Upcycling and Repurposing Ideas for Lighting

Upcycling and Repurposing Ideas for Lighting from Antique Shopping

One of my favorite FAVORITE things to do is go antique shopping…well, mostly window shopping. I find so much inspiration when I’m out and about. It’s trash to treasure at its finest! A fantastic area for this is the Orange Circle in Old Towne Orange California where I peruse all the antique shops with a fascinated eye.

These antique shops not only have a huge selections of old collectibles, they have several inspirational and cleverly designed upcycled one-of-a-kind pieces. All the pieces have something in common, the ordinary was transformed into the extraordinary.

I hope you enjoy what I found.

Surrounded by walls and shelves and aisles of “old stuff” I found a lot of inspirational ideas for home décor and DIY projects. To narrow it down, I thought I’d put together a post of upcycling and repurposing ideas for lighting. The lighting in your home is not only functional, but can really become a statement art piece and can set the tone for the decor in the room. 

Upcycled Chandeliers

Let’s start with some upcycling ideas. Not necessarily repurposed, but these are rather upcycled chandeliers that were embellished with crystals. As a result, the crystals transform these old pieces into chic and stylish. It doesn’t have to be lavish, a a simple row of crystals at the bottom of a shade looks fabulous too.

Upcycled Chandeliers in Cages

I’ve always wanted to do this, and hopefully I will soon. These are beautiful chandeliers in cages. I saw so many cages that would work perfectly. There is something beautiful about the mix of shiny crystals and metal.

Probably my two favorites, these were made from bicycle wheels. I love the mixture of masculine and feminine design.

Repurposed Floor Lamps

I found a few repurposed desk lamps and floor lamps. Many had an industrial look and feel. I noticed that shades are intentionally left open, exposing the bulbs a part of the design.

Other Unique Lighting Ideas

It’s amazing what you can make if you use your imagination. Here are a few truly unique ideas including lights made from rusty saw blades, old bed springs, metal buckets, and table legs!

This one is great for an outdoor patio. It is string lights with bed springs attached to them for rustic chic outdoor lighting.

This unique orb pendant lamp is surprisingly made from rusty saw blades.

Here are a few repurposed lighting ideas with an industrial look.

Another great idea, this chandelier is made from iron table legs.

As you can see, this window shopping trip was so fun. As a result, I took A LOT more pictures, which I’ll share soon!

Lastly, you may also like these articles of my past shopping trips!

• Repurposing Ideas from Antique Shopping
• Antique Shopping in Wisconsin
• The Groves Antique Market
• Long Beach Antique Swap Meet

This post was published on February 13, 2015 and updated for improvement.

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We often attend the Long Beach Antique Swap Meet. Here is a video of one of our trips. We always find a lot of great ideas there.