DIY Drum Shade Pendant Light for Cheap!

Well, I spat off at the mouth and showed you here how I thought adding drum shade pendant lights to my son’s bedroom was a good idea!  This was before I checked out the prices on these bad boys.   These drum shade pendant light  run anywhere from $150 and up!  and I was going to need two!!!

Then I remember that the ever so talented Sarah from Thrifty Deco Chic showed how she used a pendant light kit from Lowes for her above her kitchen sink. 

With a few tweaks…. here’s what the the Hubby and I came up with!

Doesn’t this totally make the room?!?!?

Really…. I’m so gosh darn proud of this project I want to scream from the roof TOP!!! 

{Tutorial}

We started with this light kit from Lowes.  There are several different types to choose from.  I picked out this Pendant  kit.  If you like the shades that are available for these pendants then this instillation is as easy as picking out a shade.  However, I wanted a LARGE (really large) drum shade to hang at the end of this pendant downrod.  I’ll explain why in a minute…..

 

Unfortunately, we were not as lucky as Sarah with her recess lighting.  WE  were going to need to add electrical boxes and run electric over each of the nightstands.  Here are a few supplies that we used.

There are a few extra items shown in the photo below used to installing a dimmer switch.  I’ll show at another time. 

The basic items needed for converting the pendant kit to hold a drum shade plus electrical materials. 

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I found and ordered the “perfect” drum shades from Lamp USA.  

I can’t say enough good things about Lamp USA….

They offer free shipping (over $50) and I was able to use a coupon code!!!  I placed my order LATE Thursday evening and the shades arrived on Saturday morning!  Now that’s great service!

The shades measure 14” (top) x 15” (bottom) x 17” (height)

Why did I pick out such a large shade?  In my search on drum shades, I ran across a decorating web page that stated drum shades should hang 26”-36” above a table.   Let’s do some math…….

• 9 foot ceilings =  108”
• height of nightstand    - 24”
• pendant downrod    - 36”
• large drum shade   – 17”
• drop of the shade hanger    + 4”

Leaving 35” between the shade and the nightstand!!!

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Back to the tutorial…

As you can see, the nipple on the lighting kit is too short to go through the center of the drum shade.

An easy fix! 

Slide on a Coupling and tighten down.

Then add a nipple. 

We purchased an assorted pack and used the second shortest nipple.

Slide the wire up through the center of the drum shade.

Now we’re talking!  See an easy fix to extend the nipple.

Slide the rod down over the wire and tighten.  There are three rods extensions that came with the kit. 

One down and two more to go.

Now to the electrical part. 

Austin’s room is on the second floor so we could get electricity over the nightstands fairly easily by going up in the attic.  Once we marked where we I wanted the light to be on the ceiling, the Hubby made another mark for the blue electrical box, cut out the center with a zig saw, and ran electrical wires to the box. 

Next remove the bracket off of the pendant base by removing the two screws on the sides.

Attach that bracket to the electrical box with the screws provided.

Wire the light as you normally would and screw in the two bracket screws to the side.  Remove the plastic off the lamp shade and enjoy jump for joy!

I love love love how they look! 

I want to add drum shades in every room!!!

These pendant lights just make the room!!!

 

 

Teenage boys are so funny…..

My son made a comment to me the other day about how the big white pillows, that I recently purchased, kept falling in the center!  I had to laugh as I told him I was the one making the pillows indent like that.  He didn’t care much for my explanation,  “But all the decorating magazine are doing it!”

Are you dying to know my final cost???

• Pendant light kits $35.94
• Drum Shades  $52.18
• Electrical & Adaptor Supplies  $10.84
• Light Bulbs $9.87

Total for TWO Pendant Lights

$108.83