This is the story of making an old basket into a pendant light using just this $10 thrift store basket that we found along with two other simple supplies.
Here she is all wired up and hung in front of the fireplace.
But allow me to further illuminate the basket to light conversion process. Har-har.
The first step was heading over to a local lighting outlet (The Decorating Outlet) to check out any existing pendant lights that they were selling cheaply (that way we could convert one into a pendant for our big basket shade). While we were there we saw this awesomesauce basket pendant that was selling for $322 (originally $460). Wowsers.
Feeling inspired, we poked around for any affordable pendant light that we thought would work with the rest of our kitchen (we wanted a simple clean-lined canopy, an oil-rubbed-bronze finish, and ideally something with a shade since that meant it would come with a piece that would hold that shade up – and therefore could hopefully be converted to hold our basket up instead).
Enter this dude, stage left (he’s the one on the left with the $19 price tag). Sure he’s not much to look at in this pic with that crazy yellow shade, but the simple canopy, oil-rubbed bronze finish, and the fact that it had a screw-on-shade-holder-thingie (that’s a technical term) under the yellow shade = jackpot.
So for $19 we made him ours. Ikea actually sells light kits that we love for $6, but since we wanted something in an oil rubbed bronze finish it would have been an extra $7 for spray paint to make it that color and then we’d need to buy a canopy (which can usually be found for around $6 but sometimes they’re a bit more ornate than we’d like) so the simple all-in-one-ness of the $19 pendant made it the perfect choice. Here are all of our supplies laid out on the table (total spent = $35, including the secondhand basket).
I’m sure you’re wondering what those silver donut-looking things are, so allow me to explain. They’re actually pipe plates from the hardware store for $3 a pop (the things you usually see at the bottom of a pipe to finish things off where it meets the floor, the wall, or the base of your cabinet). The issue was simple. We needed something round and solid to keep our pendant light from slipping through the opening of the basket…
… so we bought them in two sizes since we didn’t know which one would slide through and which one would hold. In other words, we needed something big enough to support the basket and not slip through the opening (the one below was too small, so it did).
We also needed something that was the right size to catch on our light bulb part of the pendant (the one below was too big, so it didn’t hold).
But when we swapped them and tried the bigger one on the basket, it wedged right into the hole at the top of the basket and held tight instead of sliding through like the smaller one had.
And when we tried the smaller one on the end of the pendant, it caught nicely under the piece that used to hold the old glass shade on, so we knew it should hold the basket up.
So because we needed the small one to catch on the pendant and the larger one to catch on the basket, we realized that if we stacked them and then used the plastic ring that came with the light to hold the old shade up (to hold those two pipe plates in place) it would essentially hold the basket up. So I just screwed on that plastic shade-holding ring…
… and said a few silent prayers to the basket light gods. Then it was time to hold it up to see if it worked (while channeling Zoolander apparently). Hootie hoo, we had basket light liftoff!
And for anyone wondering if it’s a total fire hazard, thankfully paper lampshades or lanterns and other woven-ish basket lights are totally safe as long as the bulb doesn’t rub against them and everything has room to vent (so it doesn’t get crazy hot like it would if everything were enclosed or touching). See how the bulb hangs down and away from the shade so there’s no point at which it touches or even comes close enough to get the basket hot? That’s the key.
We love that it looks so clean from the underside (when we were trolling the aisles of the hardware store we were worried we might not find something quite as seamless-looking, so we’re really thankful).
That whole how-we-did-it rundown probably sounded a lot more complicated than it really was, so we made this quick video of the process, which is much much easier to understand (even on mute if you’re at work). It was a super quick process that took less than four minutes once we gathered our supplies.
Then it was just time to wire it up in the place of the flush mount fixture that we grabbed at Ikea a while back (which we think we’ll reuse in the hallway to replace an old boob-ish light that’s hanging there). Voila! Basket light in the hizzouse.
We love how it looks with our oil-rubbed bronze pendants over the peninsula. Glass and woven natural fibers are one of our favorite combinations and the simple oil-rubbed bronze wiring ties them together so they look related without being too matchy-matchy. It’s amazing how much more defined the “fireplace zone” now feels with its own little feature fixture. And thankfully it’s nearly seven feet from the ground, so even our tall family members can pass under it without a problem.
