How to Make a Stylish Light from an Old Birdcage

Repurpose a Thift Store Birdcage into a Unique Lamp

Nov 26, 2008

Sometimes It's easy being green. This simple project will help you turn a decorative thrift store birdcage into a functional lamp for any room in your home.

Birdcages have long been used as a creative way to add a little decorative charm to the home. A simple hanging art piece, a functional container for anything from gifts to spices to plants—birdcages have an almost ordinary presence in many homes. So much so that decorative birdcages are a standard find in almost any thrift store. But how can you turn that cagey object into a functioning piece? Lighten it up!

Lamp Style: Choosing the Right Birdcage for Your Repurposed Lamp

Tiered, rounded, rectangular, or square; bamboo, iron, or plastic—birdcages come in a wide variety of styles—choose the style of birdcage that best compliments the room where you plan to use the light. You will also need something to cover the bulb. Options abound from a plastic cup to a faux flower to high-grade paper. Just make sure the wattage of the bulb you use corresponds to the casing material. Once you have your materials, you can easily change the look of the birdcage with a simple paint job. Just clean it up, hang the light outside, ensuring that you have access to all sides and surfaces of the cage, and spray it with the paint of your choice.

Let There Be Light: Adding Electrics to Your Birdcage

Once you’ve prepped your birdcage, it’s time to add the electrics. While the particulars will depend on the cage, a standard light kit from your local home center will provide you with all you need. Simply wire the light socket through the birdcage and bulb cover, add your light plug and hang your birdcage! If you want the option of turning your cage on and off without plugging the lamp in and pulling it out every time, add an on/off switch to the cord at a handy level depending on where you plan to hang the cage.

Make it Fly: Hanging Options for Your Unique Lighting Project

There are a number of hanging options—the simplest, screwing a hook into the ceiling and using string, works best on a porch or in an informal setting. In the bathroom, try hanging a bamboo birdcage directly from a ceiling hook. Kitchen cages are often best served with a metal chain and gold ceiling hook. Whatever you use, make sure that your ceiling hook can hold the modest weight of the cage and that your cord is long enough to be discreetly run to an outlet.

Have Fun: Let Your Birdcage Light Soar

The secret to this project is to have fun and be creative. Just play with your birdcage and let your imagination fly away. And if you just can’t decide which birdcage is best, create a series of these lamps and place them in the same general area. Use lower wattage or smaller bulbs and create an ambiance perfect for lovebirds.

What You'll Need:

The copyright of the article How to Make a Stylish Light from an Old Birdcage in Green/Simple Living is owned by Samantha Gleisten. Permission to republish How to Make a Stylish Light from an Old Birdcage in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.