Do you know what’s a good trick to make your win Do you know what’s a good trick to make your windows appear bigger? 
Its hanging your curtains high and wide! Here are two tips. 
1️⃣Hang your curtain rod at least 6 inches above your window frame 
2️⃣Purchase a curtain rod that’s 8”-12inches wider than your window so that you can extend the rod at least 4”-6inches on either side. 
For more tips and info on hanging curtains the right way visit paintingbythepenny.com 
#homedecor #makehomeyours #howihaven #finditstyleit #howyouhome #home_and_living #interiordesignhacks #interiorsesignconcept #homeupgrade #curtains #howtodesign
Hi! ☺️ It’s been awhile since I’ve introdu Hi! ☺️ It’s been awhile since I’ve introduced myself so I wanted to share a few things about me! 
1. My name is Joanna but my family and friends call me Nana or Jos
2. I’m a NICU Nurse, furniture artist, interior designer, DIYer, blogger, and content creator (whew! What a long list 🥵) 
3. I’m 36 years old and a mother to a wonderful 13year old boy (if you’ve been here you’ve seen him on my stories with his wonderful reactions 🤣 saved in my highlights) and a dog mom to Penny our border collie/Spaniel mix 
3. I’ve been with my partner Luis for almost 18 years!
4. We’re homeowners of a single family home and own a rental property with three units.
5. One of my dreams is to own property as a vacation home for family and Airbnb (water front would be lovely 😍) 
6. I’m passionate about helping people create spaces they feel good in 
7. I’ve been refinishing furniture for 6 years and love to turn an ugly piece of furniture into something beautiful and incorporate that into my design. 
8. I love thrift shopping! I see potential in so many items! 
9. I was born in New York but raised in Rhode Island. I am of Dominican descent 🇩🇴
10. I love going out to eat,music, and dancing. 
But let’s be real here 
I’m not athletic at all. I can’t and don’t like to run (running feels awkward to me 😂) 
Yoga makes me super sore. My body can’t stretch much. I can’t even touch my toes!
I just started eating and liking cooked veggies like 2 years ago 
I have a dark sense of humor (It’s the way I cope 🙃) 
That’s enough about me! Now tell me something about you! 
#blogger #contentcreator #interiordesigner #furnitureartist #diyer #rhodeisland
A little throw back Thursday on this St. Patrick’s Day 🍀 and some good news for those of you who have been inquiring about custom furniture pieces!! 
We’re renovating our garage soon so that I can work in it year round! No more waiting for warmer weather to work on furniture! 
The garage will become a better workshop, storage, and studio that’ll be nice and cool in the summer and warm in the winter! No more sweating my butt off on my IG stories 😅 
I’ll be sure to share updates and let you know when and where to submit your custom furniture requests! 
#diypaintedfurniture #stpatricksday2022 #furnituremakeover #greenfurniture #refinishedfurniture #greenhutch #decor4home #home_and_living #zibrapainting #bbfrosch #zibraweeklypick #diyprojects #hutch
✨GIVEAWAY CLOSED✨ Who wants this adorable lam ✨GIVEAWAY CLOSED✨
Who wants this adorable lamp base and shade?!! 
This DIY textured sprayed lamp could be yours! 
All you gotta do is:
1️⃣. Be sure to follow me @paintingbythepenny 
2️⃣. Like this post 
3️⃣. Tag a friend in the comments. Each friend you tag counts as (1) entry. 
Giveaway ends Monday 3/7, at 12PM EST. Winner will be announced on stories and sent a DM (from this account only) on Tuesday 3/8 
Open to US residents only. 
Must be 18 years or older to enter. 
This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. 
#paintingbythepenny #giveaway #diylamp
Look at what’s Sherwin Williams’ March Color o Look at what’s Sherwin Williams’ March Color of the Month!…Iron Ore SW 7069 🖤
I’m still in love with these cabinets we painted Iron Ore last year. 
Do you love bold and dark kitchen cabinets or white and classic? 🖤🤍
#kitchencabinets #paintedcabinets #ironore #interiordesign #kitchenremodel #colorofthemonth #diy #painted
Stepping into March admiring this Green wall 💚 Stepping into March admiring this Green wall 💚 in our now cozy space. 
Would you be willing to paint a wall Green in your home? 
Drop a 💚 below if you are! 
Wall color: Sherwin Williams Rock Garden
#familyroom #greenwall #homedecor #cljsquad #mydomaine #accentwall #rockgarden
Happy Valentine’s Day 💕 to my partner in crim Happy Valentine’s Day 💕 to my partner in crime, my true love and best friend @lmjoia. 
#valentinesday #love #valentinesday2022
A year ago we started renovations on our first ren A year ago we started renovations on our first rental property. This was my first ever design, an apartment with the main focus being the kitchen and bathroom. This was my chance to create a space that was bright and modern. Even though it was just an apartment, like many would say. I put the same amount of effort and energy into this as I would any other space. 
I grew up living in apartments, my family never owned a home so creating this for someone to rent meant more to me than just a nice space. It was meant to be a beautiful apartment that they could call home.
#paintingbythepenny #kitchenrenovation #kitchendesign #kitcheninspo
One of the best parts of this design is the unique One of the best parts of this design is the unique and one of a kind furniture. That sideboard and dining table isn’t something you can find right away at a store or could easily buy online. Having unique items like this is what makes your home YOURS. Being able to change something to fit your style and save you money is a win in my book! 
#paintingbythepenny #diningroom #sideboard #diningtable #vintagemodern #livingroomdesign #cljsquad
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Painting by the Penny