My favorite is getting to enjoy it twice thanks to the reflection of it in the mirror that I snatched from the guest room. It’s also really pretty to see it layered in front of the hallway wall. Here’s a shot from the peninsula. It’s amazing how the new chair, the mirror from the guest room, and the new basket lamp completely upgraded that little corner of the kitchen. So glad we finally started paying attention to that zone (especially since Clara spends a ton of time playing on that rug or reading with us in the chair).
Here’s the view through the opening in the dining room:
And here’s the view from the cooking area of the kitchen. The layered, textured look that the basket light brings is really nice – it even ties into the dark floor and the new mirror so there’s more of a “nautral” vibe going on, which is a nice foil to all the modern touches like the corian counters and the floating shelves.
And of course it’s fun to compare what the room looked like when we bought the house:
As for what our new light looks like when it’s on, with a clear bulb it’s a party. Check out that awesome light streaming out of it. Of course if we went with a frosted eco bulb (like an LED or a CFL) we wouldn’t get those fun lines, but we’ll probably upgrade when we get to the store to check out our options. For now we just popped a clear bulb in there since we had it laying around from the old light in our hall bathroom that we replaced.
So that’s the story of our $35 basket light thanks to a $10 thrift store basket, two $3 hardware store parts, and an oil-rubbed bronze pendant from a local outlet for $19. Might be our favorite light we ever made. Well, I guess it’s tied with our clothespin chandelier and the office pendant. Have you guys been adapting/upgrading any lights lately? Or turning random things like a basket into a pendant? Or laying on the floor with the camera aimed at the ceiling to capture pics from below? Feels weird, right? Clara totally came up to me and laid right down beside me and said “what is we doing mommy?” Adorable.
Update #1: After hearing from a bunch of commenters that these baskets were actually used to catch fish in Asian and African villages, a reader named Elizabeth actually sent us a photo of them in action from a trip that she took to Northern Guinea where she attended a fishing festival.
How insanely fascinating is that?! Now the hole at the top makes sense. Apparently that’s how they reach in to get the fish once they trap it with the basket in shallow water.
UPDATE #2: We’ve finally transitioned our entire house to LED lights (they save tons of energy & money, and they’re a lazy person’s best friend because you never have to change them). For anyone wondering, these are our favorite interior LEDs. Their glow is warm & natural (not weird/blue like some of the others we’ve tried) and they use around 90% less energy.
* This post contains affiliate links
Raquel says
Wow, We used to have that kind of basket when we were still leaving in the Philippines. I used to play with it. Grandma said it is use to catch fish in ancient times. We call it “salakab”.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so cool!
xo,
s
Mary says
This looks awesome! And so easy too!
I love how it ties in the darker/warmer tones of the kitchen and surrounding areas–the mirror, corner chair, and the hallway table, too!
PS: Love the coral/green combo that Sherry is wearing in the video. Great colors on you!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Mary!
xo,
s
Willa says
Oh, please keep the kitchen walls the way they are if you love them and they work; we blog readers can understand and don’t really need to see an exactly true rendering–after all you have told us the color info over and over if we wish to investigate replicating it. Save your prodigious energies for some of the other rooms and don’t repaint until the current paint starts looking tired/beat up. Just MHO.
YoungHouseLove says
It’s so true! Yet we’re spending lots of energy retouching photos to try to make them look not-crazy and more true-to-life, so we keep wondering if it’s easier in the long run just to repaint and save that time! It’s a catch 22 I tell ya!
xo,
s
JenWoodhouse.com says
Looks great!
Jennifer Cook says
Eeekkk love it when y’all do videos!! And the basket light fixture is amazeballs. Seriously y’all are so talented at creating nifty things! xo
Wrenaria says
So the thing I got from this post is that Sherry is adorable and super duper pretty.
(Also your new light looks great. I like it way better than the old one.)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw shucks, stop making me blush.
xo,
s
Elisha M. says
Holy. Moly. I think this is my favorite project you guys have done recently! The evolution of the little fireplace nook has gone from cutesy (which I also loved!!) to sophisticated with little touches of fun (the clam shell/basket light/scale rug). And I love it from all angles! Looking into the hallway it melds nicely with the console and from the dining room though I think is my favorite view. I’ll be honest when you first put up the mirror I wasn’t completely sold but everything else that’s been added/changed in there has fit wonderfully in the end. Is this room finished? Because I think it’s PERFECT!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Elisha! I’m not sure a room in our house is ever finished, but it’s certainly a lot more “that stays” than “that’s just there for now”
xo,
s
Angel says
I have only one word “LOVE!”
