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DIY for Homeowners

DIY Concrete Lamp Shade Light

7/25/2017

4 Comments

 
​text by Vicki     Sign up to get Mother Daughter Projects updates in your email!
Steph had an idea to create a lamp that was totally made of concrete which included the lamp shade. It was an interesting idea but I couldn't quite grasp the concept. Actually, it wasn't until the lamp was finished and I saw how it was put together that I had the "ahh ha" moment!

With Steph's idea in her head, we set out to find suitable molds for the base and lamp. Target had everything we needed. We picked up a few styles of water in various sizes of bottles for the base and found two flower pots in different sizes that would be perfect in which to cast the shade. 

​A trip to The Home Depot was all we needed to fill the remainder of our materials list!
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
These two sizes of plastic flower pots were perfect.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
Using a hole saw, we cut a hole a bit larger than the PVC cap in the bottom center of the smaller pot.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
We also used a 1 inch PVC cap in the top of the shade.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
The plastic bottle was used as the mold for the base. The top part was cut with a utility knife.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
Materials:
  • Life Water Bottle (Amazon)
  • 1" PVC Pipe and Cap (Home Depot)
  • 6" Flower Pot (Target)
  • 8" Flower Pot (Target)
  • Quikrete Countertop Concrete Mix (Home Depot)
  • Silicone (Home Depot)
  • LED Lights (Amazon)
  • Aluminum tape (Amazon)
  • 1 3/4" Hole Saw (Home Depot)
  • ​Random Orbital Sander (Home Depot)
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
The PVC pipe was cut to the length we needed, the bottom of the pipe sealed with aluminum tape. Concrete was mixed according to instructions and placed into the bottle.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
To create the shade, the concrete was mixed and added to the larger pot then the smaller pot was centered into the larger. Sticks were placed over the top with an old iron to keep the smaller pot from rising up.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
We added a heavier object to keep everything in place. A random orbit sander was used on the sides to help bring air bubbles up and out of the concrete for a smoother finish.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
After curing for about 24 hours, the plastic bottle was removed from the concrete base.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
Before removing the pots, the silicone used to secure the cap to the pot is peeled away.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
After the silicone is removed the pots can be removed. We took the smaller one out first, then the larger.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
A battery powered color changing LED light strip was glued into place inside the shade.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
The PVC pipe in the base fits securely into the PVC cap in the shade (this was that "Ahhh ha" moment I mentioned earlier!) The battery compartment was Velcro-ed into place on the PVC pipe.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
Learn how to cast concrete to make a lamp base and lamp shade. This modern LED light would look great on an end table or night stand.
Picture
This made the cutest little accent lamp! It's heavy and sturdy. The color changing feature makes it a great accessory for a boring little corner in need of a little drama!

​What do you think? Would you make this concrete lamp and where would you put it? Let us know in the comments below!


Please note: We are not sponsored by any of the companies/products that we used. These products were picked and bought by us.

FYI: We are not professionals, and we don’t claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first!

FYI: Affiliate links are being used on this page. Purchasing via these links help support MDP!

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4 Comments
Mike Williamson link
7/28/2017 09:14:14 am

Tres Kool!

Reply
Gloria Nordine
8/5/2017 12:17:56 pm

Really creative. My daughter just built a firepit in her backyard, and is making an outdoor area. Would this lamp be suitable for outdoor use? Could it stay outside all the time? Is it heavy?

Reply
Steph
8/5/2017 01:50:58 pm

Hi Gloria! You could probably use this outdoor you would just want to seal the concrete with an outdoor sealer. Also, make sure the LED lights can be used outdoors (the ones we used can). It's about 26lb.

Reply
Steph
8/5/2017 01:55:52 pm

Sorry, it is 12lb!




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