How to Update a Brass Chandelier

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass cleaner

  • Rubbing alcohol

  • Spray paint

  • Crystals

  • 24-gauge craft wire

Update your old brass chandelier to give your room a modern look.

Chandeliers are hanging light fixtures that can add to or detract from the overall decor in any room. Brass chandeliers are reminiscent of decades past, but you can update a brass chandelier with a little ingenuity and some spray paint. Transform the dated, shiny brass into a centerpiece that can complement many different decorating styles. Keep the original crystals if you like the sparkle or change them out for colors that coordinate with your room's design.

Advertisement

Step 1

Remove the light bulbs and the crystals from the brass chandelier. If you plan to use the same crystals on your updated chandelier, wash them with glass cleaner.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Clean the chandelier with rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol removes fingerprints and helps paint adhere better. Allow the alcohol to evaporate completely.

Advertisement

Step 3

Spray paint the chandelier with your choice of metal paint colors. A black chandelier works in many different settings, from sophisticated to casual. Nickel, bronze or platinum chandeliers complement a sleek, modern design. You can also update a brass fixture by painting the base in shades of purple or blue to create a gypsy chandelier. Make sure the brass is covered completely; it may take more than one or two coats. Allow the paint to dry between coats.

Advertisement

Step 4

Re-attach the cleaned crystals to the chandelier. Another way to update the chandelier is to change the color of the crystals to coordinate with your new look. Black crystals hanging from a black chandelier creates a completely different look than sparkling clear crystals. Gypsy chandeliers are known for the array of colorful crystals dangling from the fixture. You can purchase crystal strands and crystal prisms from online retailers.

Advertisement

Step 5

Add crystals to update a plain chandelier. Paint craft wire so you can make crystal hangers to match the chandelier base. Cut small strips of wire and wrap them around the arms of the chandelier wherever you'd like to hang a crystal. Look for glass trays that fit over the light fixture at online crystal retailers. These bobeches have six tiny holes around the tray where you can hang more crystals to update your chandelier.

Tip

Paint the chain that holds your chandelier.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references & resources