10 Different Light Fixtures Made from Repurposed Items

A nice lamp, pendant fixture, or wall sconce can light up a space both literally and figuratively. Lighting fixtures don’t have to only be about supplying light. They can be cool statements and create a decorative ambiance that feels magical.

While there are plenty of sleek and fancy designs down at the big box home improvement depot, DIY light fixtures from repurposed items have an entirely different spark. Not only are they environmentally friendly, but they are also an interesting and surprisingly easy project.

DIYers will learn to work with simply electrical wiring. They’ll be able to reflect their tastes in the items they use to make the fixtures. It’ll be cheaper than going out to buy a new lamp or fixture. Ultimately, they’ll have a great story to tell guests and impress family and friends with.

Here are 10-plus different light fixtures made from repurposed items to get the creative juices flowing.

Mason Jars

Old mason jars make great light fixtures. The crux of the fixture is that the light socket attaches to and the wiring goes through the old mason jar lid. The fixture can be hung as a pendant fixture.

Another attractive way to use mason jars for a fixture is to get an old canning rack and fill it with the jars. Then, run some string lights from one jar to the next. Hang the canning rack from the ceiling.

Liquor Bottles

Some liquor bottles are gorgeous, so much so that they are difficult to recycle. Instead, they can be repurposed.

The easy liquor bottle lamp is to by a socket that has a light cork-like insert that goes into the mouth of the bottle, leaving the wiring complete outside the bottle. (Buy a thrift store lampshade to fit on the bulb.)

Another option is to get a glass-cutting drill bit and create a little hole near the base of the bottle to run the wire through. Wire up the light socket then glue it to the mouth of the bottle.

Wine Bottles

Like liquor bottles, wine bottles can be used to make simple lamps. The labels can be left on to provide an ambiance (add some drip or aging stains). Yet another way to make a lamp from a wine bottle is to feed string LED lights into the mouth of the bottle. The lights will sparkle inside and provide mood lighting for those times when reading isn’t on the agenda.

Crates

Old wooden and metal crates easily hold several light bulbs. Wiring can be hidden amongst the crate’s infrastructure. These work well hanging from the ceiling, say in a kitchen or garage hang-out space, or they can be set on a tabletop or piece of furniture to make a funky lamp.

Bird Cages

Birds are no fans of being caged, but light bulbs appreciate the protection and open space to shine. Thus, a bird cage can make an ornate chandelier that’ll put it to much better use. Hopefully, it’ll help more birds fly freely as well.

Baskets

Whether wicker or wire, baskets just make a lot of sense as light fixtures. They make great shades, and they are easy to run wire through. These make great hanging fixtures over a breakfast table or in outdoor spaces.

Book Pages

Used books are either super cheap at thrift stores or weigh down your shelves. Using the pages to make light fixtures is something new to do with them. The pages can be cut into shapes and hung like a mobile around a pendant light bulb. The covers of the book can also be spun around the wrong way to make a cylinder and a bulb can pop out of the bottom.

Wine Glass

Wine glasses have reflective surfaces that make them ideal for chandelier-esque light fixtures. A DIYer could use an old glass rack or build one so that the glasses are hanging upside down around the light bulb(s). This is great for a bar or wine room.

Cutlery

Like wine glasses, metal cutlery has reflective surfaces. They also come in all sorts of shapes and designs, along with lots of etching. Collecting old cutlery is fun anyway. Something to do with the collection is to create a cylindrical mobile around a hanging light bulb.

Cake Tins

Old cake tins, popcorn tins, and the like have colorful designs on the outside. An easy hole can be drilled in the bottom to run some wiring and hook up a socket. They’ll provide some concentrated lighting.

This list but touches the surface of what can be repurposed into new light fixtures. DIY lights can be a fun way to give a home space or business some notable character.

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