Chandelier Redux: Reimagining an Old Light Fixture

A true chandelier redux! Tips for taking an old, thrifted light fixture, and reimagining it as a classically gilded chandelier in this easy 2 hour project.

We’re coming up on 5 years in this house, and I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve never 100% settled into our bedroom. It’s one of those tricky rooms I haven’t quite known what to do with.  This Spring we started going back-to-basics in here, painting the walls white, introducing some new-to-us thrifted pieces, and swapping things from around the house to see what sticks, as a way to rethink this room on a budget.

Browsing around FB Marketplace one weekend afternoon, I scrolled upon a lime green, leafy, crystal chandelier for a steal. Albeit, it was lime green, I quite liked the French-style metal leaves and the dripping crystals, and I knew it’d be a beautiful replacement for the non-descript (almost disappearing!) flushmount currently in the room. Besides, changing the chandelier’s paint color would be an easy 2 hour project!

I turned to Rust-Oleum® Universal® Metallic Pure Gold to achieve the gilded look and Rust-Oleum® Universal® Matte French Cream , a soft warm white, to differentiate the faux candlesticks from the gold fixture. Pair these two hues with crystals and flame lightbulbs?  Très, très chic, mes amis.

Supplies:

• Chandelier
• Household cleaner + paper towel or cloth
• Painter’s Tape
• Approx. 12” of medium gauge wire (unwinding a metal clothes hanger works great)
• Rust-Oleum® Universal® Metallic Pure Gold
• Rust-Oleum® Universal® Matte French Cream
• Pliers
• Dropcloth

1. Work in a well-ventilated area. With light fixtures, I find it’s handy to suspend them somehow so you have 360-degree access while spray painting. Since we’re working in our driveway, we used a 12” piece of wire to hang the fixture from a branch of the lilac tree overhead.
2. Prepare the fixture by removing parts that don’t need paint, like crystals and ‘candle sleeves’. Wipe down fixture with household cleaner to remove dirt and dust.
3. Conceal working parts of light fixture with painter’s tape to protect them from paint.

4. Spray paint fixture with Rust-Oleum® Universal® Spray Paint in Metallic Pure Gold. Dries to handle in 1 hour and fully dry in 24hrs.

5. While the fixture is drying, Spray paint the ‘candle sleeves’ (if applicable) with Rust-Oleum® Universal® Spray Paint in Matte French Cream. Dries to handle in 1 hour and fully dry in 24hrs.

Hot Tip: Use a pliers to grip caps while spray painting for 360 degree access of all sides.Remove painter’s tape and hang chandelier.

6. Add crystals, ‘candle sleeves’ and light bulbs.

7. Add crystals, ‘candle sleeves’ and light bulbs.

It’s pretty cool what a couple cans of spray paint can do for a tired piece! Do you have a hand-me-down or thrifted project you’re scheming on? Leave it in comments! I want to hear what you’re up to. And if you need more inspiration, Rust-Oleum’s Staying Home Projects Page  is packed with DIY ideas. With all this extra time at home, it’s a great time to tackle those projects and keep the creativity flowing!

This post is sponsored by Rust-Oleum. Thank you for supporting brands I truly love and personally use.

Get Inspired with More Spray Paint Projects:

• Quirky Little DIY Stool
• Color Watch: An Ode to Blue
• How to Paint a Radiator Cover