Turning a Vintage Bird Cage Into a Chandelier

Select a location for your vintage bird cage chandelier, ideally a place where there is already a basic light fixture installed. If the light fixture has a cover, remove it to expose the bare bulb. Because the bird cage will not diffuse much of the light, you may also want to consider switching to a bulb of lower wattage.

Measure the length and width of the bottom of the bird cage with a measuring tape or ruler to determine the center and make a pencil mark. Measure the diameter of the light bulb socket in the ceiling and cut a hole centered on the pencil mark on the bottom of the bird cage using a circular saw. The hole should be slightly larger than the diameter of the socket.

Screw four L-brackets to the bottom of the bird cage, one in each corner. Position the brackets so the vertical side of each bracket is flush with the side of the bird cage and the horizontal side is extending away from the bird cage, level with the bottom of the cage.

Remove the light bulb from the ceiling socket, if you haven't done so already, and hold the bird cage upside down against the ceiling so the socket fits into the hole cut in the bottom of the cage. You may need to stand on a ladder and have someone help you with this step.

Hold the bird cage in place upside down against the ceiling, or have someone hold it for you, then secure the L-brackets to the ceiling by screwing them in place.

Open the door to the bird cage and stick your hand through the opening to screw in the light bulb. Before you turn on the light bulb, make sure the bulb is not touching any surface inside the bird cage. If the bulb comes into contact with something inside the bird cage, it could become a fire hazard.

Decorate the inside or outside of the bird cage as you desire by draping artificial ivy over the outside of the cage or hanging artificial birds inside. To hang birds inside the bird cage simply wrap a length of fishing line around the body of the bird and tie the other end to the bars of the bird cage or use a push pin to anchor it to the bottom of the cage.

Turn on the light and admire your vintage bird cage chandelier. Experiment with light bulbs of different wattage until you achieve the level of illumination you prefer.