DIY Hanging Lamp Projects

Turn a typical paper lantern into a colorful hanging lamp using paper.

By making a hanging lamp yourself you can save money and can add a modern focal point to your room. Hanging lamps light up the entire room, adding warmth to the space. Not only will the lamp fill up the unused ceiling space with color, it draws the eye up, sometimes making the ceilings feel higher. Because they hang from the ceiling, it is best to add a hanging lamp in a room with high ceilings. In rooms with low ceilings you run the risk of hanging the lamp too low, which can make the space less functional.

Things You'll Need

• Tissue paper
• Glue gun
• Paper lantern
• Light fixture
• Light bulb
• Screw hook

Instructions

1. Buy a hanging paper lantern of any size. Paper lanterns are inexpensive and can be bought at many home decorating shops and online retail stores. Most lanterns are sold separately from the light fixture and light bulb, so be sure to include those in your purchase.

2. Cut four-inch diameter circles from tissue paper. The number of circles you need depends on the size of lantern you are using. Because the tissue paper will be on the outside, choose a color that complements the colors of the room.

3. Fold each paper circle in half without creasing it and put a dot of hot glue in the center. To do this, bring one end of the circle to the other, making a loop of paper. Hold the paper in one hand and add the dot of glue with the other.

4. Press the center of the paper circle to the lantern and hold the spot of glue until it dries. With hot glue guns the glue is dry when it cools.

5. Glue the circles around the entire paper lantern, placing them close together to get a pom-pom effect. You may have to fluff up the edges of the paper circle to make room for more circles. Proceed until the entire sphere is covered in tissue paper.

6. Screw in the light bulb before attaching the fixture to the lantern and hanging the lamp from the ceiling. Most lanterns come with light fixtures that are attached using the wire frame inside the lantern. The cord is wrapped through the frame, holding the bulb in place. Hang the lamp from the ceiling using a small screw hook that the cord fits through.

References

• The Creative Mama: Pom Pom Lights DIY with Marta Locklear
• Lighting Fixtures Tips and Designs: Modern Pendant Lighting, Such as Kitchen Ceiling Lighting, Stylish and Beautiful