You Can Find All the Supplies for This Stylish DIY Home Upgrade at the Dollar Store
Wanting to freshen up your surroundings for 2023? You don’t need to spend a fortune to do it. If you’re willing to put in a little extra time and a little extra work, DIY upgrades can create the high-impact transformation you’re looking for.
One great way to change up your space is with new lighting. Yes, you can pay an electrician to wire in new overhead lights or sconces, but swapping out fixtures is a surprisingly easy DIY task, too, as long as you follow proper safety protocol. Even easier, though, is just swapping out a light’s shade. And if you’re wanting to create something with boho vibes, look no further than this clever and gorgeous DIY from Ndandu Khavhadi (@justamomwithadrill).
Ndandu redid her whole patio dining area with stunning results, and with a small budget of about $200 USD. One of the highlights? Her DIY lighting, which she created with three low-cost materials: jute twine, glue, and a large balloon, all of which you can grab on the cheap at budget-friendly places like dollar stores — you might even have these supplies already in your junk drawer!
Ndandu started by soaking the twine in a mix of glue and water to saturate it; after that, she wrapped it around her inflated balloon, which served as her mold. (Ndandu notes on Instagram that if she were to do this again, she’d opt for an exercise ball since it’s a little sturdier than a balloon and will hold its shape longer.) Once the twine was in place, an extra brushing of glue over top helped ensure that when the project dried, it would hold its shape.
After letting the glue dry completely, Ndandu popped the balloon and cut a hole in the bottom of the shade to her desired diameter; this is also when you would need to cut a hole to feed a pendant’s cord through if you haven’t already left one. To keep the edges from fraying, Ndandu used matching twine threaded around the open edges in a whip stitch.
After that, it was as simple as slipping the shade onto the pendant light. You can use a light that you already have in place, or grab a plug-in pendant light for under $10 and use ceiling hook to secure it. Ta-da! Totally new lighting for less than $50.
Want more lighting inspo? Check out these 19 secrets for getting the perfect lighting in every spot in your home.