3-Step Coastal Lamp Refresh: Quick and Easy Update!

Want to add a coastal vibe to your home decor? With this 3-step refresh, you can easily create a coastal lamp. Don’t worry if you are not crafty; this easy lamp makeover requires minimum crafting skills. With this simple beachy look, you can update almost any lamp within a few minutes.

If you have a good-quality lamp, you don’t have to purchase something new to create a coastal feel in your home. Thrifted lamps are one of the easiest decors to update.

DIY coastal lamp makeover with easy 3 step paint techniques. — Before

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How Can You Update Thrift Store Lamps?

If you like to shop at thrift stores, you can usually find a good selection of lamps. They are usually available at a reasonable price and come in all shapes and sizes. You can easily transform them into the lamp of your dreams. Here are a few ways to update your old lamps or ones you find at thrift stores.

Paint the lamp base.
Decoupage the lamp base.
Replace the lampshade.
Embellish the lamp base with rope, beads, etc.

3-Step Coastal Lamp Makeover

This easy coastal lamp makeover began with a dark lamp base. To create a coastal finish, you need minimal supplies.

Supplies For Lamp Makeover

Here is a list of supplies I used to refresh the lamp.

French Linen Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan
Clear Wax
Sanding block
Paper Towels

Prepare Lamp For Makeover

The first step is to remove the lamp shade and clean the lamp to remove any oils or dust from the lamp base. I used soap and water to clean the lamp. If the lamp is old and has a build-up of dirt and grime, you may need to use a degreaser.

Insider Tip

The original lamp base has a dark finish, which is great for distressing. Don’t worry if your lamp is a light color. You can paint it a dark color to allow for the distressing technique I will explain in step 2.

Step 1 – Paint Lamp Base

The first step is to paint the lamp base with a coastal color. I used a grayish taupe chalk paint by Annie Sloan called French Linen. If your base is dark, you will need to apply two coats of paint.

Paint the lamp base with french linen chalk paint.

Step 2 – Distress For A Coastal Lamp

Once you have good paint coverage, begin distressing the finish. Begin distressing by rubbing the edges with a paper towel or dry cloth while the paint is still wet. If your paint has dried, you may need to use a light-grit sanding block to remove the excess paint.

You want to let some of the original dark finish peek through the new paint.

Distress the lamp by removing some of the finish to create a coastal lamp

Step 3 – Wax and Seal

Now, you are ready to seal your project. If you are happy with the distressing, allow the paint to dry completely and add a clear wax to seal the new finish. Rub the wax over the surface of the lamp base and allow it to dry slightly. Finally to finish the project, use a dry cloth and buff until you have a smooth finish.