Repurpose A Thrifted Ceramic Figurine For A Unique Lamp On A Budget

One of the small pleasures in the world of a thrifter is getting lost in the figurine shelves. There are so many things to see and touch, and these vintage statues are often so garish that you can almost hear them scream, "Take me home!" You might spot a wildly smiling clown, a puckish owl, or a demure lady in waiting. Before you move on, thinking that not in a million years could any one of the them find a proud place in your home, consider how these cheap and easy-to-find thrift store items can make the ultimate statement piece by turning the figurines into unique lamps.

You'll need creativity and a sense of humor to repurpose many figurines. If you're a dog lover, a wide-eyed painted poodle might be perfect for crafting into a lamp for a side table in the living room. It also might make a playful addition in a child's room if the space is dog- or animal-themed. But, many old figurines are so out of sync with the times that they might look kitsch once turned into a lamp. You can paint the figurine, decorate the lampshade, or both. Imagine the possibilities of what you can do with an epic Elvis bust, for instance. Whatever the intent, these repurposed lamps will certainly be one of a kind.

For such an imaginative upcycle, the steps for making a lamp out of a figurine are straightforward. First, make sure that the figurine is hollow inside so that it can be wired. Then, drill a hole at the top of the statue, which will require you to choose which drill bit to use for the project. In this case, it would be a ceramic drill bit. You can then electrify the figurine with a lamp kit. The package will contain the directions. 

The figurine can be placed on a surface without a base. You'll just need to make sure that the lampshade is the right size. You won't want it to cover a part of the figurine you'll want to see, such as a face, or be too narrow or too wide for the piece. If the figurine is so light that it might topple over, fill the inside halfway with sand to add weight. The shade can be decorated as you see fit. You can paint, decoupage, or add embellishments such as pom-poms. You can likely purchase a lampshade for a few dollars at a thrift shop or on Facebook marketplace, making this another DIY home décor idea to upgrade your home on a budget.