DIY projects

Make a bold and bright PVC pipe lamp

If you’re on a budget and are looking for a fun project to make, this super cool PVC pipe lamp is just the job for you – and Jacob Leaf (Ngāpuhi), aka The Upcycler, takes you through the creation process step by step.

The bold colour and quirky design is a nod to the Memphis style, named after the Italian design and architecture company Memphis Group, who were very popular in the 1980s. Think kitsch Art Deco merged with Pop Art, bright colour and zany geometric patterns.

Thanks to the maximalism trend, the Memphis style is having a resurgence, and the colour Jacob has chosen – Resene Turbo – is a perfect example of the punchy hue Memphis is famous for.

This lamp is a great addition to any beside table or console and adds a fun splash of bright colour to help transform a space incredibly easily. It is also a cool way to add some ambient lighting to a room in the evening. It’s made from PVC piping and uses a light suspension kit with a switch – both are very easy to find at your local hardware store. When choosing your LED bulb, take note of the pipe diameter and be sure to select one that will fit.

1 x 80mm 45-degree PVC downpipe bend
Resene Paint Prep and Housewash
Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen (Jacob used Resene Turbo)
1 x E27 light suspension kit with switch
1 x E27 LED bulb (big enough to fit the pipe)

Safety gear
Drop cloth
Drill and drill bits
Angle grinder with cut-off disc
Spray bottle
Cleaning cloth
Hand sander
180 grit sandpaper
Resene Testpot Roller Kit
Hot glue gun and glue sticks

1

Drill

Before you begin, lay down your drop cloth and make sure to put on your safety gear – earmuffs, goggles and mask.

Drill a pilot hole in the back of the PVC pipe, about 10mm up from the base.

Follow through with a drill bit that matches the size of the lamp cord, as this is where your cord and switch will feed through.

2

Cut

Use your angle grinder to carefully cut a small slit from the base to the hole and remove any loose edges.

3

Clean and sand

Use a cloth to clean your pipe with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, then sand off any manufacturing blemishes. Wipe away all the sanding dust – leaving this on the surface makes it hard for the new paint to stick as it will stick to the dust and not the pipe.

4

Paint

Decant your testpot into the Resene Testpot Roller Kit tray, then use the roller to apply two coats to the pipe. Allow dry time between each coat.

5

Install light fitting

Pass the lamp fitting through the base of the pipe, then screw the LED bulb into the fitting. Pull the cord tight, then pass it through the slit and out the drilled hole, which tucks it discreetly out of sight.

To keep the cord in place, secure it with hot glue.

6

Let there be light!

Display your PVC pipe lamp wherever you fancy a playful pop of colour, flick the switch and bask in the Memphis-style glow.

Recommended products

Some other fun and simple upcycling projects to try

These thrift flips will suit all kinds of skill levels and make great additions to your home. Upcycling materials and reimagining them into brand-new pieces is great for the environment, and is an excellent way to hone your DIY skills. They also make thoughtful and practical gifts.

Turn an old timber ladder into a plant stand

Keen thrift flipper Thomas Swain immediately saw the potential in this old timber painter’s ladder that his neighbour no longer needed. He was able to look past the wear and tear and old paint splatters and see that the A-frame’s sturdy wooden steps would make the perfect display shelf for his houseplants.The refreshed and reinvigorated ladder could also make a perfect place to show off photo frames and ornaments.

Use an old bucket to make a coat rack

With the changing of the seasons comes the challenge of finding the right place to hang your coats and jackets so that they’re easily accessible. Luckily for us, our resident Upcycler Jacob has come up with a brilliant solution to help you organise your wardrobe, and better yet, create a lasting piece of furniture – all thanks to an old bucket.

Ladder frame painted with Resene Lustacryl Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream and Resene Frontier, steps stained with Resene Colorwood natural wood stain in Resene Bark.