DIY Milk Glass Lamp Makeover
A project that I’ve been wanting to complete for a long while is to makeover a milk glass lamp that belonged to my great-great aunt. I finally completed this project and I’m thrilled with the end result!
What spurred me into action to complete this project was joining the Thrifty Style Team hosted by Julie of Redhead Can Decorate.
I am thrilled to join this talented team who share thrifty projects on the second Friday of each month. You’ll find links to all of the projects shared at the end of this post.
DIY Milk Glass Lamp Makeover
My mother passed this lamp along to me years ago and it has been patiently sitting on a shelf in my basement waiting for a makeover.
This lamp originally belonged to my Great-Great Aunt Fannie who raised my grandmother. My mother recalls that I used this lamp in my childhood bedroom but I have no memory of it.
Milk Glass Lamp Before the Makeover
The lamp was in good condition other than being dirty and the gold parts had lost their luster.
The lamp still worked and it was only missing its shade.
I decided to rewire it for safety since the wiring appeared to be original.
Making Over the Lamp
I headed to the hardware store to buy a switch, lamp cord, and gold spray paint.
The lamp came with me to the hardware store so that I could shop for shades while I was there.
I didn’t find a shade at the hardware store, so I headed downtown to McCraw’s, the best place in Lynchburg to find a lampshade. I found exactly what I wanted at McCraw’s and was soon home working on this project.
The first step for this project was to take the lamp apart. To do this, I removed the brass screws from the plug and pulled the plug off.
I then loosened the socket and pulled the lamp cord all the way through the lamp. The cord was removed from the socket by loosening the screws.
If you need a lamp rewiring tutorial, check out this post with step-by-step instructions.
The lamp pieces were threaded on a rod, so the next step was to remove each piece from the rod.
I discovered that this lamp was made in Japan after I took it apart.
The milk glass was cleaned with spray cleaner and an old toothbrush.
Here you can see what a difference a little elbow grease made.
Soon both pieces were clean and looking pretty.
The lamp parts got a coat of gold spray paint.
I purchased a new socket just in case but hoped that I could use the old socket to save a bit of money.
I rewired the lamp using the old socket but the switch wouldn’t work correctly.
I was then glad that I had bought a socket just in case.
After the lamp was rewired, I put the harp, lampshade, and finial on and this old lady was ready to be enjoyed again.
Milk Glass Lamp – After the Makeover
I am thrilled with the end result of this makeover.
Since this lamp originally belonged to my great-great aunt, I displayed a picture of her beside the lamp along with some of her jewelry in a milk glass ashtray.
Aunt Fannie was a milliner and made her hat and most likely her dress.
I love the gold lamp parts combined with the white hobnail milk glass.
This lamp will be used at our lake house either in my mom’s bedroom or in the under-construction basement.
I love restoring old lamps and have worked on several throughout the years. One was even another milk glass lamp.
I rescued this one from a dumpster and have used it in our family room ever since.
This 1960’s lamp from Goodwill is in use in our lake house master bedroom.
I found this lamp in a trash pile and now it is in our lake house family room.
The next time you see a lamp that you like at a thrift shop or at a yard sale, give it a makeover and enjoy using it in your home.
More Thrifty Projects to Enjoy
Now it’s time to enjoy the projects that the rest of the Thrifty Style Team is sharing today. I am looking forward to enjoying each of the ideas shared.
Salvage Sister and Mister – DIY Cardboard Sunflower
The How To Home – How To Decorate With Repurposed Crib Springs
The Painted Hinge – DIY Antiqued Wall Panel
Unskinny Boppy – Farmhouse Bucket ‘O Carrots Easter Craft Idea
That is a great little before and after! When I see hobnail I think of the lady I babysat for as a kid. She had a huge collection of it.
Thank you! I’m glad to have this little lady back in use.
Paula
Paula, I love the little vignette you have on that table with your Great Aunt’s picture and her lamp!! Number one, that picture of her is absolutely beautiful and to have her lamp and jewelry to go with it are perfect memoirs of her! The new lamp shade really compliments the lamp and looks so feminine as she does in her picture. Bet you wish you’d known her! And, I took the time to check out your lamp re-do’s and every one is a keeper. I, too have some lamps I have picked up and I think I’ll just clean them up and get new shades. They have a floral design which is so pretty and I haven’t been able to bring myself to paint them, so for now, I’ll clean and get the shades!!
Thank you so much, Karolyn! I have a very faint memory of visiting my aunt long ago. I remember that she had a green refrigerator with the freezer at the bottom and I remember sitting in one of her bedrooms. Funny thing is the furniture that was in that bedroom is now in mine!
I starting thinking about the lamps in my house and I realized that every single one of them is old. I’ve never purchased a new lamp for this house!
Good luck with your lamp makeovers!
Paula
My granny always had milk glass lying around and I LOVED feeling of it as a kid. Great project!
Thank you, Beth! I remember that my grandmother had a milk glass lidded chicken dish. Now I’m wondering who inherited it!
Paula
It is a. Beautiful lamp after the finish. With the new wiring the hazards are not an issue now, a great reminder.
I knew I had to rewire the lamp and luckily it was very easy to use. Thank you so much for your nice compliment.
Paula
How fun to have your Aunt Fannie’s lamp, and what a difference!!! You did a great job restoring it, it turned out just beautiful!!
Thank you so much, Cindy! I am thrilled with the end result.