Refinished Furniture, DIY, & Interior Design

DIY Projects · January 16, 2022

5 Thrifted Lamp Makeover Ideas

Who doesn’t love a great lamp to help style their home? There are so many options online but there’s a slight problem. The price! Some of these lamps cost hundreds of dollars! Luckily there’s a solution. Did you know you can purchase an inexpensive lamp and give it a makeover? Lamps are one of my Top 10 Thrift Store Home Decor Finds for this exact reason! I put together 5 different lamp makeover ideas for you to try. The transformations are like night and day.

Entry tables with framed art and several lamps that were given a makeover on it

I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission on. Thank you!

Before working on the lamps, I made sure they all worked correctly by adding a light bulb and plugging them in. I cleaned them well then used painters tape and taped the sockets and areas I did not want sprayed or painted. For the cords, I taped around the initial part and then tied an elastic around the rest and put it in a ziplock bag.

Back of lamps lined up with cords on back taped and rolled and tied with elastic
Small lamp on table with socket and bottom taped with blue tape

Lamp makeover idea #1: Faux marble

In 5 Tips For Remodeling A kitchen On A Budget I chat about DIY faux marble for your kitchen countertops. Well, why not try it on lamps too! This little two dollar lamp was the perfect one to try it on.

Small lamp with off white ceramic middle and top and bottom gold sitting on table

I used Rust-Oleum paint and primer in a gloss finish as my base. When spray painting any item I usually go by the directions stated in the can, however I allow more time for my finish to dry then stated. The environment you are in can really make a difference in how successful you’ll be when spraying. Be aware that if you are spraying in humid environment or really cold temps this may affect the dry time. For this reason, even if I know the temperature is just right, I add at least an additional thirty minutes to my dry time.

Small lamp with blue tape around socket and bottom sitting next to white can of spray paint

Once the spray paint was dried it was time to create the marble look.

How to create the faux marble look

I used white paint and dark gray paint (I had some left over Sherwin Williams colors Pure White and Peppercorn). I used small brushes and natural sponges that I purchased at Michaels.

Small white and gold lamp with two plastic bowls in front. Now bowl filled with white paint and the other with gray paint. Small sponge and brush next to bowls

Starting with the dark gray paint, I added a small amount to the corner of the natural sponge to create my lines. I then went over it (while the paint was still wet) with a small brush and a tiny bit of white paint and dabbed it on to soften the lines. With a smaller brush and dark gray paint, I then painted small lines along the previous painted areas I had created and dry brushed over it to soften that too. Check out the video below.

It doesn’t have to be prefect and it can be random lines. It helps to pull up an image of a marble lamp while you’re painting as a guide.

Small white and gold lamp with gray lines painted on white part of lamp

I later made more defined lines using the dark gray paint and branched off of some and soften those lines too. If you find that you made a mistake you can just wipe it off using a Clorox wipe before the paint completely dries.

Small white and gold lamp with gray lines painted on white part and small brush painting dark gray lines

Once it was completely finished, I sprayed the gold to freshen it up using Rust-Oleum Metallic. I would have sprayed the gold first then painted, but the plan was to do Rub N Buff instead of spraying. Unfortunately, the finish with the Rub N’ Buff turned out too dull next to the white gloss paint.

Small lamp with blue tape around socket of lamp and middle sitting next to can of spray paint

I sealed the entire finish using Minwax Polycrylic in clear gloss.

