The key to making a table lamp is finding the correct socket set-up and mount. Some readymade kits already exist but, otherwise, you have to figure out what works best for your chosen vessel-turned-lamp base. I myself had a random wooden vase/candleholder that perfectly accommodated a basic globe shade from the hardware store. It was screaming to become a lamp, and I was more than happy to oblige. 

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I was just using my electric sander, which I’ve owned for more than 10 years now, to sand down the spackle job I did on my bathroom walls. I’ve decided to wallpaper and wanted a smooth surface. My parents gave it to me as a birthday gift since I’ve always been interested in DIY projects, mostly refinishing furniture.

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When my boyfriend and I moved into our new home, we were faced with three walls of windows in our living room, one of which was twelve feet long. We loved the light, but we didn't love the prospect of paying out the nose for custom rods, or for all the pre-made ones it would require, for that matter. So we devised a way to make three lengthy rods for under $25.

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It seems like power outlets have been the same basic design for as long as they've existed. More than a decade into the 21st century, we're finally seeing some innovation in this area with electrical outlets and accessories that make life easier and conserve energy. 

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If you're running wires for the tech in your home and going through the trouble (but oh so worth it) of hiding your cables, why not go the extra mile and add custom wall plates to make for a clean professional look. There are tons of options out there, check out our guide from the common to uncommon! More

In trying to configure her home office, Kelly from View Along the Way ran into what she describes as a very "hush-hush" problem for designers: the lamp cord. Rather than working around unsightly or trip-causing cords, Kelly and her husband figured out a clever, inexpensive way to get rid of the problem altogether. More

How useful would it be to have an outlet in the bathroom or kitchen for a drawer where small appliances like rechargeable flashlights, smartphone, hair dryers, curling irons, and other occasional use plug-in items could easily access and plug-in? GardenWeb user, beaglesdoitbetter, had an outlet professionally installed inside her master bath vanity and I'm left wondering why this isn't more common... More

Just like suitcases with wheels, recessed power outlets are one of those "I can't believe it wasn't around 'til now" inventions. But even if you know they exist, you might not know how to use them. Here are five places around any home, apartment or loft where you should install this space-saving electrical hardware. More

A few months back I submitted a Good Question to the Apartment Therapy community asking if you knew where to find a swag light similar to Don Draper's. The answer, it seems, is that half of you remember seeing one in your grandmother's house decades ago, the other half of you just threw one away, and the only two similar lights in the world were just snagged by Emily Henderson at an L.A. thrift store. Well, it's a few days before the season finale, and I'm finally done making my own. More

I recently discovered that if you are renter, like me, one of the easiest ways to make a space feel more personal is to change the light fixture. It can change the overall mood of a room and it also gives you the opportunity to select the kind of light you want in your home. Of course, in my case, the change was extreme as we only had bare bulbs to begin with, but it's incredible how a relatively simple task can make such a difference!

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