A year ago we became a little obsessed with white. We painted all the walls white, bought white furniture and even new white linens. As fresh and clean as it felt, it made our once colorful home pretty dull. Needless to say, we are always looking for new ways to pop some color back into the pad and this project lit the spot... literally. So get out your bulbs and let there be light in your living/work quarters with this simple and sophisticated spotlight.

Beaded Hanging Lamp

Materials Needed:

• Hanging Lamp Kit (you can get these at most hardware stores, Ikea, Urban Outfitters or online)
• Extra Plug (this will be replacing the one on the lamp kit that you will have to cut off, so ask the hardware store which one will work)
• 3/4" to 1.5" Wooden Beads (you can buy natural beads and paint them or buy colored beads)
• Paint for Wood (unless your beads are already colored)
• Small Foam Paint Brush
• Power Drill
• Pliers
• Wire Cutters
• Light Bulb (whatever style you like that is compatible with your lamp kit)
• Hook with Screw

Step One:

Drill holes in your wooden beads that are large enough to slide over the cord of your lamp.  Hold the wooden bead with your pliers and carefully drill through to make the existing hole larger or create a new hole in the center.

 

 

Step Two:

Paint your wooden balls with your paint. We used four coordinating colors - navy, royal blue, yellow and grey. Allow them to dry completely.

Step Three:

Use your wire cutters to cut the plug off of the lamp cord.  Make a clean cut, you will see two wires exposed.

 

 

Step Four:
When your beads are dry, string them on the cut side of the lamp cord. Place them in the size, color, and order of your choice. Once you are sure you like order, move on to the next step.

Step Five:

Attach your extra plug to the end of the cut cord. Open the plug up into two pieces. There should be two small screws inside of the plug. Separate the wires a bit, so they turn into a Y. Strip the plastic back a tad so that the wire is exposed. Attach each wire to a screw and then tighten screws down. Put the two pieces of plug back together.

 

 

Step Six:

Screw in your light bulb and find a place to hang your new lamp.  Use the hook to hang the cord so that the beads show in the two sections.