Lighting DIY | Modern Bathroom Fixture
We are knee deep in bathroom makeover madness, but I had to share our latest lighting DIY with all of you. A modern bathroom fixture can be hard to come by unless you're willing to fork out some serious cash, so we decided to make our own (surprise, surprise!).
In case you missed any of our other lighting DIYs from the past, feel free to check them out here: kitchen nook, dining room, living room, kitchen, guest room, and hallway.
To get started, I once again hopped over to some of my favorite lighting companies for inspiration. Cedar & Moss, Schoolhouse Electric, Rejuvenation, and Triple Seven Home had tons of options that had me dreaming up all sorts of designs. To keep headroom to a maximum while ensuring we still received plenty of light, we landed on the three fixtures below:
"Vista 2" by Cedar & Moss - $169
"Odyssey 2" by Schoolhouse Electric - $219
"Fiona" by Triple Seven Home - $188
All were beautiful, but way out of the budget if we want to stay under $500 for our entire bathroom makeover. A little DIY was in order. Here's what we did...
s u p p l i e s
- (1) 5 in. unfinished brass canopy with 1/8ips center hole - $10.00
- (2) Unfinished brass socket cup - $3.85 each
- (2) White porcelain key less sockets - $1.60 each
- (3) 4in. 1/8ips hollow brass pipe stem - $1.95 each
- (1) 3/8in. slip ring with side screw - $0.90
- (1) Straight arm back tee - $2.00
- (2) 1/8F x 1/8F its threaded coupling - $1.50 each
- (2) 1/2in. threaded hollow brass nipple - $0.18 each
- (2) 100W 5in. globe white bulbs - $4.20 each
- (1) 4in. steel crossbar - $0.50
- (3ft) White wire - $0.30/ft
- (3ft) Black wire - $0.30/ft
- Electrical tape (not pictured)
- Wire cutters (not pictured)
- Screw driver (not pictured)
- Wrench (not pictured)
Total: $43.71 + shipping/tax
i n s t r u c t i o n s
To get started, gather all of the supplies and start disassembling the white porcelain sockets - just like we have with all of the other lighting DIYs. Insert one of your 1/2in. threaded brass nipples into your socket top and tighten the screw for a secure fit.
Repeat this step for the second socket.
The next step is to wire each socket. Remember, white --> silver and black --> gold. Tighten each screw for a secure fit.
Once the threaded nipple is secured and the socket is wired, assemble the two pieces back together. Be sure to lineup the screws, flip the socket over, and tighten the screws.
Repeat for the other socket.
You should end up with two sockets that look like this:
Once the sockets are wired, grab the brass cup and insert it over the white socket. The brass threaded nipple should extend out of the brass cup hole.
Next, grab one of the brass threaded couplings. This should be the piece that has two holes - one on each end. Screw one end onto the brass threaded nipple. Tighten for a secure fit.
Repeat for the second socket.
Once the brass cup is secured to the socket with the coupling, thread one of the 4in. pipes over the wires. Screw this pipe into the other end of the brass coupling.
Repeat for the second socket.
Next, thread the brass arm back tee over the wires of your first socket. The arm back is the piece with three holes. As you can see below, the wires from one of the sockets should enter from the RIGHT but exit through the bottom of the arm back. The second socket wires should enter through the LEFT and exit through the same bottom hole.
You should end up with something that looks like this.
(As a side note, we ended up unscrewing our brass pipes from the couplings so that we could more easily maneuver our pieces. Feel free to do the same if things are too tight to work with.)
Once all of the pieces are in the correct order and wired appropriately, screw each piece together. The couplings should be screwed into the brass cups followed by the 4in. brass pipes screwed into that same coupling, and then the brass arm back screwed into each 4in. brass pipe.
This can get a little messy because you don't want to strain any of your wires, so take your time. The end result should look like this:
The next step is to insert the final 4in. brass pipe and screw it into the remaining hole of the brass arm back. This is the piece that will eventually connect to the ceiling/wall.
Once again, the end result should look like this:
Insert the slip ring over the brass pipe.
Next, insert brass canopy over brass pipe.
Then insert steel cross bar onto brass pipe. You should be able to screw the cross bar onto the end of the threads for a secure fit.
Finally, you're ready to mount the fixture!
PLEASE NOTE: All electricity should be OFF before proceeding. If you are not comfortable with electrical work, please hire a professional.
Connect the white wire bundle to the white wire in the ceiling. Secure using a wire connector and electrical tape. Repeat for the black wires. Connect steel cross bar to ceiling/wall.
Once everything is connected appropriately, secure the fixture to the wall/ceiling using the slip ring. There is a screw on the side of the slip ring that can be tightened for a secure fit.
Getting everything wired and secured was a little tricky as there wasn't a ton of room to work with, but just take your time. The end result is completely worth it.
Once the fixture is securely mounted, simply screw in your light bulbs, flip the switch and admire your handy work!
This light is SO GOOD. I love it! The brass looks great against the glass subway tile and the entire space feels so much for more airy and open. This may be my favorite lighting DIY yet!
Looking forward to finishing a few more projects for this space and then hopping in the tub for a nice long bath to marvel at our hard work. :) Stay tuned for more to come!