June says
Looks good! Judging by the really narrow base and the rough top edges, I think it was actually a hanging lampshade in its former life, like the kind you hang by a chain in the corner. It doesn’t seem like it could stand up on its won to function as a basket. Maybe the previous owners ditched the hardware when they took it down?
YoungHouseLove says
Someone told us it was actually a side table or a fish catching device in Asia! So interesting!
xo,
s
Alyse says
Oh my word! It looks fantastic and it really makes that side of the room pop. Great job as usual! Our kitchen needs a makeover in a big way so we just upgraded the light to something kind of industrial looking to temper its cutesy-ness:
http://fourteenohfour.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/industrial-kitchen-light/
YoungHouseLove says
Looks great! I love that!
xo,
s
Carla says
Yessss, people!! Now that’s what I’m talking about!! Geesh, that boring plastic disk you mounted up there had me worried.
But I completely understand that things need to evolve over time.
This light fixture changes everything in that space. That one simple addition makes the entire dang space warm and balanced and cozy. And it works amazing well with the glass and black pendant light over the counter.
This really is the best example I’ve seen on a design blog of how one simple change can make a huge difference. You’re always such an inspiration, even when I’m not feeling your projects.
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
I love this new light fixture although it makes me totally jealous of what must be giant-height ceilings that you have. Our house has very very low ceilings(7′ 8″) so it definitely makes the whole light fixture thing harder for us.
I’m also so intrigued to know what this basket’s original purpose was. Just decor maybe?? It seems like it wouldn’t sit on the floor and hold books/toys very well…know what I mean?
YoungHouseLove says
We heard that it usually is made into a side table (with a piece of glass on top of the wide part facing up and sitting in a wire plant stand) or even was used in Asia for catching fish (they swim into the wide part and can’t get out the narrower part). So interesting, right?
xo,
s
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
So glad you updated this! What a beautiful picture!
Julie (from Pocketful of Joules) says
Oh my gosh, I love it so much! This might be my favorite thing you’ve done lighting wise EVER!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Julie!
xo,
s
Vivian says
Another great project … and one that makes me think “Why didn’t I think of that?!” I don’t think I EVER would have made the connection with the pipe covers and a light … guess that’s why you’re the DIY bloggers and I’m the reader! Thanks for kicking my creative side in gear!
Kim Pichard says
Love the light! Seriously, how are you two so creative? It inspires me to tackle our hideous dining room light fixture that hasn’t changed in the 5 years we have lived her. I can do it!!
Dina says
This is great! I love that you added something organic and worn into such a clean space! Perfect touch!
Olivia Chelchowski says
Love the Zoolander pose! And the new light looks fabulous as well!!
Jillian {Her Split Ends} says
La-OVING the basket fixture. So fantastic!! Great find and great tutorial toO!
Cheers
~ Jillian
http://www.hersplitends.com
* Up for a design challenge?? Check out Her Split Ends & Enter to win! http://hersplitends.com/2012/08/16/mystery-box-challenge-giveaway-winner/
Kitty says
Wow, it looks great; you have such an eye for an object’s potential. That side of the Kitchen is getting it’s own distinctive style now.
Over here the clear old-style bulbs are being discontinued with an emphasis on using energy saving ones, are they phasing them out in America?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes they’re doing it here too! I would live to upgrade to a clear LED light when this bulb dies (just reusing one we had leftover from the bathroom light we replaced).
xo,
s
Sayward says
I AM IN LOVE. If that IS an old fishing basket (as per the other comment) you have a sweet subtle nautical trifecta going on now with the basket, faux clam, and scallop rug.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha I live it! Hooray for happy accidents.
xo,
s
Jeanna Walton says
So, so great looking, and I’m really glad you guys left it in its natural state. Does really amazing things for that corner of your kitchen :) Here I thought you had found a perfect compromise with the light from Ikea, and I have to tell you this is so much better! It was just meant to be, don’t you think?!
