Office Update: Customizing A Basic Schoolhouse Light

It's the second Wednesday of the month, which means it's time for another Monthly DIY Challenge!

Each month a bunch of my blogger friends and I join together for a challenge featuring a particular product or theme. This month's product was Sharpie, which I used to update a traditional Schoolhouse light into something more suitable for my office.

Let's back up a minute.

A long time ago I stumbled across a gorgeous Schoolhouse light that I just had to have.

I wasn't sure where it was going to go in our home, but I knew I wanted one. Being the ~~cheap~~ thrifty shopper that I am, I decided to wait until A. it went on sale or B. I knew exactly where I wanted it to go.

Fast forward a few months.

I go to buy the light and IT'S NO LONGER AVAILABLE!!!

That left only one choice, DIY my own version.

I ended up buying an inexpensive Schoolhouse light from Home Depot and updating it with the help of spray paint, Gold Leaf Rub 'N Buff and Sharpie Markers.

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO UPDATE A BASIC

SCHOOLHOUSE LIGHT

Affiliate links have been used.

- Schoolhouse Light ($39.97 at Home Depot)

-Black Sharpie marker

-Black Sharpie oil based paint marker

-Frog tape

-Gold Spray Paint

-Gold leaf Rub 'N Buff

-Large Rubber Bands

HOW TO UPDATE A BASIC SCHOOLHOUSE LIGHT

After I bought my light from Home Depot I headed out to Hobby Lobby to pick up my Sharpies. I ended up getting both regular black permanent markers and a couple oil based paint markers. If you are familiar with Sharpies then you know the black markers have a purple hue to them. I was hoping the oil paint sharpie would give me better coverage and a more richer black color.

drawing lines on light globe with sharpie

I wrapped large rubber bands around the globe to use as a guide to make my lines. I found this is to be the best way to get the straightest lines. If you are dead set on clean, crisp lines do not attempt this project. I found it nearly impossible to get perfect lines.

I used the regular sharpie to draw the black lines, working down my globe.

Using rubber bands as a guide to draw lines

After completing all the black stripes I went over each one with an oil based marker.

Here's where I used a bit of trial and error. I have quite a stash of gold spray paint, but wasn't sure which one to use. I started with Valspar metallic gold, but wasn't thrilled with the results.