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Light Switch

April 7, 2011

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There is no shortage of bad-choice lighting in our home.  To refresh your memory:

(The fan in our bedroom, The chandelier in the dining room, the huge, rectangular fluorescent eye sore in the kitchen, and the very typical, boring light fixture in Greta’s room–just to name a few.)   
Yesterday, I set out to remedy Greta’s lighting situation and for less than $16, I came up with a modern, clean-looking (and maybe even unexpected) solution that can be adapted for any style or taste.  Pick a lampshade you love.  Done.  Well, kinda.  A drum shape you love.  Call me boring, or call me classy–I went with white.  Don’t let that bright color fool you, Greta’s room is going to be a very clean and sophisticated child’s room, so a neon pink light was out of the question.  I thought about covering the shade a la projects of yore, but I fell in love with the crisp look of the $14.99 large white drum shade I found at Target.  
So, first I took off my previous light–happily.   I held onto the finial or cap-thingy that screwed onto that bolt-thing.  (you should hear me ask for directions at Home Depot)
My shade’s hardware that would have fit perfectly on a  lamp base was much too large for the little light bolt.  After searching Home Depot high and low for a cheap finial large enough to cover my bases (or hold that shade on), I came upon a 78 cent rubber washer and improvised.
Turns out, it worked perfectly!  I just slid on the shade, then the washer and tightened the cap I still had from the previous light. 
Before:
After:
I am calling it a definite improvement.  It’s modern, but practical.  I had plans to put some white cloth as a diffuser so you couldn’t see the lightbulbs underneath, but it is a little too close to the ceiling to change bulbs without access on the under-side–so I’m calling it done-zo.  We also changed her switch to a dimmer for less than $13.  *jaw-dropped*  In my mind I always thought dimmers were so expensive!!  I am so pleasantly surprised, I may just go on a dimming spree.  Not only are they really energy efficient, but they allow us to do away with a lamp in her room (she was always trying to knock over her lamp) which gives me a lot of peace of mind as far as baby-proofing goes.  
…aaaaannnnndddd that wraps up the light switcheroo. 

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What do you think?

  1. Just be careful with the dimmers because some CFL lamps can’t be dimmed. You have to be sure to buy the kind with a dimming ballast. I think they are fairly common now but it’s still a good thing to keep in mind.

  2. DoublClik says:

    Wow, a dimmer in a kids room makes sooo much sense. Major lightbulb moment for me! HA! no pun INTENDED!

  3. Meagan says:

    What a cool solution!!!

    (we are totally still tacky pink…fyi) I know Brinley’s room with the first make over when we are in a house for GOOD!!!

    PS….I found an awesome little girl dress tutorial that I am trying out tonight…I’ll let ya know how it goes…

  4. Julia says:

    Ashlee,

    You are absolutely right! Thanks for saying that, too. I had it all explained to me at home depot and we actually had to change out our bulbs pictured above before installing the dimmer. Thanks again!!

    -Jules

  5. Just be careful with the dimmers because some CFL lamps can’t be dimmed. You have to be sure to buy the kind with a dimming ballast. I think they are fairly common now but it’s still a good thing to keep in mind.

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