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DIY Drum Ceiling Light Upcycle

Create a beautiful drum ceiling light from an old globe light fixture.

This easy DIY is perfect for adding style to any home on a budget.

Upcycle your old globe ceiling light into a drum ceiling light with this easy tutorial. For only a few dollars you can create a beautiful hallway light fixture.

Create a beautiful drum ceiling light from an old globe light fixture. This easy DIY is perfect for adding style to any home on a budget. Housefulofhandmade.com

The drum shade is a perfect replacement for the outdated globe light.

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I use a paper cutting machine to add texture to the vellum covering the light fixture, but it is not necessary. You can use plain vellum or purchase textured vellum too!

You'll never guess how beautiful this old light is now. Learn how to turn it into a beautiful drum ceiling light. Housefulofhandmade.com

This month I decided to stop neglecting our hallway!

It’s embarrassing to admit that this frequently seen room was still sporting the ugly, beigey-neutral paint color that most of our fixer upper was painted when we moved in 12 years ago!

Yep, you read that right. I have not bothered even giving our hallway a fresh coat of paint in 12 years.

Update your hallway light fixture with a beautiful new drum ceiling light. Learn how to DIY a drum shade on a budget with this easy DIY. Housefulofhandmade.com

Instead of updating this central room of our house, we have been busy redoing the rest of our home. You can follow along with our DIY remodel here.

But every day I walk through the main hallway about a million times! Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit.

However, I do have to go through this hallway to get to my bedroom, bathroom and office/craft room. And these rooms definitely get the most of my attention.

I love upcycled crafts. See how easy it was to turn an old light fixture into a drum ceiling light. Housefulofhandmade.com

Now I am happy that my journey through our main floor is much prettier with the addition of a fresh coat of paint and a new drum ceiling light fixture. After painting the hallway, I knew I could not put that old globe bowl back up.

But instead of heading to the store to find a new hallway light fixture, I decided to DIY one!

Create a show piece for your hallway with this drum ceiling light fixture DIY. Housefulofhandmade.com

I am in love with the drum ceiling light fixtures. They are so beautiful, with a slightly feminine softness. But they are not too trendy that I will hate the light fixture in a year.

And I knew I could create the perfect drum ceiling light with a few basic supplies. Then to make it truly unique, I used my Spellbinders Platinum 6 machine to add some texture to the drum shade.

The new hallway light fixture makes me so much happier than the boring globe!

The texture on this drum shade is just gorgeous. I love everything about this DIY drum ceiling light and it was so easy! Housefulofhandmade.com

Using the base of the globe light, I created a beautiful drum shade. The shade was easily affixed over the old light base and now all you see is soft pretty light.

I love the new drum light so much that I am wondering where else I can add another one.

Turn embroidery hoops and vellum into a beautiful drum ceiling light. Its the perfect upcycled light fixture for the hallway. Housefulofhandmade.com

How to Make a Drum Ceiling Light

Supplies:

Expert Tip:
To ensure the new light fixture is not overheated, use an LED bulb that uses just a few watts and stays cool. Also, make sure the embroidery hoop is large enough to keep the vellum away from the bulb with plenty of room around it.

I love this drum ceiling light made from embroidery hoops and vellum. It's so pretty! Housefulofhandmade.com

Prep the Embroidery Hoops for the Shade

Find an embroidery hoop that is just larger than the base of the globe light fixture. Mark where the screws that hold the globe bowl are located on it.

Turn that old globe light fixture into a beautiful drum ceiling light for just a few dollars. Housefulofhandmade.com

Drill holes in the embroidery hoop where the screws are. Make sure the hole is just large enough to hand screw the screw from the light fixture through it.

Create a budget friendly drum ceiling light from embroidery hoops! Housefulofhandmade.com

Center the smaller hoop inside the larger hoop. Measure the distance between the two hoops and cut 3 pieces of the square dowel to that length.

This is so easy to make and the new drum ceiling light is gorgeous! Housefulofhandmade.com

Add wood glue to the end of the dowels. Attach them to the smaller hoop with a finishing nail so they are evenly spaced around the hoop, between the holes for the screws.

