Give a Dated Brass Chandelier a Bright, Modern Makeover in 5 Easy Steps

Nesting on 04.05.12

Brittany, a.k.a Pretty Handy Girl Contributor bio | twitter

If you have kids, you have a lot of laundry -- it is just one of those unwritten rules. And if you have a lot of laundry, you likely spend a lot of time in your laundry room. So, why not make it a fun and beautiful space to hang out in? In the process of making over our laundry room, I took an old brass chandelier (that I purchased from the Habitat ReStore for $10) and spray painted it a sunny yellow color.

brass chandelier

Spray painting light fixtures is an easy way to update any dated fixture in your home. With a little prep work and a little know-how, you can have a new fixture in an hour.

Materials:

Spray primer
Spray paint
Drop cloth
Wet rag
Painter's tape

Optional: Broom handle and ladder to hang fixture while painting

Step 1: Clean off the light fixture with a wet rag and remove the socket covers (plastic tubes and/or cardboard tubes).

cover sockets and spray primer

Step 2: Cover the electrical light sockets with painter's tape. If you are painting the chain too, separate the bare ground wire from the chain and cover it with a plastic bag or tape. Hang the chandelier from the pole or from a branch.(You can also lay the chandelier upside down on a drop cloth.)

Step 3: Spray the entire fixture with spray primer. A light coating is all that is necessary; if you spray too much, you will get drips. Let the primer dry, and then flip the light fixture over and spray the opposite side.

can of spray paint in front of yellow painted chandelier

Step 4: Once the primer has throughly dried, spray the fixture with a light coat of spray paint. Multiple thin coats are better than a heavy coat of spray paint. After the paint has dried, flip the fixture over to spray the underside. If you get any damage or nicks, spray a little paint into the cap and use a q-tip to touch up any flaws.

paint in cap and q-tips for touch ups

Step 5: After the paint is thoroughly dry, slip the socket covers back on. Install your chandelier or hire an electrician to install it for you. If you need to adjust your hanging light to a better location, follow these simple instructions.

yellow chandelier hanging from ceiling