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Turning an Old Door into a Light Fixture

Written by Cass

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We’ve seen lots and lots of things done with old doors — but we still LOVE them! So much potential and just so much character in a door that’s already been through a lifetime (or two). Our guest today made a big statement in her guest room makeover by turning an old door into a light fixture — and a matched set at that, perfect for bedside lamps!

Antique doors refinished to make bedside lamp, by Simple Nature Decor featured on @Remodelaholic

Read below for the details from Maria, and be sure to snatch up the next beautiful old door you come across — just think of all the possibilities! It could be a dining table top

barn-door-kitchen-table-remodelaholic

or a headboard like this or this

Headboard Tutorial- Remodelaholic

or a rolling door

barn door open

or any one of hundreds of things!

100-ways-to-use-old-doors-pinterest-pic

Here’s Maria with the story of her beautiful doors turned bedside lamps — give her a warm welcome!

This set of vintage doors became an amazing set of bedside lamps! High-impact rustic glam style, for a beautiful guest bedroom. Learn how to turn a vintage door into a light fixture with this easy tutorial! by Simple Nature Decor @Remodelaholic

Turning an Old Door into a Light Fixture
by Maria from Simple Nature Decor

My love for southern architecture/design started when my family and I moved down to the Low Country from New York after nearly 25 years. I’ve now walked the charming streets of Savannah & Charleston hundreds of times, and still fall in love with all the beautiful, historical homes time & time again. The most unique,and sometimes disguised, feature of the Low Country is the fusion of old with new. Drawing inspiration from this, I decided to embark on my own project of fusing old with new by taking two old wooden doors from a local antique shop, and transforming them into exquisite lighting fixtures! Check out my how-to below.

Wall sconce and vintage doors make amazing bedside lighting, by Simple Nature Decor featured on @Remodelaholic

SUPPLIES

This post may contains some affiliate links. Please see our full privacy policy and disclosure here.

  • Two Vintage doors (discovered at local antique shop for a bargain – $75.00 for the pair)
  • Sanding machine
  • Paint stripper
  • Durable spatula
  • 2 lighting sconces (found these Parisian Acanthus Sconce @ Horchow)

PREPARE THE DOORS

Strip and refinish vintage doors to create unique home decor, by Simple Nature Decor featured on @Remodelaholic

This step you want to do fairly quickly, so be ready! The fumes can be pretty strong, so be sure to wear face mask.

  1. Pour the paint stripper on a small area 5 by 5 section at a time.
  2. Remove with a sturdy spatula. Do avoid spattering of the chemicals, as well as the chance of accidentally removing an eyebrow, don’t make the mistake of using a flimsy plastic spatula!
  3. Once paint is removed, sand the doors until it’s smoothed down.

PAINTING & DISTRESSING THE DOORS

How to paint and distress antique doors, by Simple Nature Decor featured on @Remodelaholic

4. Now you are ready to paint them with an oil-based paint. I went with a white color to match the decor for my guest bedroom.

5. Sand down all the edges and center of the panels to create a distressed appearance. I find that sanding machine is much more efficient,but some people prefer the control they have using just sand paper by hand. It may take a bit longer, but you’ll achieve similar results!

ADDING THE SCONCES

Vintage door to bedside lamp, by Simple Nature Decor featured on @Remodelaholic

This part requires you to bring out your handy home skills. If you are handy with electrical stuff, than fabulous, because you can save yourself a few hundred dollars. But if you are like me, and uncomfortable tinkering around stuff that can zap you, then hire an electrician.

6. In order for the light cord to reach the wall outlets, I had the electrician to drill a hole large enough to fit a long electrical cord thru. The cord then hangs long enough to plug it in an outlet (see back view photo above).

7. I then installed the lighting fixture to the door by pulling the cord thru the hole until the sconce was flushed to the door and bolting it with the screws (see front view photo), and voila!

Wall sconce mounted on antique door used as bedside lighting, by Simple Nature Decor featured on @Remodelaholic

I positioned the doors on each side of the bed, and thankfully, it’s a perfect fit!

Refinish and distress old doors, attach sconces to create beautiful bedside lighting, by Simple Nature Decor featured on @Remodelaholic

Get a look at the entire guest room in its completion here!

Creative ways to use old doors in home decor, bedside lighting, by Simple Nature Decor featured on @Remodelaholic

Total spent on project= $420

  • Doors: $75
  • Sconces $180
  • Supplies: $40
  • Electrician:$125

Thank you for sharing, Maria! So lovely! Remodelaholics — head over to Simple Nature Decor for more of Maria’s beautifully simple style, like in this boho style bedroom for her daughter. 

Simple Nature Decor bold boho artwork over the bed

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Remodelaholic is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Please see our full disclosure here.

Published: May 26, 2016Filed Under: Remodel Inspiration By Room

About Cass

Cassity started Remodelaholic with her husband, Justin, to share their love for knocking out walls together. Since then, Remodelaholic has become a great community and resource for all those wanting to know how to make their builder-grade home BEAUTIFUL on a budget!


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Comments

  1. Maria Brittis says

    May 26, 2016 at 7:09 am

    Thanks so much for the incredible feature. The doors look great on your site and its well organized. I could not be more proud!
    Maria

    Reply
    • Cass says

      May 26, 2016 at 10:25 pm

      Thank you so much for sharing, Maria!!

      Reply
  2. susan says

    May 26, 2016 at 7:34 am

    Love the doors turned light fixtures so pretty!!

    Reply
  3. Ashley says

    May 26, 2016 at 9:33 am

    Great tutorial! I own some old doors, love to try it.
    Ashley

    Reply
  4. Anna says

    May 26, 2016 at 11:43 am

    Just love the old door project

    Reply
  5. Jamie says

    May 26, 2016 at 8:13 pm

    Such creativity in all of these posts! Love what Maria did with the antique doors and turning them into a unique lighting fixture and a great focal point for the room. I love viewing all of the projects, and thought Maria did great job. Thank you for the step by step instructions as well.

    Reply
  6. dee says

    May 27, 2016 at 10:04 am

    Great idea and looks wonderful. I do question why an electrician is needed to drill the holes in the door. Unless the lights are hard wired into the outlet but I didn’t see that mentioned.

    Reply
  7. Katherines Corner says

    May 28, 2016 at 2:11 pm

    Maria is such a sweetie and her creativity is fantastic she brings the old to new life with her wonderful old door lamps. She is so clever, it was a pleasure to see her featured here. Hugs!

    Reply
    • Cass says

      May 28, 2016 at 11:08 pm

      I agree! Thanks for stopping by, Katie!

      Reply

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Hey there, I am Cassity! Nice to virtually meet you!

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