Small lamp with gold top and bottom and white ceramic middle painted with gray lines for marble look sitting next to can of spray polycrylic

This little lamp will look great on a small desk, placed on top of books, or on a shelf. It may be small but it packs a lot of glam ☺️.

End of entry table with small white and gold lamp on top of book and small plant sitting next to it. Framed art leaning against wall behind plant

#2 Stone-Textured Spray Paint

Ok so this lamp makeover idea has easily become my favorite! I snagged this cute little lamp for $5 at the thrift store and sprayed it with Krylon Stone Fine Texture in the color Pebble.

Small ceramic lamp with two small handles and blue pineapple painting in the middle

I rubbed the lamp using a steel wool to remove some of the gloss finish. It was my first time using this spray and man am I impressed! The texture on this lamp is incredible and it went on so nicely!

Small ceramic lamp with two small handles and blue pineapple in the middle sitting next to can of spray paint

This was after just one coat. It smells pretty strong so be sure to spray in a well ventilated room and wear a mask. When spraying, you have to spray from a further distance to avoid drips. It says it dries within 15 minutes but I waited almost an hour in between coats ( I occupied myself with the other lamps while this one dried).

Small ceramic lamp with two small handles wet with beige spray sitting next to spray paint can

Here it is after three coats! It turned out absolutely perfect!

Small beige lamp with two small handles sitting next to can of spray paint

I highly recommend this spray paint. It was so easy to do and it looks incredible! Just remember to follow the directions closely, be aware of your environment conditions when spraying, and allow for ample dry time.

Small beige lamp with two small handles on top of two books with clear vase and greenery to the left of it. Framed artwork leaning against wall behind lamp and books

#3 Chalk Paint

Using chalk paint is great and easy option for a lamp makeover. The consistency is thicker making it easier to layer on and create different textures.

Using Rust-oleum paint in primer in flat black I sprayed the lamp before painting.

Small ceramic lamp with floral painting in the middle sitting next to can of black spray paint
Small lamp with blue tape around socket sitting next to small jar of off white paint

I used Home Decor Chalk Paint in the color Sheepskin and using a small paint brush painted 3/4 of the way up the lamp.

Small lamp painted black on top and white on bottom sitting next to jar of white paint and bowl of gray paint. Sponge and small paint brush next to bowl

With some leftover chalk paint I already had, I used a natural sponge (you can also use a brush) to add my second color. This time to the top portion of the lamp.

Small lamp painted gray on top black in the middle and white on bottom sitting next to small jar of white paint

I applied most of the top color using the sponge and stopped right before I got to the white paint. Once the white paint was dried, I went back with the same sponge and lightly dabbed on the rest of the paint. As I got into the white paint I applied less paint.

Small lamp with gray top and white bottom

I sprayed all of the lamps, except for the marble and concrete with Minwax Polycryclic in satin finish.

Spray can of polycrylic in between two small painted lamps

This cute little lamp reminds me of something you see at Target.

End of entry table with small lamp on top of two books, clear vase with greenery to the left of it and framed artwork leaning against wall behind lamp

#4 Concrete

This was my first time working with concrete. I purchased DAP Ready Mix Concrete Patch and love how it’s already mixed and ready to use.

Two large lamps with small container of concrete in between lamps

All you have to do is stir the concrete patch well before applying. I used a steel wool and went over the lamp to remove some of the gloss finish.

Large lamp next to small container of concrete. Putty knife,steel wool and wooden paint stirrer laying next to lamp

Using a putty knife, I applied the concrete all around the lamp.

Large lamp with putty knife filled with concrete against lamp

This 32 ounce concrete patch was enough for one coat on these two large lamps. It’s pretty messy so be sure to protect your surface and wear gloves when applying.

Two large lamps covered in concrete with small opened container of concrete in between lamps. Putty knife with concrete on it and wet napkin next to container

It took a few hours to completely dry. When the concrete was still a little soft I made indents to create a design using my fingers. I waited a little too long and some areas had already harden but next time I do this, I’m going to smooth the concrete out more. It could have also used another thin coat of concrete in order to achieve a better design but I ran out and did not want to go out and purchase more. I like how old and worn it looks though. I left it to dry overnight before sanding and painting.

Two large lamps covered in concrete on top of table

Once the concrete was completely dried, I used a 120 grit sanding block and sanded the sharp edges to smooth.

Large lamp covered in concrete with hand and sanding sponge against lamp

I used the Home Chalk paint in the color Sandstorm and lightly dry brushed it on, going in the same direction as I did to apply the concrete.

