Painted Urn Lamps

Using supplies I had on hand I added a new look to a pair of urn lamps in our family room.

I'm looking for new lamps for our family room that are my style and fit our budget but in the meantime I thought I would try a bit of turquoise paint magic on the current pair.

The Before: $20 pair of gold lamps at a garage sale about four years ago. I lived with them gold for a year or so, but they were too formal for our more casual rustic style so the paint journey began.

I spray painted the lamps white, which worked for awhile. Then I updated the lampshades to a plain white drum style (about $15 each) and they seemed too blah. I was itching to paint them.

I started with a base of several shades of acrylic craft paint, thinking the colours would show through when I sanded back the top coat. A bit showed through, including some of the original gold.

The top coat of turquoise craft paint is showing way brighter than it really is in the above sunny photo. For a more aged look I sanded back some areas, along with adding Early American Minwax gel stain.

The final step was Minwax paste wax.

The above photo is a bit closer to the real life turquoise colour. This wood end table is temporary as I still need to paint the matching farmhouse end table and work on the office part of our family room.

Do I love them? Honestly, not really. The urn shape still seems too formal for our style. The colour and finish really appeal to me though and I like them way better than when they were gold or white though and they will do until I find the right ones (in our price range.) But I do love the new hydrangeas from the bush I added to our front walkway garden last year. The huge white flower heads have a hint of pink and I think they look pretty in one of my aqua Crown canning jars.

I'm continuing to work on painted projects including some small unfinished pine pieces I picked up from a woodworker who is retiring. I'll share the pieces when they are finished and I can take photos.

Joining the following link parties and hoping you get a chance to visit too!...
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Give Me The Goods Party at Better With Age, Rain on a Tin Roof, Dimples and Pig Tails, and Commona_My House
Be Inspired at Elizabeth & Co.
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Inspiration Exchange Link Party at City Farmhouse, Ella Claire, Yellow Bliss Road, and Clean and Scentsible
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours
Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo
Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors

My inexpensive lamp makeover was featured at Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm. Thanks Linda!