DIY Hollywood Light Fixture Upgrade
Say goodbye to your outdated bathroom lights. This chic DIY drum shade project will give them a wow-worthy update.
At one point, Hollywood lights were a chic way to add glam to your bathroom. Today, however, they're nothing short of sad and outdated. Luckily, we found a genius way to cover up the ugly bathroom fixture.
With a few DIY supplies, you can create a drum shade that slips over a Hollywood light, blocking the fixture from view. Light still soaks through, casting a soft, sophisticated glow over your bathroom.
What You Need
- 1/2-inch square dowels (5)
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Miter saw
- Sandpaper
- Wood glue
- Clamps
- Spray paint
- Plexiglass (6 1/2 x 20 1/2 inches)
- Painters tape
- Glass cutter
- Frosted spray paint
- Fabric (1/4 yard of fabric -- allot excess for fabric patterns)
- Staple gun
- Staples
- Bias tape
- Fabric glue
- Sawtooth hangers
Before You Begin: Measure and Cut
Measure and cut 1/2-inch square dowels to size. Our light measured 18 x 4 1/4 inches, so our frame was four 20 3/4-inch pieces, four 5 3/4-inch pieces, and four 6 1/8-inch pieces. Adjust measurements accordingly to fit your bathroom light. Lightly sand edges of cut dowels.
Step 1: Build the Box
Build the top frame by gluing together two short (5 3/4-inch) and two long (20 3/4-inch) pieces into a rectangular shape. Glue, then clamp together. Repeat with remaining wood of the same lengths to build the bottom frame. Let dry.
Step 2: Attach Pillars and Paint
Attach the pillars (6 1/8-inch) to corners of the top and bottom frames. Glue together, clamp, and let dry. Spray-paint the wood frame your desired shade. Let dry.
Step 3: Cut Glass
Measure plexiglass so it's the same size as the bottom of the frame. You'll need to cut out notches so the plexiglass sits inside the frame. To cut plexiglass, use an extra dowel as a template for the notch size. Tape off the square to ensure the plexiglass doesn't chip when you cut it. Score the lines of the notch with a glass cutter, then carefully break it off. Once cut, spray-paint one side of the glass with frosted spray paint and let dry.
Step 4: Attach Fabric
Wrap the box with fabric, leaving 1/2 inch of excess on each side. Then staple the fabric to the back of the frame. Edge corners with bias tape and glue together with fast-drying fabric glue. Start with the risers, then finish with the top and bottom.
Step 5: Add Hangers and Light
Attach the shade to the wall with sawtooth hangers so it hangs around the light fixture.
Editor's Tip: Use LED lights in your light fixture to ensure plexiglass doesn't overheat and yellow over time.
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