YoungHouseLove says
Totally! So glad I ducked into that thrift store in Delaware!
xo,
s
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says
Wow, that corner is really coming along! I love the new light fixture and how muted the wall color seems in these photos :)
I made some $9 string globe pendants (http://desertdomicile.blogspot.com/2012/08/diy-9-string-globe-bar-pendants.html) to replace the boring builder fixtures I had hanging over the island in my kitchen! It was a simple upgrade and saved me over $200 :D
YoungHouseLove says
So cool! I love them!
xo,
s
T. Y. Lee says
Huh. I would not have guessed that your husband can comfortably walk underneath that light fixture, for some reason it just looks so low to me, and a bit oversized for the space, but I love that you didn’t spray paint it and left it au naturale! :) I’m sure in real life it’s a good size for the room and hangs just the right length! It’s so hard to take an accurate picture of a room!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah John’s rule is that he never wants to duck, so things have to be a few inches over his head (he’s 6′). So this actually is almost 7′ from the floor. Hard to tell from pics though!
xo,
s
Jennifer says
Great DIY basket light!! Love it. But, I’m wondering if you recall where you got the globe pendant lights. I’ve been looking for something similar for a while, but love the link chain of yours!!
YoungHouseLove says
They were from that local lighting outlet too (the Decorating Outlet). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jennifer says
Ahhh!! And we just drove through Richmond yesterday!!! Heading back through there in October, might have to locate that outlet and check them out. Thanks greatly!
Amanda C says
Sherry – not sure what it is, but you look GREAT in that picture! Not that you aren’t always super adorable, but it’s something about that picture, maybe the shirt color? Whatever you’re doing, keep it up!
p.s. the light looks awesome too :)
YoungHouseLove says
Really?! I almost left that pic out because I’m making such a weirdo face. Haha. You’re sweet to say that.
xo,
s
Lisa says
Wow love it!!! You are so creative! I hadn’t seen this post when I asked you for drum shade advice this morning. That’s really funny!
YoungHouseLove says
So funny! We both had lighting on the brain!
xo,
s
Lou says
But I really kinda like the old hanging boob light in the hallway…
YoungHouseLove says
Not the pretty Tiffany glass lamp in the hallway that leads to the deck! That one stays. I mean the other hallway that leads to Clara’s room. Sorry for the confusion!
xo,
s
Mamaw says
OMG! I haven’t even read a word of the article but love the look so much. OK, I’ll go back and read the article, but love, love, LOVE the lighting!
Gabbi says
Love it! It definitley reminds me of your clothes pin pendant light…so pretty! :)
Amy says
Great job with the light fixture. Though I really like the shadows cast by your fixture, I vote for an LED bulb. They do not heat up as much as other bulbs, and even though your fixture is well ventilated, it might be something to consider.
YoungHouseLove says
We’d love to upgrade to an LED!
xo,
s
Ruth says
I read your blog daily but I hardly ever comment, feeling that with the hundreds of comments you receive, anything I might feel compelled to say should really add value to make it worthwhile… ;) But, I had to speak up today to say that I LOVE this! It looks awesome and really makes that space special.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Ruth! You’re so sweet!
xo,
s
Lisa Riley says
gorgeous!!! i love it.
Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says
Love how this looks and really do love the reflection in the mirror! Someone probably asked this already, apologize if they did. What height are your ceilings?
I hung a tole chandelier (ala “Under the Tuscan Sun) in my home office and I love it since I’m a shorty at 5’4″. But when my son walks in the room he has to duck. lol Since I’m the only one in that room 99% of the time, it doesn’t matter, but it’s only about 5’11” up from the floor since I only have 8 ft ceiling. I was just wondering if you guys have run into that with your basket light. I LOVE it in that space! Great DIY!
YoungHouseLove says
Our ceilings are a little over eight feet so we were able to hang this so the bottom is almost 7′ from the ground (John is 6′ and never wants to have to duck). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Windylou says
Love it! Your before and after photos are always inspiring too!
amybeth says
wow. such a difference. that little nook might be my favorite part of your house now! we need a picture from the hallway so we can see the whole sha-bang!
Morgan says
This. Is. Awesome! I wish i could look at stuff the way you do and it just (poof) turns into something fabulous.
GreenInOC says
I thought what you had up there was perfect but dude, I was totally wrong!!
It looks great and you made it seem so super duper easy.
Did you think the fixture you had up there was perfect? If so, how do you keep yourself open to changing? For me, when I’m happy with result, it’s out of my mind so an even better solution wouldn’t even cross my mind – just curious how you don’t fall into that trap?
