DIY Birdhouse Lamp

Turn and old wooden birdhouse into a lamp. It's an easy DIY with dramatic results.

From Birdhouse To Custom Lamp

My husband and I have always made a really good DIY team.  I walk through the house and dream and he makes it all a reality, as he is able to build just about anything.  Over the years it has saved us countless thousands of dollars in labor costs, not to mention architect and builder consulting fees.

By combining forces, we have been able to eliminate a lot of the middlemen.

I come up with the design plan and he tells me if it's feasible based on structure and code, then we get busy doing!  I really am a lucky girl, as his knowledge and capabilities are extensive.

The birdhouse lamp was such a tiny project, it was almost a waste of his talent, but since I have absolutely no electrical skills and I didn't want the house to burn down, his time was well spent!  

We found the birdhouse for under ten bucks on a shopping spree and knew immediately it could be more.  My husband drilled holes in the top and bottom of the house and threaded a pipe from an old lamp through them. 

Before he cut the pipe, we played around with the shade a bit to see how high off the house it should sit.

He added a brand new bulb socket (we used one for a three way bulb) and a new plug and wire for safety, they were all super cheap from the local hardware store.

The lamp looked good, except the top of the metal pipe was exposed and we didn't like that.  My creative hubby found an oak tree branch on our front lawn, cut it, hollowed it out, stained it to match the birdhouse and slid it over the pipe. 

He also added black, rubber feet to the base of house to give it enough height to accommodate the plug wire.

  

Next, it was my turn!  I had an old, white lampshade in the basement that fit, with regard to shape and size, but it was boring and needed a punch.  I grabbed my stencils and my paint and added a little flair to the shade.  

  

   

It was a super simple project, but it adds the perfect accent to our rustic cottage living room.  I just love looking at that lamp when I walk by or sit in the room....and even though it's certainly not our greatest collaboration, it's a sweet reminder of our very creative partnership!

 

How'd we do?

Let me know what you think!

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