DIY Chandelier Makeover with Chalk Paint

Truth: a totally radical light fixture can seriously make a room. Truth: a totally radical light fixture is seriously expensive.

This is why I am so excited to share my DIY chandelier makeover with you. I took a super lame chandelier (that we got for free) and made it into a beautiful fixture that I simply adore!

This is what it looks like hanging over my stairway. Stay tuned for the reveal of my office/front room. Did you know that it's going to be in a book? Yep. Room Recipes is supposed to be released this month. I don't know for sure, but based on the Amazon preview, my room is the first chapter! Super stoked.

Click here learn about my stenciled wall.

Here's how it all started. Blah.

(Please excuse the photo quality of the tutorial pics. They were taken at night, with my iPhone. What? Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

I grabbed a bunch of bluish-grayish paint samples at the hardware store. I mixed a few different colors of homemade chalk paint (basically I just add some Plaster of Paris and water to my paint). I also mixed some gray paint with clear glaze.

I just started painting. 

When I asked my husband to take this pic he asked if I wanted to do something with my hair. I was like, whatever. Maybe I should have... haha. #toobusyDIYing

I used a sponge brush and just layered the paint until I got a texture. I was looking for a French Country old plaster type of look.

After I got the texture and color I wanted I went over it with a gray glaze. I wiped it off quickly and let the glaze seep into the groves to create depth and dimension. Sounds so technical when I put it that way ;)

I think my favorite part is the gold rimmed glass shades. Is that what they're called, shades? Help me out...

Rub 'n Buff is freaking awesome. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking some up (-Ferris Bueller).

Hello crystals! Okay, they aren't real crystals, (come on, we're on a budget around here). I picked these bad boys up (they're called Light Trims) at Hobby Lobby.

They're magnetic so we hung the light and then I climbed up there and arranged them. That part was super fun... NOT. 

1985 called... it wants it's joke back.

And there she is, in all her glory! This makeover cost about $50 in crystals (which I could have gotten 40% off if I had been willing to go back five different times) and about $15 in paint. I already had the Rub 'n Buff (I think it's about $3), the Plaster of Paris and the glaze. As I mentioned, the fixture was free, but seriously, I'm sure you could find one on Craig's List for 30 bucks.

So what do you think? Leave a comment and LMK!