YoungHouseLove says
When I grabbed the basket I was thinking of hanging it in the dining room but over that tiny table it was too piddly so I carried it into the kitchen and held it up and then asked John to hold it up so I could step back and check it out and we ended up loving it! I think it really is just trial and error and trying to stay open and not married to anything since lights are so easy to switch around.
xo,
s
Alexis says
I am dying over the “boob-ish” light comment. We just bought our first home (after 10 years of school & marriage and 4 kids…) and I just told my husband last week that some of our lights remind me of boobs. He thought I was crazy! :) Who thought up that kind of design anyway??? LOVE the basket light, the floors, the colors….. pretty much everything!! Such a gorgeous home.
Cara D says
I love it! I bet the people who sold you the house are wanting it back. The whole place looks so different!
Jodi says
Now I know what I’ll be keeping my eye out for when thrift/antique shopping! I love the idea of taking something like a basket/fish trap and re-purposing it for something else…like a light fixture! It’s what gives any house that added character. Love it!
On a side note…I have also been SO in love with your horse head books-ends, and have searched and looked for something similar with no success. BUT recently found elephant head book-ends at Salvation Army. I decided “close enough!” Haha! Now I’m trying to decide what color to paint them, since they’re a glossy black at the moment. Black is okay, but I want them to pop with color. Anyhow…thanks for the inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! They sound awesome. I love it!
xo,
s
Jodi says
Here’s a picture of them…and they only cost $3.99 for the pair!
http://miracleon38thstreet.blogspot.com/2012/08/feeling-me-some-elephant-love.html
I only just started blogging about our house renovation last week…so please excuse the “newbie” feel of my blog.
YoungHouseLove says
I love them! And I love your blog- happy blogging!
xo,
s
Ally says
Oooh…ahhh….VERY Rehoboth-Beach chic, Youngsters! I love the au natural easy breezy vibe it’s giving your lovely room :)
(I actually like the yellow glass lampshade…give it some love $herdog…looks like it may have a case of measles :)
xox
YoungHouseLove says
Haha you’re right. And I do love a good leopard print…
xo,
s
sadie says
Absolutely love it! I think it’s my favorite item in your house :) can’t wait to see the open shelves when you add some more natural textures. You are the queen of accessorizing!
Heidi P. says
Ooh! So fun! I love how it ties into the mirror.
Guess what! I’ve been working on making your clothes pin light for a few days now! A few days because appartently everyone in Provo & Orem is making one right now. Clothes pins sold out at: Hobby Lobby, JoAnn’s, Michaels, Walmart. The lady at Hobby Lobby said she just put in a triple order! I’m up to 192 pins. Oh, and speaking of pins, if you search for “clothes pin lights” on Pinterest, yours is pretty much the only thing that comes up. Crazy!
YoungHouseLove says
No way! So funny. I hope you track them down soon!
xo,
s
Stefanie says
I love, love, LOVE it!
Ryan says
What happened to the Ikea Alän light? It seems like you guys just put him up, did he get replaced by the basket?
Ryan says
Ha! NM I searched Ikea in the post and found the hall answer : )
YoungHouseLove says
So glad!
xo,
s
Anastasia says
What you two do with this house is amazing! You have to have a crazy imagination to even think that before and after is the same room!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Anastasia! You’re so sweet.
xo,
s
Nikki says
Hey There!
You guys used our floor & ceiling plate for your lighting. Love it! I’m actually a fairly regular reader, started as work research, and now just like content, however still read at work…hmmm
Shoot me an email maybe we can work up a crafty/plumbing giveaway!
Love the basket fixture!
Nikki Fournier
Marketing Project Manager
Plumb Pak/The Keeney Manufacturing Company
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so funny! What a small world!
xo,
s
Amanda Dennis says
I LOVE this idea! The hubs and I are on the hunt for a new fixture for our kitchen to replace the super ugly long one with those nasty long fluorescent bulbs. This may be a contender for our next DIY project. Kudos to you guys for finding the perfect little holder thingy to keep the basket in place. I’m filing this under the “Why didn’t I think of that?!” category!
Jenna at Homeslice says
Awesome. I have a similar one (DIY’d from an old fixture of my grandparents..) and I’ve loved having it. It really adds tons of texture to your space!