Thanks for the sweet comments on my Preteen boys room. It is such a fun space to be in. One of my favorite projects from this space is this DIY light fixture. I ended up making two and flanking the bed with them. They are hip, unique and so stylish….something you would find in a high end catalog…but for a ton less. Why waste your money when you can make them yourself??

Here is what you will need to make your own metal hanging light….A lamp kit, crossbar, wire, No. 8 machine screws, and flat washers (size m5) and 2 sheets of metal. You will find metal sheets in your local hardware store. This is typically used for covering vents. Sometimes you will see screens made from this metal that will cover old radiators. The sheets are precut….and come in several styles. This one I used is called union jack. They run about $8 a piece. You want to be sure that the screws and washers you chose will hold together the metal. My screw fit into an opening and the washer helps it stay put….a nut secures it together on the other side. That is how the light is held together….Let me explain…

Fold the metal sheet in half and join the tops together……

Take a machine screw (with a washer on it first) and place it through a hold close to the end of the sheet. The washer ensures that the screw says put and doesn’t go through the hole.

Secure the nut on the opposite side. Repeat this with the other end of the metal.

Now that you have your light secured you can wire in your crossbar in the center. I snugged mine in the center and then wired it on. This crossbar with hold you light bulb in place. You can find crossbars in the lamp repair section of the hardware store.

Now you are ready to wire the light. Take the brass nipple (long threaded piece) and secure it in the center of the crossbar. A nut will screw on to hold it in place.

Take your wires….and from the top…thread them through the nipple and pull out the bottom. Giving yourself enough wire to work with .

Next, thread the wire through the “hat” of the lamp base (pic.4).

You are now ready to “wire” your light. Loosen the screws on either side of the light base. One is silver and one is gold (try not to get the song in your head…”make new friends…but keep the one…one is silver and the other gold….”) moving on…. There are two wires….one is ribbed or grooved and the other is smooth. The ribbed wire gets wrapped around the silver screw. The smooth wire gets wrapped around the gold screw. Needle nose pliers make it easy to make a little loop that can go around the screw…then tighten with a screwdriver so that the wire stays around that screw.

When you have the wires secured….place the other end of the “hat” and slide it over the base. (I realize real electrician don’t use the term hat….but it’s how I remember it :) Be sure you have the end that will click into the hat top. Click it all together. Screw it all to the end of the nipple. Pull wires out the top to prevent slack. Congrats you just wired a light!!!!!

FYI….I am NOT an electrician….just sharing what I know.

In case you missed it….here is the entire room reveal.

**** Please note….we have this light on a timer and it is only on for short periods (1-2 hours) a night. Obviously metal will heat up…and this light would be best out of the reach of small children. We have a 40 watt bulb in our lights and the metal hasn’t been hot….warm..but not hot . As with all lights and lamps….use caution. Thanks :)