Before & After: New Life for an Old Light

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Brass wall sconce with frosted glass globe and white arm, labeled "before."
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Fusty light fixtures are a surefire way to show that you haven’t freshened up your decor in a while. A long while, in some cases. When Kristine, the talented Aussie behind The Painted Hive, wanted to brighten up a little nook off her parents’ master bedroom (a “retreat” for her mum), she knew this fixture needed a serious makeover.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

It’s hard to believe it’s the same wall sconce! To create this industrial-chic look, Kristine replaced the frilly glass shade with a plastic safety light cage. She then treated it, along with the sconce arm, with metal effects paint, including rust activator, to give the now on-trend light fixture a believable patina.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

What a creative, affordable and attractive solution for an old fixture! Find all the how-to details and more photos at The Painted Hive. Great job Kristine!