Milk Glass Lamp Makeover

A milk glass lamp gets an easy makeover giving it a fresh look. This was a $3 thrift shop find!

Today I’m joining forces with a group of bloggers to raise awareness of animal rescue.  Animal rescue is near and dear to my heart since our dog Sherman was adopted through the Campbell County Humane Society.  One way that you can support your local animal shelter is to not only donate money, food, or supplies to the animals but also to shop.  Shop?  Yes, shop!  Quite a few animal shelters run thrift stores to raise money for the shelter.  Our blogging group challenged each other to shop at a local thrift store that benefits animals, make over an items purchased, and share it today.

Thrift Benefit for Sheltered Animals

Last year I participated in this same challenge and made over a chair.

 

Just down the road from my school is the Humane Society Thrift Shop that benefits the Amherst County Humane Society.  It’s in the old Monroe Post Office and I love to pop in from time to time to see what treasures I can find.  If you like cats, this is a fun place to shop because a few cats live in the store.

Humane Society Thrift Shop in Madison Heights, VA

 

I found this milk glass lamp for just $3.  You can tell that this is not the original lamp; someone jerry-rigged it with wooden pieces and a wooden base.

Lamp Before for Thrift Benefit

 

After leaving the thrift shop, I headed to Lowe’s for a new cord, shade, and spray paint.  While waiting in line to pay for my items, a young man behind me in line asked me if I was just at the thrift shop.  I told him that I was and he said, “I thought so, I saw you taking a picture of that lamp.”  I explained to him what I was doing and both he and the Lowe’s cashier were very interested in my project.

After I got home with the lamp, I took another “before” shot to better show the lamp’s details.

Milk Glass Lamp "Before"

 

I then took the lamp apart, sanded the base, and cleaned the white milk glass pieces.  I used gold paint leftover from this lamp makeover and flat white spray paint purchased at Lowe’s to refresh the lamp’s small pieces.

Milk Glass Lamp Pieces

 

I then put the lamp back together, rewired it, and added a new shade.

 

Doesn’t my lamp look great now?  This will be my mom’s future beside table lamp in her bedroom at the lake.   Our house is getting so close to completion!

Milk Glass Lamp Makeover for Thrift Beneft

 

I love the white and gold combination.  Milk Glass Lamp Makeover

I can’t wait for my mom to see her new lamp and really can’t wait until she can enjoy it in her bedroom at the lake.

This makeover cost a total of $33, most of which was the cost of the shade and new cord.  I’m so glad that I could give this old beauty a makeover and I’m glad that she will be used for many years to come.

 

If you like this project, I’d love for you to pin it!

 

Milk Glass Lamp Makeover - A lamp found at the thrift store gets an updated look

 

 

35 Comments

  1. Wow! I LOVE this makeover and what a great find at the thrift store! Your little lamp reminds me of a milk glass lamp that was in the room where I usually stayed at my grandma’s house. I often wish I had that little lamp! I’m keeping my eyes open for one next time I go thrift shopping!

  2. Paula, I love the crisp look and style of the lamp. What a great makeover and easy tutorials. Whit you’re tutorials anyone can makeover a thrift store lamp and help the animals too! Thank you so very much for joining again this year.

  3. What a coinkydink! I bought a lamp very much like that at a thrift shop, intending to redo it. It’s sitting at my barn/crafts shop waiting for a lazy bum to fix it up. Lazy bum being me….who is inspired by you to actually do it! Excellent job you did there, I must say!

    1. Good luck with your makeover, Denise. I did the painting and cleaning one night after work and then put it together the next night. It won’t take you long at all to do your project. Please send a picture of yours to me when you finish it. I would love to see it.

      Paula

    1. Thank you, Tammy! I’m so pleased with how this turned out and know that my mom will love it in her bedroom.

    1. Thank you, Meegan! I think I squealed with pleasure when I put the shade on the lamp. I’m so happy with it.

    1. Thank you, Robin! This makeover ended up being super simple and quick to do. I can’t wait for my mom to see it. 🙂

    1. Thank you, Meagan! I liked the $3 price tag. 🙂 Lamps are almost always one of the first things that I investigate when thrifting.

  4. I generally like wood trim, but the gold/white combo looks so new and fresh. I also love lamps with that kind of base; perfect for the day’s earrings, reading glasses or lip balm! Your Mom will love it!

  5. What a beautiful transformation Paula. It’s like night and day. The refreshed lamp will be perfect for your mother’s bedroom at the lake house!

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