Ideas for Decorating Light Fixtures

Decorating "Hard" Fixtures

• Change the cover color or style by painting it a bold color if the fixture is made of a hard material such as glass or metal. A bold color can accent a room's decor. For a patterned look, add decals to the fixture. Bird or flower decals can add a whimsical touch to the fixture and cast shadows when the light is on, giving a room greater ambiance. This option is best for large pendant or fluorescent fixtures because less heat is absorbed by the light.

Decorating Lamp Shades

• Remove the shade and cover it in an attractive fabric found at local craft or antique stores. Try speciality paper with eye-catching patterns and colors found at supply stores. If you have old doilies, tack them onto the shade for a textured pattern with a touch of "granny chic." If you're handy with a needle, embroider a design or scene on the shade. Or, try wrapping silk ribbons in several colors and wrapping them around the shade. Adhere ribbons to the shade with fabric glue.

"Unexpected" Covers

• Replace an outdated lighting fixture on a wall or ceiling with an "unexpected" element. Refashion the fixture with a mason jar as a cover. Screw the lid onto the jar and the lid can become a platform to thread through the light socket. Do something similar by drilling a hole into the bottom of a coffee mug for an quirky overhead pendant fixture in a kitchen or dining room.

Simplify

• Some fixtures can get a face lift just by paring them down a simpler state. Remove the fringe and any trim from an outdated lampshade with a seam ripper for a sleeker lighting accent. Recover table and floor lamps covered with soft materials with other materials such as parchment, linen or canvas-colored cotton. Rather than adding color, this provides a clean, neutral decoration for the fixture, allowing light to glow in warm yellow tones.