January is probably my least favorite month of the year, or at least it used to be. I don’t like to slow down and January always seems to know how to mess with a girl’s schedule. The snow, the boots, the general I don’t want to leave the house mood! But as I get older, I’ve begun to embrace the slower pace of January. Being at home isn’t boring, it’s actually nice, and it gives me to time to work on all those DIY projects I’ve saved countless screen shots of. Here is one of those quick and easy projects for you to try!
I want preface this DIY Ball Jar Light Fixture how-to with a nod to my amazing hubby Luke. He was the brains behind this project, and he’s my general handyman on every project. Luke you’re the best babe!
Alright, with my acknowledgments out of the way let’s get down to the details.
- Ball Jar (I love the blue ones) with lid
- Edison bulb, or some other clear, open filament bulb
- Pendant swag kit, with extra shade holder ring (see link below for what we used)
- Drill
- Hammer
- Hole saw drill bit (buy this after you have your pendant fixture, so you know what size hole to drill)
This is a pretty quick project. First you need a hanging pendant light fixture. We found a very cheap option ($9.99) at Cost Plus World Market.
Lid. If you have a vintage ball jar like mine there is glass on the inside of the lid. You must break out the glass that is on the inside of the lid with a hammer. Then, you need to drill a hole in the center of the lid with the drill and hole saw bit. You need a fair amount of downward pressure to make this hole, so drill it over a flat, stable piece of scrap wood. After drilling the hole there is bound to be some sharp edges. To deal with this, we ran the edge of a screwdriver along the edge to dull it just a bit. In the finished product, the sharp edges will be covered with the fixture anyway.
*Safety note: this method should be plenty safe for occasional use. However, there is no breathability for the bulb inside the jar. Therefore, I wouldn’t use more than a 40-60 watt bulb. And, I’d never leave this fixture on for extended periods of time, so make sure to turn it off if you’re leaving the house/area.
Let me know if you give this a try. I think clustering several clear jars together would look awesome!
XO – CLAIRE
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Meet Claire
Claire’s creative energy comes from her unique perspective on the world as both a trained interior designer and a passionate yoga teacher. Her affinity for kitchen design, timeless style and eclectic decorating are shared here, along with lots of interior design education and tips. Thanks for being here, please enjoy!
