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$5 Farmhouse Light: an easy DIY makeover

What do you do when you have a perfectly good light fixture but it’s not your style? Give it a makeover! I’m crushin’ on farmhouse inspired lighting these days, but still have to keep my budget in check (don’t we all?) So what’s a girl to do when she craves high end lighting but wants to do it for just a little moolah? She figures out how to get the look for less! After a quick trip to Lowe’s to find a miraculous and new (to me) thingamajig, I figured how to how transform my cheap (and boring) light to something with style. And did I mention that it was only $5 and it only took 5 mintues? Yeah, that’s the best part!
 
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farmhouse light, schoolhouse light, light fixture, DIY, home decor, budget friendly, budget lighting, cheap lighting, light makeover, light fixture makeover, schoolhouse electric,

See, I told you my old lights were boring. And dirty. Don’t judge, m’kay? I found them at Walmart for less than $10. We’ve had ours a few years, but you can still find them in store or online. They work great, but are just… well…. not me.

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Then I found schoolhouse style replacement globes at Lowe’s for only $5. The DIY angels started singing and I think I may have fainted. I definitely made Mr. SCC stand back and hold them up high so I could look to verify that I loved them. He may or may not have gathered snickers from other fellas roaming around. Good thing he has a deep, unwavering love for me – especially when I ask him to do silly stuff in the middle of man world. I scooped one up and skipped home, knowing that I had a plan.

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He removed the old light fixture from the ceiling and I taped it up, because I wanted the base black instead of white.

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A few coats of chalkboard paint later, the base was black. Why chalkboard spray paint? 1. I had it on hand. B. I really love the color. Works for me!

 
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When it was dry, I put it up and replaced the round globe with the new (and much improved) globe. Ah! It doesn’t take much to make my day – but a $5 five minute DIY farmhouse light always does the trick. Especially when I can upgrade a light I already have to something that screams farmhouse style.

 
 

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Filed Under: DIY

About Gina Luker

Gina Luker is a writer, photographer and lover of all things quirky. She's usually found with a drill in one hand and a cocktail in the other while blogging along the way. She's addicted to coffee, polka dots, rock stars, Instagram, and everything aqua.

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Comments

  1. Heidi Smith says

    March 26, 2013 at 10:49 am

    These are AWESOME!!! Thanks for sharing them. Can you tell me what the diameter is of the neck on the globe? It’s not listed on the website and I’m trying to determine if it will fit on our current fixtures. I know there are more than one standard size for the globe replacements. Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:42 pm

      Hi Heidi,
      I think mine is a 4 inch neck, but there is a larger version for $6 that is very similar.

      Thanks!

      Reply
  2. The Cottage Market {Andrea} ♥ says

    March 26, 2013 at 12:21 pm

    This is so fabulous!!!! I Love it and sooooo affordable! Great Job my friend…virtual applause : ) hugs…

    Reply
  3. Mary says

    March 26, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    Genius makeover … LOVE it!

    Reply
  4. Dana says

    March 26, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    Now I’m super jealous I don’t have any ugly fixtures that I could spruce up with these globes 🙁

    Reply
  5. Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap says

    March 26, 2013 at 2:05 pm

    looks great!

    Reply
  6. Peggy says

    March 26, 2013 at 5:39 pm

    ok.. i need to pick your brain sometime… i am so over the light fixture i picked out for our kitchen 3 years ago when we moved in but don’t want to spend the money to replace the whole thing. hmmm maybe i have a solution after all. but do you mind if i still contact you?

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      March 26, 2013 at 5:47 pm

      Sure! Email me – I will do my very best to help all I can!

      Reply
  7. Red Gate Farm says

    March 26, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    Hmmm I think my very tired bathroom ceiling light will be getting a treatment similar to this!

    ~Chris

    Reply
  8. Luly says

    March 26, 2013 at 6:42 pm

    Love it!

    Reply
  9. Lisa Hogan says

    March 26, 2013 at 7:37 pm

    Love it! Wat a quick and easy update!It is amazing what a little spray paint can do. It is an upcycler’s best friend 🙂

    Reply
  10. Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made says

    March 26, 2013 at 9:22 pm

    FANTASTIC! It’s those little touches that I think really pull a room together — this is such a great idea and painting the base black really sets it off!

    Reply
  11. Krista thehappyhousie says

    March 27, 2013 at 12:08 am

    Fabulous idea… I have seen those many times in stores and have often wondered how to use them. I love school house style fixtures – we were so thankful that the previous owners of our home had changed every light fixture in the house over to this style before we bought it. But we still have a fan… hmm, I wonder if it would work to convert a fan with the school house style globe… might have to try that. Thanks for the little tutorial and hint!! It looks so amazing!
    Krista @thehappyhousie.com
    Krista

    Reply
  12. Susan Jackson says

    March 27, 2013 at 12:12 am

    Love it. When I remodeled our kit hen I used farmhouse lights and did the same thing. Painted a plain base and bought a huge school house shade real cheap and I love it. Susan @ throughmyporchwindow.blogspot.com

    Reply
  13. Libby says

    March 27, 2013 at 3:18 am

    Thanks for this makeover. Going to try it this weekend

    Reply
  14. Catherine says

    March 27, 2013 at 6:02 pm

    I may have to do that this weekend! I have 2 fixtures I can swap out, and I love the look! Thanks!!

    Reply
  15. Tanya Runkle says

    March 28, 2013 at 12:05 am

    Hi Gina!

    All of my boring “boob” lights need some love. This is a super thrifty redo, I love the chalkboard paint too!!

    xo, Tanya
    twelveOeight

    Reply
  16. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    March 28, 2013 at 1:21 am

    Oh my…I am on my way to Lowes…it looks great!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  17. Dria says

    August 11, 2013 at 8:34 am

    Wow what a savings! I love these style lights amazed at how inexpensive you got this look for, fantastic job!

    Reply
  18. Tess S. says

    December 29, 2013 at 7:32 pm

    Oh my!!! The “Boob” light in my WC needs replacing. This is the greatest idea I’ve seen in a long while. I must go and investigate the possibilities!

    Reply
  19. Natalie says

    December 9, 2014 at 5:53 pm

    I am SO doing this! Thank you for saving me lots of Moola!

    xoxo,
    Natalie

    Reply
  20. Gracie Beth says

    October 14, 2015 at 7:21 pm

    THANK YOU! I just did this to 6 lights in my home! I was looking at spending at least $30 a fixture replacing these lights! One quick trip to lowe’s and I got rid of the “ugly giant light bulbs”

    Reply
  21. Lisa @ Farmhouse On Boone says

    March 1, 2016 at 11:17 am

    I am so doing this X 3!!

    Reply
  22. Judith Best says

    November 17, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    Did this over my kitchen sink….came out great and was cheap and easy!!

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      November 17, 2016 at 2:24 pm

      Good for you Judith!

      Reply
  23. Cathy Cornell says

    March 23, 2019 at 8:45 am

    Great idea Gina! Did you sand or rough up the surface of the fixture before spray painting and if so, sand paper, steel wool or what?

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      March 25, 2019 at 11:40 am

      Hi Kathy, No I didn’t with this particular project but if it needed it I would use sand paper 🙂

      Reply

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ARE YOU A FARMHOUSE FAN?
Get instant access to this free guide to The Best Sources for a Farmhouse Style Home on a Budget!
YOUR NAME:
YOUR EMAIL:
_____________