Reuse Large Egg Trays To Light Up Any Room In The House

Empty egg cartons are often a perfect material for upcycling. Made of sturdy cardboard or styrofoam, and plentiful in many homes, there are numerous ways to turn them into clever repurposed projects ranging from beautiful floral wall décor to stylish DIY vases. You can also, according to this YouTube tutorial from Artisan Pallet, turn them into a functioning DIY light with a floral design that looks much more luxe and expensive than it is. All you need are egg cartons, glue, a sturdy box, and some twinkle or string lights. 

This is a great way to use old egg cartons that would otherwise end up in a landfill. It's also a perfect technique to create a cute light for romantic cottagecore or glam spaces that is compact enough to sit on a nightstand or side table. Its low profile won't get knocked over or jostled. This DIY is also a budget-friendly way to light your space, with the only expense really being the set of string lights which can usually be found at places like Amazon and Dollar Tree for a steal. 

To create this distinctive lamp, begin by cutting out the recesses from the egg carton with an Exacto-knife, then trim the edges with a pair of scissors, creating petal shapes around the top perimeter. Larger flats of eggs have the most pieces to work with, but you can combine a couple of cartons to get enough to cover an upcycled cardboard box in your desired size. Paint the egg carton pieces with acrylic paint , adding highlights and lowlights to make the petals look more realistic. Glue the bottom of each flower to the box, creating rows until the top and sides are covered. Once dry, use a blade or awl to poke holes in the bottom of each flower to thread through the bulbs.

While this particular tutorial shows the project made with a square box, you can also do it with any enclosed cardboard container or piece of cardboard. For a pretty lighted wall hanging, glue the flowers to a piece of cardboard cut to your desired shape and thread through the lights. Use a circle with a hole in the middle to create a wreath or cardboard letters for a fun lit sign. You can also use a cylinder, like an oatmeal container or cut-up soda bottle, to create a hanging or freestanding rounded lantern.