Pendant shade replacements are the quickest way to update a light fixture. And this dated fixture over our island was up next for an update!
However, finding pendant shade replacements isn’t always so quick. Especially if your style is not necessarily trending. What can I say? I still love certain aspects of the old-world style (curvaceous and overcarved – yes please!)
So, I spent quite a bit of time trying to find replacement pendant shades. Wait, let me backtrack. I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out what online retailers were calling them ☹
The only ones that were interesting to me were upwards of $75 each. And I needed 4 for the kitchen island and 3 for the bar. Considering I had not owned my old ones for very long. I knew Prince was going to complain.
This meant I needed to start thinking more creatively. I call this “necessity being the mother of invention!” My Prince hears this and adds, “oh it’s a mother alright” 😊.
Pendant Shade Replacements: Inspiration Came from a Candleholder
This idea sparked when I was wandering through Hobby Lobby one day and spotted this beauty shown below! All candleholders were 50% off that week. At 50% off, these were only $5 each.
Yes I know, that price is unheard of these days. It was 2020 when I purchased these. You can still buy them 3 years later but of course not for that great price.
These candleholders are 5-1/2” in diameter and 13-1/2” in height. But I knew we would be cutting off the metal stand. So that brought the height down to 10-1/4”. Perfect!
Pendant Shade Replacements: Where and How We Cut These Metal Candleholders
My Prince used a bandsaw to first cut off the metal bases. Then he used a Dremel tool to cut out the metal plates at the bottom. They were soldered in 4 places so it was not that hard.
In the photo below, they’ve all been cut. And they are now ready for the next step.
A Sprinkler Part Helped Me Convert These Candleholders into Pendant Shade Replacements
The KEY for this project were these Orbit Plastic Spray Guards. These are 5” in diameter and already have the correct size hole in the center. I spray-painted them with hammered metal gold paint.
I used a clear, silicone adhesive to attach these spray guards to my candleholders. If the candleholders would have been too heavy, this plan probably would not have worked.
When the silicone adhesive was dry, I popped out the center pieces and they were ready for install. For my pendant lights, all I had to do was unscrew the light socket shade ring. Slide on the new pendant shade. Reattach the light socket shade ring. Add the bulbs and they were done!
Materials Used
Tools Used
Bandsaw
Caulk gun
Take Away
I feel, if you expect to find a solution, you will! It may not be that moment or even that day. But you will find it if you don’t give up.
I wasn’t necessarily looking for a solution that day at Hobby Lobby. But I do purposefully wander around stores and take in information all the time. By remaining open minded, we can usually find ways to solve décor issues.
Here’s to Making it Fabulous!
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