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How To: Replace Ugly Rental Ceiling Shades

atla032608-ceilinglamp01.jpgA common apartment renter's dilemma is right above our heads: ugly ceiling light shades that seemed to have been passed out to every landlord in all of greater Los Angeles. Every darn rental I've moved into has these square or circle glass travesties against decor. So I set out to replace our ceiling shade with something more modern...

 
 

atla032608-ceilinglamp02.jpgHere's the old and tired hardware store buy-3-for-1 special we had in our bathroom. My girlfriend and I couldn't find a vintage ceiling shade we liked at the time (although we later found one for our living room with a beautiful midcentury starburst pattern), so we looked on eBay and found this dealer with a selection of moderately priced shades in our budget.

atla032608-ceilinglamp03.jpgThe hardware includes this important extension and connection piece, which allows for the shade to screw into your existing overhead lighting fixture. It also allows the the woven plastic sheeting form to avoid any contact with the bulbs (the CFL's we use are low heat anyhow).

On a side note, while installing this, I dropped the CFL bulb I had pulled out to straighten. It dropped into the tub and somehow didn't shatter. N:Vision bulbs are apparently built with mercury contained in a diamond shell...I was relieved I did not have to face my first CFL mercury emergency cleanup.

atla032608-ceilinglamp04.jpgSeriously an quick, easy change that made all the difference in our bathroom without any fooling around with any electrical tasks. Here's a close up of it lit up and a wider angle view of the ceiling shade off. We liked the results so much, we're bidding on another one!

atla032608-ceilinglamp05.jpg

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Comments (51)

Gregory--I'm totally stealing this idea for the kitchen!

posted by laure on March 26th 2008 at 9:59am
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that looks amazing!! i think i'm going to try it too.

posted by jamie* on March 26th 2008 at 10:00am
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Now... what to do with the old one?

posted by jick on March 26th 2008 at 10:10am
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what to do with the old one? save it for when you move out :-D you can't leave those great lights in the apartment!

posted by kittyj on March 26th 2008 at 10:13am
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I have four of those discount shades and they make me sick!

posted by Lady J on March 26th 2008 at 10:13am
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Very pretty. And I like knowing about that extension piece that can be added onto the fixture.

posted by Fontessa on March 26th 2008 at 10:15am
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Brilliant!
And thanks for using CFL's!

posted by bepsf on March 26th 2008 at 10:24am
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I bought several of these from the same seller about a year ago. Really affordable ( even if you Buy Now 'em like I did) and great quality. I get compliments all the time. Love 'em!

posted by Veruca on March 26th 2008 at 10:28am
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Love that! I'm going to have to get one, too -- when I switched out my lightbulbs, I couldn't bear to put the hideous one back up again, so I've been doing bare bulbs instead.

P.S. What do people do with CFLs in apartments? Leave them? Take them with? I've replaced a couple of bulbs already and it adds up, especially the big round mirror ones in the bathroom.

posted by happify on March 26th 2008 at 10:42am
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I have terrible tiny light fixtures that are the same in every room of my rental and will be difficult to update. While my rooms are not tiny, each has been wired with only 1 CFL 60watt bulb, leaving my apartment generally dim on all levels.

posted by jenny! on March 26th 2008 at 10:47am
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The FIRST thing I do whenever I move into a new apartment is to replace those square fixtures with nicer vintage ones from the flea market. I take them with me when I move if they're really incredible, but usually I can find them for a few bucks and I feel like some sort of home decor vigilante by leaving them for the next person, fighting crimes against decor, one apartment light fixture at a time...

posted by Angie in Montreal on March 26th 2008 at 10:54am
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Im having this exact problem right now. To hell with those awful glass fixtures! These are perfect, but holy cow, did you see the shipping cost!? $25!!! That's half the cost of the fixture itself. I think I'll find a cheaper solution elsewhere. It'd be perfect, but $75 for these is just too much.

posted by milom on March 26th 2008 at 11:03am
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Thank you for addressing this! I can't tell you how many cheapo fixes I've tried over the years. My favourite involved examination table paper and thumbtacks, but I think I was lucky it didn't burst into flames.

posted by luna on March 26th 2008 at 11:26am
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awesome! thanks!! i totally have this problem as well.

posted by jmw on March 26th 2008 at 11:27am
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Ooooh! Me want! FYI...I just saw that someone did a best offer on the little one for $20 and it was accepted!

posted by romeoandjewels on March 26th 2008 at 11:40am
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I have a ceiling-mounted fixture with two light sockets. would this work for that?

posted by caitlin on March 26th 2008 at 11:54am
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Forever the bane of every Apartment I've ever lived in.

