Tutorial: How to transform a floor lamp with spray paint and a lampshade

Do you love the utility of your torchiere floor lamp but hate the sight of it? Yes? Well, I can relate. Begrudgingly, I bought one this year, mainly because I didn't want to shell out big bucks and I really needed that little reading/task light that is attached to many torchiere lamps. But let me tell you - it is severely lacking in style or class. For starters, the pipe base comes in black, and when juxtaposed against my light-colored walls, it stands out like a sore thumb. (You can find floor lamps in silver, too, but you'll pay twice as much.) In addition, the plastic cone-shaped lampshade looks cheap and tacky.*

Here is the before...wha, wha...

This is the exact same lamp I got from Target, and it's sooo bad.

...and the after! :)

Same lamp with a makeover

To see the steps and additional pictures, click Read more.

Materials - basic torch floor lamp ($9) (I opted for the dual purpose floor lamp with task light combo for $12.99.); Krylon Fusion for plastics spray paint (around $6); lampshade

(found a decent one at Ross for $2.99)

Time - 5 minutes + paint drying time (15 min to touch, 1 hr to handle)

Be sure to spray all of the small parts thoroughly, even the light switch.

Step 1 - Remove the plastic lampshades, and move your lamp to a well-ventilated area with cardboard or something under to protect the grass, garage floor, or whatever is underneath. 

Step 2 - No sanding needed with Krylon Fusion spray paint. Suh-weet! Before you begin spray painting, make sure to cover the bulb sockets with tape - something I didn't think to do at first. Move the can in a slow and steady motion about 8 inches from the lamp. Shake the can well before and occasionally in between spraying sessions. It will take about 2 coats to go from black to white. I think you are supposed to wait for it to dry in between coats, but eh, I'm impatient.

Step 3 - Secure the new fabric lampshade to the base, and voila! Much better than what it looked like before. I know I did mine in all white, which I may change if the mood strikes me, but just think of all the possibilities! Spray paint comes in all sorts of colors as do lampshades.

Best of luck! As a side note, I seem to be all about lamps lately. I'm working on another lamp project - this time involving a DIY base - which I will post if it turns out nicely.

*What is the asterisk in the title for? Well, after much deliberation and no good ideas, I ended up leaving the plastic shade on the task light. Hey, I don't think it looks all that bad within the context of the lamp's other improvements.