For less than $15 you can upcycle an old globe light into a beautiful drum ceiling light. Housefulofhandmade.com

Place the smaller hoop with the attached dowels inside the larger hoop. Secure with wood glue and a finishing nail into each dowel.

This is genius! Make your own drum ceiling light fixture to update an old globe light. Housefulofhandmade.com

Cut the vellum to the width you want for your drum ceiling light fixture. I made ours 6″ which is about 1 1/2″ over the end of the bulb in the fixture. Cut enough pieces to fit around the embroidery hoop with a little extra.

Add texture to the Light Shade

Place the vellum in the em-bossing fold-er so one edge is flush with the edge of the folder.

Add texture to a DIY drum ceiling light with the embossing folders from Spellbinders. Housefulofhandmade.com

Create a cutting sandwich with the cutting platform, embossing folder, then a cutting plate. Run it through the Platinum 6 machine.

Use the Platinum 6 to create DIY home decor like this drum ceiling light fixture. Housefulofhandmade.com

Remove the vellum, then line up the embossed edge with the design in the embossing folder to continue to add the texture.

Run it through the machine again. Repeat until the entire piece of vellum is covered in texture.

Use the embossing folder for larger designs by lining them up over and over. Add texture to this drum ceiling light. Housefulofhandmade.com

Use double-sided tape to tape the pieces of textured vellum together. Try to line up the design so it is seamless.

Create a beautiful textured drum shade with vellum. I love this upcycled drum ceiling light. Housefulofhandmade.com

Assemble the Drum Light Shade

Start glueing the vellum to one of the embroidery hoops. Only glue it about 1/3 of the way around before attaching the other hoop or it will get tricky.

Use vellum and embroidery hoops to upcycle an old light fixture. Create a beautiful drum ceiling light fixture. Housefulofhandmade.com

Then start glueing the other hoop to the vellum.

I love this beautiful drum ceiling light made from an old globe light fixture. Housefulofhandmade.com

When you have almost covered the entire circle, trim the vellum to overlap. Add a piece of double sided tape to the edge to secure it to the other side of the vellum. Finish glueing it to the hoop.

This is the easiest DIY. Upcycle an old light into a drum ceiling light. Housefulofhandmade.com

Press the edges of the vellum together between the hoops to secure the tape.

Update your lighting with this easy DIY drum ceiling light. Create a beautiful light fixture for less than $15. Housefulofhandmade.com

To hang your new light fixture, and tighten the screws throughout the small embroidery hoop into the light fixture.

Who would have thought you could DIY a light? I love this easy drum ceiling light fixture from Housefulofhandmade.com

Add a light bulb and admire your handy work!

Who would have guessed it would be so easy to DIY a light fixture? The drum shade is perfect for a hallway light fixture.

And to think it use to be an old globe light.

Turn a boring globe light into a beautiful statement light. You'll love how easy it is to create a drum ceiling light. Housefulofhandmade.com

Now I am ready to turn all my old lights into something more beautiful.

Create a beautiful new light fixture from an old light. Create a beautiful drum ceiling light for just a few dollars. Housefulofhandmade.com

And don’t forget to check out the rest of these fun DIY Decor tutorials to help create the home of your dreams on a budget!

-Kati with picture of blog author Kati

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Norma W.

Friday 17th of January 2020

It looks very professional! Great job. Since I volunteer at our local Thrift Shop, I would have just purchased a similar shade and made necessary adjustments.

Kati

Tuesday 4th of February 2020

That would work too! I bet you get lots of great finds volunteering there.

gkd

Wednesday 25th of April 2018

good*

gkd

Wednesday 25th of April 2018

Would have been to see it at night with the light on..

Sarah

Friday 18th of August 2017

I have never used vellum paper. Does this seem easy to clean? How would you clean it? Thanks!! Very beautiful work!

Kati

Thursday 7th of September 2017

It reminds me of a thick waxed paper. I would just dust it off with a dust cloth, and since it is on the ceiling, it will be way less messy.

Linda

Friday 18th of August 2017

The newly painted hallway looks so bright and nice. Amazing what a new coat of paint can accomplish.

Kati

Thursday 7th of September 2017

It really looks totally different with just a new coat of paint. Sad that I waited this long to get around to it!

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