This needs to be a "Project"/ Class Assignment for a Product Design/ Industrial Design classes at ALL DESIGN schools.
(HINT - HINT!)

Once I used a Japanese Rice Paper Box Lantern (the collapsible type) and "hacked" that as a modification.

I'm working on an IKEA hack now- so I can't reveal it as of yet.
Stay tuned.....

posted by ManofSteel on March 26th 2008 at 12:00pm
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caitlin: I'm using this on a two-socket overhead fixture. The unit actually comes with a three socket fixture if you feel up to the task of rewiring.

posted by gregory on March 26th 2008 at 12:05pm
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I like those original square shades compared to the 'new' Boob Lights that my entire rental house is adorned with.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImage/75b3df1b-86d2-46ed-83da-20c2ffa83e85_300.jpg

posted by revolution9 on March 26th 2008 at 12:08pm
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UPDATE: It's Mine, all Mine!!!! They accepted my best offer for the medium size one at $20.

posted by romeoandjewels on March 26th 2008 at 12:08pm
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Very nice.

posted by Gwen on March 26th 2008 at 12:17pm
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I made this: http://www.instructables.com/id/Large-ceiling-lamp/ two years ago. It's OK but a bit messy, though not as ugly as the square shade above. Some use the words 'romantic'.

I'm looking for a large ceiling shade to replace my 120 x 80 cm bag. Maybe the Stone from Almalight, but I'm wary of price and availability.

posted by Jute Zak on March 26th 2008 at 12:36pm
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Agreed, revolution9. I have boobs all over my ceilings and it drives me crazy.

posted by imavunderbrah on March 26th 2008 at 12:58pm
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Yes, revolution9, these are pervasive and ugly and horribly manufactured. Yuck! we're trying to banish these from our home. There are only two more to give the boot to.

posted by wig3000 on March 26th 2008 at 1:02pm
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What a transformation! Congratulations on a great improvement.

posted by ebrown on March 26th 2008 at 1:18pm
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I too have the "nipple" light fixtures everywhere and they are ugly! I think its funny that you call the "boob" fixtures!

posted by SydneyBristow on March 26th 2008 at 1:36pm
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Oh my goodness! What a great idea. (1) I live in an apartment with those gross fixtures. (2) My bedroom is so very very close to that color. I've got to try it! 100% inspired.

posted by Zinzi on March 26th 2008 at 1:38pm
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I wish my apartment had ceiling fixtures! I can't remember the last place I lived that did.

posted by kostia on March 26th 2008 at 2:01pm
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omg, those are perfect!!

thanks, gregory!

posted by my little apartment on March 26th 2008 at 2:37pm
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Thanks for the update romeoandjewels! The seller just accepted my $20 offer for one of the medium ones. Woohoo!!

Enjoy your fixture!!!

posted by DottieLove on March 26th 2008 at 2:39pm
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They must have just gotten a flurry of orders - I just noticed they dropped their Buy It Now prices on all the lamps! And dropped their shipping to $19.99 from $24.99!

posted by romeoandjewels on March 26th 2008 at 3:10pm
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You're welcome, DottieLove! Since it's local, I hope to receive it by Friday. Enjoy yours too!

posted by romeoandjewels on March 26th 2008 at 3:11pm
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what paint color is that????

posted by mariegael on March 26th 2008 at 5:42pm
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OMG! I already got the shades - craaaazy! And while I had a ruler out yestersday and looked at how big 24" is - I was shocked when I received a giant box at work today. It's HUUUUUGE. If you need a small shade - definitely go with the small, not a medium.

posted by romeoandjewels on March 27th 2008 at 8:46am
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Thank you thank you thank you! The only other AT post I recall that addresses changing the light fixtures involved rewiring, which I am so not willing to do in my 100-year-old rental (complete with paint-encrusted light fixtures!).

