Homemade Lamp Bases

Found Object

• A lamp base may be found objects such as those from a garage sale or thrift store. A found object such as an old glass bottle may inspire you to craft a lamp base. Clean the bottle inside and out and let it dry completely. Glass can be drilled with a diamond drill bit, or you can use a special bottle lamp kit that easily turns bottles, such as wine bottles, into lamps. The socket has a cork at the bottom that is pushed into the bottle's opening, and the electrical cord is attached to the socket. A harp is attached to the top of the socket for a shade.

Existing Lamp Base

• You can change an existing base to suit your needs. For example, thick hemp twine can be wrapped around an old lamp shade for a nautical themed room. Use your old lamp base or purchase an inexpensive base with a shape you like. Start from the top and hot glue the hemp in place as you wrap it around the lamp base. Work in small sections until the entire base is covered. Add seashells or starfish to the bottom side of the base.

Craft

• Use any craft materials to construct your own unique lamp base. Start with a wooden base from a craft store. Choose a wooden base that is used for lamp bases for this project. This will give you a sturdy bottom. Place your lamp kit in the middle of the wooden base and add your chosen materials around the lamp kit. Feather boas, strung beads or feathers can be hot glued into place. The materials can also be glued onto thin paper and arranged around the wood base.

Special

• A special item can also serve a lamp base. Choose something that has special meaning to you such as your grandmother's sewing machine. Drill into the area where you want the light socket to stand. Drill another hole at the bottom and insert a threaded lamp rod into the sewing machine from the bottom. The socket will screw into the top of the lamp rod and the electrical cord will come out from the base.