. This past week, I updated this unique art decor chandelier with a little DIY. This chandelier makeover with spray paint took me not time at all and completely transformed my entry way. I felt it would fit the age of my home perfectly and it did not disappoint.

When we first moved into this 1908 farmhouse, the entry way lighting was more of a Tiffany style light. While very pretty, it just wasn’t what I envisioned for this space. I wanted to change it out and found a reproduction of an old schoolhouse light on sale that I installed. Again, just never really felt right so I kept searching and hunting.

How to DIY Chandelier Makeover with Spray Paint

I was recently given a vintage Art Deco chandelier light. It was unique and the perfect lighting for my entry. I try to keep the charm and original finish on certain pieces and I had hoped that I what I was seeing on the light was just years of dirt, dust and smoke. After making a very gentle cleanser, I used a soft tooth brush to tried and clean between the details. I was very careful as to not remove any of the original paint. There was some turquoise and gold paint peeking through the dirt.

At one time, these colors were vibrant and eye catching. However, I realized as I was cleaning, it was just faded and chipped paint that would never be visible once the chandelier was hung. It made me sad, but it also meant that I could update the piece with a DIY Chandelier makeover with spray paint. I don’t feel guilty painted pieces I have tried saving. The benefit of initially cleaning the piece, is this is a step I highly recommend before painting anything. If the previous owners were smokers, or if this hung in a kitchen, it will surely have thick layers of oil and tar.

Art Deco Light Before Painting

Another plus to replacing the lighting was that oddly enough, there is not a light switch for the entry way light. We have yet to find it. I am assuming maybe it had a pull chain for whatever light was there previously. When we replaced the original initially, I used a bluetooth LED light and synced it to my phone for control. I bet when Mr. Parker (the builder of this home) built this house in 1908, he never imaged a light controlled by a smart phone. The benefit of updating an older house in todays age, is that such inventions exist to make your life a little easier.

I did a little research on the Internet to see what style lightbulbs would have been used on the newly found Art Deco chandelier. We use only LED lights in our home so I also wanted to make sure those were available with the style I planned to use. Our local hardware store had what I was looking for.

Installing Gold Chandelier

After begging the husband to install a dimmer switch, he obliged. We had to search a little upstairs under the hardwoods to see if the wiring would work for where we needed to install the dimmer. Luckily the wiring was great. The wood flooring between the first and second floors was the best place to hide the switch but still have it accessible. I got white so that it blended with the paint. Just make sure the bulbs you use are dimmable as well. Lesson learned.

So how did I accomplish this DIY Chandelier makeover with spray paint? Super simple. As I mentioned above, I cleaned the piece with a gently cleanser and dried it off with a microfiber towel. Because the top of this light would be visible when going up and down the stairs, the entire piece had to be painted. You want to take care to make sure that any “open” electrical portions are covered fully before painting. Mainly the sockets for the bulbs.

Painting Chandelier Gold With Spray Paint

I used tape as well as a little newspaper to carefully tape off those places. We hung the light with rope so that we could spray the top and bottom at the same time to cut down on project time. Not having to wait for one side to dry before moving to the other.

Any time you are working with spray paint, remember to do small even passes and light coats. It’s better to have to make a few passes with the paint than to go too heavy and have drips and uneven paint. After it dried completely, we removed the tape and paper and it was ready to hang.

DIY Gold Art Deco Light With Globe Bulbs

Word of caution to be aware of. Often times with vintage or antique lighting, the wiring might need updating or replacing for safely reasons. Luckily for us, someone had taken care of this in the not too distant past, so that was a step we didn’t have to take. There are many tutorials online if you choose to DIY this step as well. If not, it’s not terribly expensive to have this done.

For this light, I wanted to use a process and product called gold leaf. It provides the most authentic gold that would have potentially been used at the time this chandelier was manufactured. However, I can across a gold spray paint while at the hardware store and thought I’d try it out. The color ended up looking almost identical to the naked eye as gold leafing and took way less time to achieve. Not to mention, cost much less.

Gold Paint Used for This DIY Chandelier Makeover with Spray Paint

After hanging the light, I installed the lightbulbs I had chosen. They are more like globe bulbs vs traditional bulbs. However, because they are dimmable, work great in any lighting condition and can be dimmed in the evenings.

So far, this is one of my favorite updates to the farmhouse. It motivated me to complete a few of the other DIY projects I had in mind for this space including a board and batten wall we installed recently. I’ll blog about that soon giving you all the fun details so you can build your own. Also easy and on a budget.

Entry Way Updated With New Chandelier Light

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today. It always means to much to me to have your here. Be sure to follow along on social media as well for more inspiration.

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I recently painted the stairway in this space too and you can read about that! How I painted the stair spindles without removing them.

Be sure and check out all my friends posts below for some more inspiration on this “New Again” blog hop!

A Blue Nest / DIY Faux Concrete Planter

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Laura Stewart Blog / DIY Chandelier Makeover with Spray Paint

Noting Grace / Making a Ceramic
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