posted by squidlette on March 27th 2008 at 8:59am
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I received my second new shade this morning which I ordered right after posting about this. They deliver FAST!

posted by gregory on March 27th 2008 at 9:24am
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Dang. That's awesome! Makes me wish our landlord hadn't installed these not awful but not so great new hanging light fixtures in our apartment. I like them, sorta, but my god are they ever obtrusive and bright. They're fairly low-hanging, too, so I'm always running into them when doing things like standing on the bed to change the sheets. Might have to investigate the possibilities of replacing them when we go to install a projector screen...

posted by heatherly on March 27th 2008 at 9:35am
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i'm kinda bummed that they can't combine shipping and they don't offer pick-up. i'm finding it a bit difficult to pay $40 to ship two light fixtures from Orange County to LA. :(

posted by my little apartment on March 27th 2008 at 3:30pm
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I'm a little late in responding to this post, but I have the same exact problem! This looks like a fantastic solution. Thanks for sharing!

posted by suzy8track on March 28th 2008 at 6:51am
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Goodnightdean - Once you see the boxes (they're HUGE - barely fit in my car) and the fact that they come overnight - the shipping totally seems worth it. The box is more than two feet across...

posted by romeoandjewels on March 29th 2008 at 3:23pm
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So, does anyone have any ideas for what to do with all those book ceiling lights? Will these shades work with those as well? Or are we stuck with re-wiring....ugh! I was in Home Depot the other day and these literally come in packs of 2. They should be banned.

ps - I'm on the East Coast, and am devastated to here that the boob light is a nationwide plague.

FF

posted by foreverfrida on March 30th 2008 at 2:24pm
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I would like to find a new shade for the ceiling light, but I just want something that goes on as this one does, not something that requires wiring. How can I tell whether or not a fixture will go over the existing light fixture, as this one does?

posted by Andy on March 31st 2008 at 11:42am
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Gregory, you rock.

posted by southof290 on April 1st 2008 at 12:39pm
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I ordered one of these for my kitchen, and it should be arriving any day now. Can't wait to install it! Thanks for the info!

posted by suzy8track on April 2nd 2008 at 8:55am
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I followed the link to this posting from 4-17. I have overhead lighting in my apartment but it is with the shiny cheap brass or "brass" fitting where the globe (a frosted cheap and flattened sphere shape) screws in from the sides in 3 spots. I'm not at home to measure them now, but haven't seen a lot of options that aren't as ugly/boring/standard/did I forget to say ugly? as the ones in my rented apartment. Actually some are more horrific in an effort to look glamorous.

The bedroom and foyer/office are identical and a smaller one is in the kitchen. There is one in the bathroom as well, but it appears to have a vintage globe (whatever was considered ordinary in the 50s -guessing) on it. I'm sorry I didn't study it and am posting from work. Please, where can I find some stylish replacements, vintage or repro?

posted by K T G on April 17th 2008 at 10:41am
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Ew, yes. I had boob fixtures all over my house when I bought it. Including some brass ones with yellowy smoked glass. Puke. The most annoying thing about them is that they were clearly brand new and were put in to spruce the place up before selling it.

I didn't have any money whatsoever, having just bought a new house and all, so I bought square glass ceiling fixtures for $3 each at Home Depot. Most of them are still up three years later. Sure, they're boring, but they look a lot more in place in my 1893 house than the freakin '80s boobs did.

posted by eeka on June 15th 2008 at 7:57am
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Anyone know cool shades for old "just the bulb" and pullchain fixture? I need a cover for it.
Thanks

posted by parrishnut on October 22nd 2008 at 7:25pm
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Can anyone tell me what happened to this ebay seller?
I love these!

posted by campnlullu on October 28th 2008 at 9:58am
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I think they are still around. I purchased a light from them back in April. Here is the link to their store.http://myworld.ebay.com/concepts4living

posted by suzy8track on December 27th 2008 at 3:09pm
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It's posts like this that makes Gregory one of my favorite poster here on AT. I love your work man!

posted by nomorecollegfurn on April 1st 2009 at 1:51pm
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Anyone know if this dealer is still selling these? This particular shade is no longer showing up on their eBay account.

posted by Polyrevenge on August 14th 2009 at 3:33pm
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