Large lamp covered in concrete with small container of white paint next to it
Large lamp with concrete on it and paint brush against it

With the same brush, I wet it a little and dabbed the brush onto a paper towel and dry brushed using circular motions.

Concrete lamp with can of spray paint next to it

After painting, I taped off the concrete and sprayed the top and bottom of the lamp using Rust-Oleum in the color oil rubbed bronze.

I love how this lamp looks super rustic and worn. The perfectionist in me wishes it was nice and smooth but the imperfections gives it so much character.

End of entry table with large lamp on top two books next to it with small plant on top. Framed art against wall

Concrete look #2

For the second concrete lamp, once it was dried I added a little spackling on some of the cracks. I might have added too much of a heavy coat of concrete and gravity pulled small areas down. Nonetheless this isn’t something that can’t be fixed. Another coat would have worked well but the spackling did the trick. The spackle goes on pink and turns white when dry.

I sanded it this time using my Surfprep Sander and slowing the speed down worked really well.

I used Dixie Bell Chalk Mineral Paint in the color Terracotta and mixed it with the Home Decor Chalk paint (the same paint I used on the chalk painted lamp) to lighten it up. This was my base color.

I then painted the lamp using Sherwin Williams in the color Khaki Shade.

Using some left over paint from the faux marble lamp, I dried brushed some areas with the gray and white paint.

#5 Spackling

The last lamp makeover idea you can try is spackling. When I first did it it didn’t go as well. I created these random lines around the lamp while the spackle was drying but I did not like that the lines weren’t uniform.

So back to the drawing board I went. I scraped off the spackling and cleaned and sprayed the lamp with Rust-Oleum flat black paint and primer.

Using a putty knife, I applied the spackling to the lamp and left the top portion as is.

I then sanded it using my Surfprep sander. The spackling was very easy to sand. Once that was all set, I painted the lamp black and used painters tape to create a dip look.

The bottom was painted Sherwin Williams Khaki Shade (same color I used on the concrete lamp)

The lamp could have easily been left black after spraying but I wanted to give the spackling a try. The spackling adds nice texture and I love how rustic and distressed it looks.

Where to find shades for your lamp makeover

If you read my blog post on thrift shop items for home decor and what I stay away then you know I’m leaving the used lamp shade behind. I like to purchase new shades for my lamps. One of the best places for lamp shades is At Home Decor Store. They have the best prices and tons of options. They also have harp holders and other accessories for your lamp.

Another great place for lamp shades is Lowe’s. They have a variety of options and accessories but for a slightly higher price then At Home Decor Store.

For online shopping, Amazon has lots of options and sets of 2 shades for really great prices.

Now go and save yourself a few hundred bucks by getting a thrifted lamp, painting supplies, and get to work with this great DIY!

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About me

Hi! I’m Joanna, a Latina who is passionate about making homes beautiful through furniture, design and DIY! Follow along as I share all my tips and tricks and the behind the scenes. I hope to inspire you as much as you all inspire me!

