DIY

My Latest Thrift Flip using an Old Lamp

As you know, I love stopping at thrift stores.  In fact, I don’t get out of the house much since I work from home. But, when I do, I normally try to stop at a few to nose around and see what goodies I can find. A lot of times I see things that I want to flip and a few weeks back was no exception.  I ran across an old lamp that was sold AS IS and had a tag on it that was 50% off.  The 50% off made the lamp $3.  I knew what I wanted to do with it as soon as I saw it.  So here is my latest thrift flip using an old lamp.

See my previous thrift flip here!

My Latest Thrift Flip using an Old Lamp

We have all seen them in thrift stores.  I see old gold lamps every single time I go.  This one was special. I loved the chunkiness of it and the fact that it had a large top that looked like a candle.  So that is what I chose to do with this lamp.  I first took it all apart.  There is a large rod that goes through each section and a nut on the bottom that holds it all together. Once you get it all separated, a lot of times, the old lamp bases come in a few different pieces.  This one happened to be in three different sections.  

I could have left the brass/gold the way it was but it was rusted in a few spots and not the color of gold that I like.  So, I decided to use Rub n Buff in the color European Gold to give it an antique look.  Yes, I could have spray painted it gold, but the look of Rub N Buff is what I was going for.  I thought it would match all of my other older brass candleholders.  And it actually does.

After the sections dried, I simply used hot glue to glue the base of the lamps all back together.  I used a lot of glue and made sure to let it dry well.  I am sure there is another glue that would hold better, but I didn’t have it on hand.  And, I figured, if this falls apart, I will glue it back together.  But, no one will really touch it unless I move it.

I want more!

I want to run to the thrift store ASAP to see if there are any more gold lamps that would work for another flip.  Can’t you see an entire haul of mismatched candle holders lined down the center of a table… or all down a mantel?  I love this so much as it looks like an authentic old candle stick. 

Do you have any of these in your stash?  If so, you need to try this project.  It literally took 15 mins.  Those are the flips that I love. Ha!  What do you think?

Tap here for my favorite battery operated candles that I used for this project!

Danelle Harvey

View Comments

  • I love this project! I finally got to the thrift stores to look for a lamp. Found a solid brass one at Habitat for $6! It is sitting on my table waiting to be transformed into a candlestick! Thanks for the inspiration ❤️

  • I love your home and this candleholder so much that since I saw a previous post, I've searched hi 'n lo on the web. I've been looking in all the wrong places. Guess where I'm going tomorrow. Thanks

Share
Published by
Danelle Harvey

Recent Posts

Our 2024 Year End Review

We have been in our home two full years now, so this year we spent…

2 weeks ago

Antique Finds from North Carolina

I haven't shared an antique haul for quite some time. If you like this type…

1 month ago

Staircase Wall Molding

Our staircase wall molding project was starting this past spring. Deb made up her own…

1 month ago

Paneled Walls in the Bathroom

Well, here we are in the fall and winter months of 2024 and you know…

2 months ago

Our 6-Foot Tabletop Tree

We made a stop at Target the other day to check out their holiday decor…

2 months ago

Transformation Tuesday – An Old Door

We used to do Transformation Tuesday (previously Trashed Tuesday) pieces every single week.  And, I…

2 months ago