Q: I'm proud to say I am a yard sale regular who has stumbled upon all sorts of great lamps for next to nothing. How about some ideas to fix them up?A: Changing the lamps in a room is a great, easy way to spice things up, and I find that garage sales and secondhand stores are a treasure trove! You can start with a lamp that you bought for a few dollars and have it looking priceless in no time at all.
The first step is learning how to spot treasures. You need to look for lamps with a long, clean stem and simple lines, as well as a smooth surface you can paint. And don't be afraid to negotiate on price. That's half the fun of the process!
You can create a variety of looks with no more than paint and a few add-ons.
Begin with the lampshade. For a tropical look, I added edge details and seashell ties to a simple canvas shade; for a more glamorous look, I put green ribbons on a black shade.
Paint the stem and the base and highlight any details. For my glamorous lamp, I added paint to the ovals on the stem to bring out the design. Always use paint colors that will colplement one another and the style you're going for.
Remember too that you're not just limited to plain old light bulbs -- there are so many types on the market, and you can create different effects with just a change of bulb!
