DIY Dollar Store Light Fixture Transformation

I gave my laundry room light a vintage touch with a dollar store find. 

Here's how: 

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I have a bit of an extreme personality. And it's not the least bit consistent. 

For months, I've been fixated on an $800 vintage light fixture for this room. Just to be clear, I was fixated, but *pretty much* aware this was not in my budget. But I went from loving that thing to the alternative...spending all of one dollar to update the existing fixture. 

One. Dollar.

Hollaaaaaa.

I keep telling my husband that I just saved us $799...of which I should now have carte blanche to spend as I please {that's how I feel the "system" should work}. However, he's working very hard to remind me that the $800 light fixture wasn't ever going to be anyway. So the most I saved us was like fifty bucks on one from a big box store. {But, heyyyy....$49 is nothing to sneeze at, right?}

This is why I was blatantly unsuccessful as a couponer. I would, literally, spend the amount I saved as a "reward" to myself for saving it. Only instead of buying groceries, I'd take that money to Hobby Lobby for a reallllll good time. Eventually I stopped couponing and there went my Hobby Lobby budget. Pffft.

My entire life is one big oxymoron.

But I am happy with my $1 light makeover!

This is where this project started. I found a bunch of these wire waste baskets in the office supply section of Dollar Tree. It's not perfect, but hey...it's a dollar.

Got out the trusty tin snips.

I initially just cut out the bottom of the basket. However, it proved to be too small for the light fixture. So, Plan B:

I actually had to drag out the measuring tape and do some pre-planning...this was the most effort that was put into this project. I can't decide if that's awesome or lazy?

So I determined where the eight inch circle would fall within the basket shape and cut there. It was easy, since the grid on the trash can was a built-in guide.

Did a quick fit test. I used the existing screws to hold the new basket in place.

I taped off my bulb pieces and spray painted the whole thing. If you do this, be careful not to paint the wires that are underneath the fixture...because you'll be in a world of hurt if those end up connected to the wrong wires in the end.

While I was determined to do this project solo {sometimes I'm weird like that}, I couldn't, however, take photos and reconnect electrical wires at the same time. So the man was brought in for this part. :) Don't you love the makeshift template on the ceiling...caused by dirtiness? 

And there she is. All of one dollar {I have gobs of spray paint on hand, so I didn't even have to buy that}. I do, however, think I will take a cool suggestion that my friend Julie from redheadcandecorate.com gave me: vintage bulbs! How fun will that be?

My husband was concerned about the bulbs being so exposed. Honestly, our glass fixtures had some sort of a yellow tint to them, so I prefer this a lot more. That and you can't see when there's a dead fly in the bottom of the glass bowl of the light fixture.

And of course...the washer's running in the full-picture view.

Of course it is.

I'm really close to being completely done with this room...only one more project!

I do intend to get back to posting about the kitchen again {still have several projects to post about from there}. I'm actually waiting on the rest of my cabinet knobs to come in...which are currently on back order {ugh}. So, I've turned my attention to the laundry room while we wait on those. 

{i linky-party here}

and at Coastal Charm and Savvy Southern Style

Neglect your chores like me and don't miss a thing:

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