Paula
This looks amazing, Paula! I love milk glass lamps. I had a pole lamp that I inherited from my grandma, but had to ‘let it go’ to a friend, as it didn’t work in MWA (it wouldn’t fit!)
Anyways… pinned, and the gold looks fabulous, too!
I’m glad that you had a friend who could adopt your pole lamp. That’s a piece that I would love to see!
Paula
Hi Paula. I enjoyed your post! And now I’m wondering what sort of treasures I’ve tossed over the years because I thought something was to far gone to keep? Never thought to actually repaint, or even REMOVE paint. I figured if it was to dirty, it was a goner. Lol. Now I know different. You’ve inspired me to start transforming some of my family’s old stuff. Wish me luck!
Thank you, Dawn! You made my day with your sweet comment. I hope you have success on your makeovers.
Paula
This is such a great idea, and it looks brand new!
Thank you! I am really pleased with how it turned out.
Paula
I love this makeover! That freshly painted gold really pops against the white!
Thank you! I’m glad to have it out of the basement and back in use.
Paula
I love seeing your family things and all the connections like the picture that you have. Your lamp is beautiful.
Thank you so much! It’s nice to be able to make something old usable again.
Paula
I used to have a very similar lamp in my childhood bedroom. It looks so pretty cleaned up and painted gold! Your great-great-aunt would be pleased to see it in use again! Pinned
Thank you, Marie! I think that Aunt Fannie just might be looking down very pleased seeing her lamp being used again.
Paula
I love this! I haven’t seen a hobnail lamp in years. Great job as always.
Thank you so much, Jennifer! I’m glad to have this out of the basement and back in use.
Paula
I have several vintage lamps that need to be rewired. Thanks for including the link to your tutorial. Your milk glass lamp looks like new! I love how you styled it next to your great aunt’s photo and jewelry. It’s just lovely, Paula!
Thank you so much, Rebecca! I am happy to have this lamp back in use.
Paula
Very much beautiful design. Really I will do it with my old table lamp.
That turned out awesome. I love it. Nice job.
Thank you, Deborah! I’m glad to have it back in use again and also off of that shelf in my basement.
Paula
Hi Paula,
Another great family piece. You made her beautiful and shine once again. This is one of the prettiest milk glass lamps I have ever seen.
Cindy
Thank you, Cindy! I’m so glad that my mom saved it.
Paula
Beautiful makeover! Your lamp is lovely! I love that it was your lamp as a kid. It’s sweet that you are displaying your aunt’s photo and items that belonged to her.
I know that she would be happy to know that it is being enjoyed again.
Paula
Love the lamp and the diy I am pinning this for later.
Thank you, Sonya!
Paula
What an amazing transformation of your lamp! It’s so beautiful. And that you have history with it makes it even more special. I must confess that I usually bypass lamps that look in need of a lot of TLC. But now I see it’s far easier to do a makeover than I had previously thought. Not sure about rewiring but if and when I need to I know where to come. Thanks for sharing. Pinned.
I was sure that I couldn’t rewire something but once my husband showed me how, I realized that it wasn’t terribly complicated. I still get him to assist me to make sure that it is done correctly.
Paula
Wow, I am amazed at this vintage transformation. I really enjoy seeing something old refurbished.
Have a great week,
Kippi
Thank you so much, Kippi!
Paula
This milk lamp may be the prettiest I’ve ever seen. GREAT job
What a great job you did transforming this back to its original beauty! There is something about milk glass that is so comforting to me.
Thank you so much, Kim! I love milk glass and wish I had collected bunches of it in the 80s and 90s when it was super cheap.
Paula
I love that you have kept this for so long. It looks completely looks like a new lamp. You have the best tutorials. Thanks Paula!
Thank you, Meegan! It’s on its third generation of use now!
Paula
Such a sweet little lamp and you gave it a brand new life without changing the look too much. I love anything milk glass.
As I am a milk glass addict, I really appreciated your lovely makeover! I realized that my first milk glass was 2 hurricane lamps purchased with S&H green stamps when I was a kid. The shades had pink roses painted on them–pink roses are still my favorites! I also enjoyed reading about your other lamp makeovers!
You really brought that lamp back to life! Looks so pretty, and what a special piece to have to remind you of your family history. My MIL gave me a lamp she got when she was first married 50+ yrs ago and it’s in my daughter’s room. I think you inspired me to revive it.
I am thrilled with how this turned out! Good luck with your lamp project.
Paula
This adorable lamp turned out beautifully. I love it for a bedroom end table.
Thank you! I am pretty sure that I am going to use it in my mom’s bedroom at the lake.
Paula
Amazing what some elbow grease and spray paint can do for an old lamp. This reminds me of a lamp my grandma had. I wish we still had it! (post saw through Pinterest Junkie)
Yes! I am so glad that my mom saved this lamp and passed it along to me.
Paula
awesome makeover and truly interesting! Thanks for joining us in Bloggers Pit Stop – Pit Stop Crew
The lamp looks amazing. I love that you placed a photo of your great aunt & some of her jewelry next to it. So special to have these memories of her.
Love this repurposed project, Paula. I’ve restyles lamps but have never replaced the wiring. Good to learn how to do it. Such a pretty lamp now and I love how you styled it. Love all the projects. Great blog hop. Thank you for sharing at Tuesday Turn About Link Party.