IKEA Hack: DIY Table Lamp On A Budget

Today’s DIY is one that has been simmering in my head for a while. I’ve always been a huge fan of 70’s style and especially love the strong shapes and space-age designs that defined the lighting of that era. Mixing in a statement lighting piece is one of the best ways to elevate your decor and adding in a vintage piece just ramps up the style factor that bit more. Unfortunately, even a reproduction vintage lamp can cost a fortune. Here is a relatively simple DIY table lamp, using a few found IKEA objects and some basic DIY skills.

DIY Table Lamp Inspiration

Image from Finnish Design Shop

The dream, is the Atollo lamp by Vico Magistretti. Designed in 1977, for the Italian manufacturer Oluce, this metal beauty has become an award winning design icon. Whilst I cannot guarantee a ‘design classic’, my Atollo inspired DIY table lamp should hopefully at least offer some of the retro-cool aesthetic that this £744 designer model exudes… but without the designer price tag.

What You Will Need

I should start off by saying that for the base of this lamp, you could really use any vase that you want. You need something with a good weight though, and I chose the Gradvis vase as it is both weighty and has a clean design. Also, it is available at IKEA so everyone can access it. This lamp could look pretty cool with a second hand store purchase too though. The only part that I haven’t been able to find anywhere else, is the shade. Most other bowls have a very obvious base. The Blanda Blank bowl, does not, making it ideal for use as a lampshade.

Materials

• IKEA Gradvis vase
• IKEA Blanda Blank 28cm serving bowl
• Lampshade frame ring 23-25cm. (upcycle a charity store frame or find a new one on eBay)
• Lamp holder kit (eBay has loads)
• Plywood, MDF, or chipboard offcut (just bigger than the neck of your vase)
• Etch primer spray (I get mine from Halfords)
• Spray paint (I used car spray paint. Ford Dove Grey from Halfords)
• Masking tape
• Marker pen

All in, the DIY table lamp should cost around £35. I already had the vase, spray paint, wood and I re-used the frame ring from a bashed lampshade. I substituted the cable in the kit with silk flex left over from a previous project… this costs about £3pm on ebay. My lamp cost less than £20. Both prices are pretty good for such a cool end product.

Tools

• Electric drill (you will also need a 10mm drill bit and a ceramic drill bit slightly bigger than your cable diameter)
• Jigsaw
• A competent electrician

IKEA Hack/DIY Table Lamp

Step 1. The brave bit: drilling the vase.

Mark a spot near the bottom of the vase for the cable to feed through. Do this by applying a piece of masking tape and marking the spot with your pen. The masking tape also provides grip to start the drilling. Using your ceramic drill bit, start drilling your cable hole.

Tip: Don’t apply too much pressure and keep a damp cloth nearby. The ceramic will heat up, and keeping it cool with water will stop any damage from occurring.

Step 2. Cut the wood to plug the top. This where your lamp fitting will be attached.

Using the top of your vase as a template, mark around the outside to get the shape. Next, draw a circle within this, 4mm within the original line. Cut around the inner line with your jigsaw.

Find the central point of your circle and drill a hole using the wood drill bit.

Tip: Err on the side of caution. Cut to the outer edge of your drawn circle, so that it is slightly bigger. You can always sand the circle smaller so that it fits perfectly. You want the wood to stick in the hole, not drop through. It might take a wee bit of sanding but it’s worth it!

DO NOT JAM IT IN PLACE AT THIS POINT!! (like I did).

Step 3. Prime and paint the bowl, vase and wooden circle.

I gave several light coats of primer and the same with the topcoats. Do it in a dust free area to avoid having to pick out ‘bits’. There is nothing more annoying than bits in your paint. I kept the inside of the bowl paint free by placing it top down on a solid surface. The shiny steel inside helps to reflect light.

Tip: Several light coats will avoid runs and will result in a perfectly smooth finish.

Step 4: Wire up your bulb holder* and screw on the threaded rod. Feed it through the hole in your wooden circle. Attach with the washer and nut provided. Feed the cable through the hole in the bottom of your lamp.

Once assembled, you can push in your circle and glue in place. Fill any gaps for a seamless finish.

Step 5. Attach the plug* and screw on the shade holder. The shade should sit comfortably on top.

*Always get wiring checked by a qualified electrician. Do not attempt electrics if you are unsure of what you’re doing. Frizzy hair is not a good look.

Tip: I would recommend using an LED bulb, to avoid the risk of the shade overheating. I used a golf ball bulb which leaves plenty space between the lamp holder and the shade (the bulb shown here is not the bulb I used but it is the same size).

Your DIY table lamp is complete!

By not attaching the shade, you can even angle the light to suit. See… Genius!

It may not be as elegant as the 700 quid version, but I love my dumpy new friend. So much so, I think I may make another but in a different colour.

Hope you enjoyed! x

p.s. For my previous lighting DIY, the living room ceiling light, click here. Or my marquee light, click here.