Create a Decorative Light Box Wall Fixture

Making your own photo box wall fixture is simple and the end result is a fun yet elegant lighting solution. Read the following guidelines to get started in making this creative wall fixture.

Tools and Materials Needed

• Tissue paper or a piece of light fabric;
• LED rope lights;
• Box cutter;
• Scissors;
• Glue;
• Ruler, and;
• Picture hooks.

Finding the Right Box

Pick a box that is not too large for the room.  If you chose one that is too large, it could ruin the over all affect of the light box.  Going with one that is too small can be hard to work with.  Holding the box up on the wall where it will be installed can help you choose the right size box.

Cutting the Box

Ideally, the light will be glowing from the front and the two sides of the box.  You can have the light coming from every side of the box, but this can affect the structure of the box.  Using a ruler, draw a square on the sides of the box you will be cutting out at least an inch from the edge of the box. Using the box cutter, cut the squares out.

Wrap the Box

The easiest way to attach the tissue paper or fabric neatly is to pretend you are wrapping a present. Set the box down on your fabric with the cut out part facing down. Pull the fabric around the top and the bottom, gluing at the back.  Remember that the back will be against the wall, so it is okay if the gluing is a bit messy. When wrapping, leave some of the back of the box exposed.

Bring up one side of the material, tucking it in so that the seams match up.  Glue in place.  Repeat on the other side of the box.  You should now have a neatly wrapped box and are ready to install the light. 

Install the Light

There are two ways that you can install the light into your light box wall fixture.  One is to simply put it over an existing wall sconce by cutting out a hole in the back of the photo box and slipping it on. 

 If you do not have a preexisting wall light fixture, you can use a string of LED lights to illuminate your wall fixture.  Using your box cutters, cut out a small hole in the back of your photo box and put in the string of light.  You can let them sit on the bottom of the box for a concentrated glow or you can tape them up all over the inside of the box for a more scattered lighting effect. Attach some picture hooks to the back of the photo box wall fixture, hang, and plug in.