How to Faux Paint an Old Lamp

Primer and Base Coat

• 1

  Cover the lamp socket and several inches of the electrical cord with a layer of painter's tape to protect the surfaces.

• 2

  Clean the lamp surface to remove any dust and embedded dirt. Use a cleaner that is compatible with the material. If there are indentations in the material, use a soft brush to get into the grooves to remove dirt.

• 3

  Spray a thin coat of primer on to the lamp. Make sure the primer is manufactured for the type of material that the lamp base is crafted from. Spray two to three more coats according to the label directions.

• 4

  Spray or brush on a layer of paint in the main color on the lamp base. Allow the coat of paint to dry as directed on the product label.

• 5

  Add a second layer of the main paint to the lamp. Allow it to dry.

Faux Techniques

• 6

  Pour acrylic paint into a container. Place the lamp onto a surface that is covered with newspaper or a protective painter's cloth. Dip a toothbrush into the paint to coat the top of the bristle surface.

• 7

  Hold a paint stick over the dry lamp base. Run the paint-filled toothbrush over the edge of the stick to create a spatter pattern over the painted lamp surface. A light movement will create a fine pattern, and a heavy pull of the brush will make a heavy spatter pattern.

• 8

  Dip the toothbrush into a lighter shade of acrylic paint and spatter a second layer of finer spray onto the lamp. You can use two to three colors for this spatter paint technique.

• 9

  Scrunch up a ball of brown paper or a cloth rag into a wad. Dip the paper or cloth wad into a container of acrylic paint for a faux ragging technique.

• 10

  Dab the paint-filled rag or paper against a piece of paper to take off the heaviest paint. Pat the painted lamp gently with the wad to create a muted ragging affect against the surface. Quickly pat the entire lamp with the paint. Add a few dabs of a second color to the lamp with a second wad while the first layer is still wet.