HOW TO: DIY “AGED POTTERY” LAMP MAKEOVER

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Short and stout lamps with cone shades are all the rage. I’m sure you’ve seen them everywhere too! So many people have embraced this look from high end designers to home DIYers. I stumbled upon this thrifted lamp (as you see below) at a local Goodwill for $8 and I couldn’t leave without it!

The red was not my favorite however and the faux brown leather shade wasn’t sparking joy for me. I’ve done a couple similar makeovers on vases in the past and I love how they turned out, but I wanted to try something new! I went for an aged pottery look on the lamp base and I tried a combination of two tutorials I’ve seen by @jaci.daily and @jennykomenda to achieve this look. LOVE how it turned out!

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Primer (Optional)

• Plaster of Paris

• Painter’s Tape

• Beige Paint

• Paint Brush

• Dirt….yep just plain ole’ dirt

To achieve an aged artisan look, I worked in layers until it felt right.

STEP 1 // PRIME (OPTIONAL)

If your surface is super glossy and smooth like mine was, a really good primer is necessary for better adhesion of the Plaster of Paris. One coat should do the job.

STEP 2 // WIPE ON A LAYER (OR TWO) OF PLASTER OF PARIS

I wanted ALL the texture so I applied two layers of Plaster of Paris with my hands (and gloves of course). You can play around with it until it feels right but do keep in mind that you have about 5-10 minutes to work with it until it starts to harden. I mixed 2 parts plaster and 1 part water for a thick but creamy consistency.

Allow it to dry completely between coats and sand it down with a fine grit sanding sponge if necessary.

STEP 3 // “AGE” IT

There are a few different techniques you can do to “age” your lamp. I tried two methods. 1) I brushed on a very light (and watered down) beige paint in a few areas to make it look worn. 2) I wiped on a very small amount of damp dirt in a few select spots to further to weathering.

STEP 5 // PAINT THE SHADE

While that dried, I painted the lamp shade. To ensure I had the best coverage, I applied 1 coat of primer and 1 coat of white satin paint.

Done and obsessed!!