You know what they say about one man’s trash? Well, they didn’t lie. It’s one mama’s find on craigslist! It’s also a weekend project, because no one ever sells beautiful, perfect items on craigslist for cheap. They’re either in need of some TLC and in my price range, or they’re not in my price range at all. Since the light fixture I had in my dining room wasn’t my style (stained glass, heavy, and masculine), I couldn’t just update it with a face lift and a coat of paint. I could however rescue a perfectly working brass chandelier, give it a little jushing up, and voila — let there be beautiful, glamorous light!

The best advice I can give on painting a brass chandelier is to remember that it is a very slick surface. In order to make the paint adhere smoothly is to clean the item with regular dish soap and warm water on a dampened rag. Next, you’ll want to use 220-grit sandpaper to scuff it up lightly. The reason you sand is not to remove anything, but to create tiny fissures in the slick surface for the paint to grab onto.

I used Kilz metal primer in white in spray paint form. I went over the chandelier several times, but only lightly. It’s not time-consuming to paint a chandelier, but you will spray it and wait several times. For the final spray paint, I used a regular white spray paint with a bit more sheen than the primer had. At first, I had no clue what color I was going to paint it, but after seeing it primed in white, I realized I really liked it. My second choice would have been a deep, shiny navy blue. If you try it in blue, send me a pic!

I finished my pretty chandelier off with round bulbs. I just think they look more updated and modern than the more traditional bent tip chandelier bulbs.

So there it is; a super easy, inexpensive Brass Chandelier Makeover. What do you think?

As simple and affordable as this project was (just paint and new bulbs since I sold the other chandelier!), I now want to update all the lights in my house!