Decorating Projects
Repainted bathroom mirror and bathroom lighting
Yes, you can stain and repaint lighting fixtures to create a whole new look! In this instance, I changed a stainless fixture into a bronze one with darkened globes. When we were building our house, I chose this fixture in a hurry, but really wanted a different one. So for less than a dollar in spray paint and wood stain, I did.
You can do this to any fixture that you want to change or update. To change the look of globes, it's best that you use frosted-style globes to get the best look. These frosted lighting fixture globes were wiped with water-based walnut-finish wood stain. It gave them an antiqued appearance. The silver mirror was also painted to give it a bronze finish.
Silver light fixture -- BEFORE
Bronze finish fixture -- AFTER
The steps below are for creating a bronzed finish on your fixture. Substitute colors that you like to create the type of fixture you prefer.
Materials
-- Spray paint in colors of your choice (for the bronze look, I chose dark brown, gold, and black. I like WalMart's Color Place brand that runs about 88 cents a can. The gold is burnished-looking rather than being too bright and shiny.)
-- Painter's tape
-- Walnut wood stain
-- Rubber gloves
-- Spray paint in colors of your choice
STEPS
Remove mirror or lighting fixture from the wall and tape off the mirror and electrical sockets and anything that you don't want painted.
Remove light fixture globes. Wipe the globes with the wood stain. Apply and wipe off. Do this until the desired level of stain is achieved. Let dry.
Paint mirror/fixture. Apply a brown undercoat. Next, spray with gold spray paint very lightly. Apply gold paint to the desire level of color. If the gold is too heavy, go over it lightly with brown paint. VERY, VERY lightly apply black paint.
Add details. Using the brown paint and black spray paint, try making the spray paint can "spit" tiny drops of brown and black paint on the fixture for added details. TRY THIS AS A TEST FIRST. If you can't do this, then use a small brush dipped into brown and black paint and using your finger, flick tiny drops of paint onto the fixture.
© 2007 Kathryn Weber, all rights reserved