Instagram

Follow @Paintingbythepenny

Do you know what’s a good trick to make your win Do you know what’s a good trick to make your windows appear bigger? 
Its hanging your curtains high and wide! Here are two tips. 
1️⃣Hang your curtain rod at least 6 inches above your window frame 
2️⃣Purchase a curtain rod that’s 8”-12inches wider than your window so that you can extend the rod at least 4”-6inches on either side. 
For more tips and info on hanging curtains the right way visit paintingbythepenny.com 
#homedecor #makehomeyours #howihaven #finditstyleit #howyouhome #home_and_living #interiordesignhacks #interiorsesignconcept #homeupgrade #curtains #howtodesign
Hi! ☺️ It’s been awhile since I’ve introdu Hi! ☺️ It’s been awhile since I’ve introduced myself so I wanted to share a few things about me! 
1. My name is Joanna but my family and friends call me Nana or Jos
2. I’m a NICU Nurse, furniture artist, interior designer, DIYer, blogger, and content creator (whew! What a long list 🥵) 
3. I’m 36 years old and a mother to a wonderful 13year old boy (if you’ve been here you’ve seen him on my stories with his wonderful reactions 🤣 saved in my highlights) and a dog mom to Penny our border collie/Spaniel mix 
3. I’ve been with my partner Luis for almost 18 years!
4. We’re homeowners of a single family home and own a rental property with three units.
5. One of my dreams is to own property as a vacation home for family and Airbnb (water front would be lovely 😍) 
6. I’m passionate about helping people create spaces they feel good in 
7. I’ve been refinishing furniture for 6 years and love to turn an ugly piece of furniture into something beautiful and incorporate that into my design. 
8. I love thrift shopping! I see potential in so many items! 
9. I was born in New York but raised in Rhode Island. I am of Dominican descent 🇩🇴
10. I love going out to eat,music, and dancing. 
But let’s be real here 
I’m not athletic at all. I can’t and don’t like to run (running feels awkward to me 😂) 
Yoga makes me super sore. My body can’t stretch much. I can’t even touch my toes!
I just started eating and liking cooked veggies like 2 years ago 
I have a dark sense of humor (It’s the way I cope 🙃) 
That’s enough about me! Now tell me something about you! 
#blogger #contentcreator #interiordesigner #furnitureartist #diyer #rhodeisland
A little throw back Thursday on this St. Patrick’s Day 🍀 and some good news for those of you who have been inquiring about custom furniture pieces!! 
We’re renovating our garage soon so that I can work in it year round! No more waiting for warmer weather to work on furniture! 
The garage will become a better workshop, storage, and studio that’ll be nice and cool in the summer and warm in the winter! No more sweating my butt off on my IG stories 😅 
I’ll be sure to share updates and let you know when and where to submit your custom furniture requests! 
#diypaintedfurniture #stpatricksday2022 #furnituremakeover #greenfurniture #refinishedfurniture #greenhutch #decor4home #home_and_living #zibrapainting #bbfrosch #zibraweeklypick #diyprojects #hutch
✨GIVEAWAY CLOSED✨ Who wants this adorable lam ✨GIVEAWAY CLOSED✨
Who wants this adorable lamp base and shade?!! 
This DIY textured sprayed lamp could be yours! 
All you gotta do is:
1️⃣. Be sure to follow me @paintingbythepenny 
2️⃣. Like this post 
3️⃣. Tag a friend in the comments. Each friend you tag counts as (1) entry. 
Giveaway ends Monday 3/7, at 12PM EST. Winner will be announced on stories and sent a DM (from this account only) on Tuesday 3/8 
Open to US residents only. 
Must be 18 years or older to enter. 
This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. 
#paintingbythepenny #giveaway #diylamp
Look at what’s Sherwin Williams’ March Color o Look at what’s Sherwin Williams’ March Color of the Month!…Iron Ore SW 7069 🖤
I’m still in love with these cabinets we painted Iron Ore last year. 
Do you love bold and dark kitchen cabinets or white and classic? 🖤🤍
#kitchencabinets #paintedcabinets #ironore #interiordesign #kitchenremodel #colorofthemonth #diy #painted
Stepping into March admiring this Green wall 💚 Stepping into March admiring this Green wall 💚 in our now cozy space. 
Would you be willing to paint a wall Green in your home? 
Drop a 💚 below if you are! 
Wall color: Sherwin Williams Rock Garden
#familyroom #greenwall #homedecor #cljsquad #mydomaine #accentwall #rockgarden
Happy Valentine’s Day 💕 to my partner in crim Happy Valentine’s Day 💕 to my partner in crime, my true love and best friend @lmjoia. 
#valentinesday #love #valentinesday2022
A year ago we started renovations on our first ren A year ago we started renovations on our first rental property. This was my first ever design, an apartment with the main focus being the kitchen and bathroom. This was my chance to create a space that was bright and modern. Even though it was just an apartment, like many would say. I put the same amount of effort and energy into this as I would any other space. 
I grew up living in apartments, my family never owned a home so creating this for someone to rent meant more to me than just a nice space. It was meant to be a beautiful apartment that they could call home.
#paintingbythepenny #kitchenrenovation #kitchendesign #kitcheninspo
One of the best parts of this design is the unique One of the best parts of this design is the unique and one of a kind furniture. That sideboard and dining table isn’t something you can find right away at a store or could easily buy online. Having unique items like this is what makes your home YOURS. Being able to change something to fit your style and save you money is a win in my book! 
#paintingbythepenny #diningroom #sideboard #diningtable #vintagemodern #livingroomdesign #cljsquad
Top 10 posts of 2021 and my last post of the year! Top 10 posts of 2021 and my last post of the year! I hope you all have a wonderful New Years Eve! We’ll be home eating Chinese, baking cookies, playing games, and just relaxing. What are your NYE plans? 
#paintingbythepenny #diy #cljsquad #refinishedfurniture #apartmentremodel #top10 #2021recap
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