3 Rustic Lighting Ideas

Rustic lighting can be as simple as creating a candle holder out of an old moose or deer’s antlers or adding a wood trim to a lamp and creating a rustic lamp shade. All of these lighting ideas are merely enhancements to your existing lighting fixtures or new ways to use certain rustic materials in order to make your lighting more rustic.

Look for as many examples as you can of rustic lighting ideas to get a sense of how these suggestions and others that you come across can work to give your lighting a more rustic look. This is a good project to engage in especially if you are considering changing your home into a rustic cabin or adding more rustic design elements to your furniture.

Creating a Candle Holder out of Antlers

The first rustic lighting idea for your home is to find an old deer, elk or moose antler. You can find one that in an antique store or search the woods and mountains near your home for antlers that have been shed. The antlers should be of ample weight and be able to be drilled into without becoming brittle or breaking apart.

Purchase a lamp making kit from a lighting store and be sure to follow the instructions for setting up the lamp lighting. Instead of running the wiring through the base of the lamp however, run the wiring through the antlers and attach the fixtures necessary to screw in a light bulb to the points on the antler. You will also need to attach a wire loop chain to suspend the antler lamp from the ceiling, turning it into a rustic makeshift antler candle holder.

Adding Wood Trim to a Lamp

Add piece of wood, from a piece of log with the bark side exposed, to the side of an old lamp. This will create a new lamp base for you. Trim the bark piece to a thickness that can be easily attached to the base of the lamp. Use a drill or hammer and nails to attach the pieces, forming a box around the existing lamp base. This will give your lamp a more rustic feel and help transform the look of your lighting.

Create a Rustic Lamp Shade

Take old leaves that your find in the woods and dip them in a shellac to harden them. Allow the leaves to dry and use glue to attach them to a window share. You can completely cover the lamp or create a pattern, based on some design. You can use a lot of creativity to create any type of rustic lamp shade that you want. You can also use the leaves in other parts of your home, such as a wall, bookshelf or dresser.

These ideas are some of the things to consider when creating rustic lighting for your home. Use magazines, books and online sources to find lighting ideas that best suit your style and fit your budget as well.