DIY Flush Mount Lighting: 2 Ways to Modernize Boob Lights!

There are just some lighting fixtures that NEED updating, and boob lights —er, flush mount ceiling lights—are at the TOP of the list. Check out these 2 quick and easy DIY options to update your flush mount lighting fixtures…

I’m just gonna dive right in and let you know that this titorial…whoops…TUtorial may make some of us feel a bit awkward. My apologies in advance.

But, we’re talking about boobs today.

Specifically, those often unattractive, builder-grade, usually outdated, flush-mount “boob lights”.

Today, I’m gonna give you A PAIR of knockers knockout, five-minute, zero tool methods to help you fix up the ceiling cleavage in your home, and create your own custom DIY flush mount ceiling light fixtures.

The Case for Ditching the Boob Lights

PSA before we go any further…please know that I am not anti-boob. Breasts are very useful and brilliantly designed anatomical features. I just don’t want my home to be illuminated by them.

Let’s get down to business. Apologies if this photo offends anyone but for those of you who DON’T know what a “boob light” is… get your Mardi Gras beads ready because you’re about to be flashed…

I know, I know. That’s hard to look at. Not only is this stairwell exceedingly ugly (and dirty), there is a wet t-shirt contest happening on my ceiling right now. Whoa.

Check it… not only is there another boob hanging from the ceiling, but this whole room is a TOTAL bust! (Did anyone else find that funny, because I’ve read it five times and my inner 10-year-old is still laughing).

Don’t worry, this room doesn’t look like this now! You should definitely check out its after-shot.

Listen, I love Hooters as much as the next gal (great wings, right?) but, I don’t wanna feel like I’m dining there every night in my own home.

All this being said…

Are you ready to make your home a STREAK-FREE ZONE?

You’ll need a few simple items to get started on this simple DIY lighting project…

Preparation: Updating Your Boob Lights

Remove the glass shade from your existing boob light fixture. Typically, this will be done by unscrewing the shade from three little screws on the side of the fixture, or, alternatively, one screw at the bottom of the shade.

If your flush mount ceiling light unscrews at the bottom, you may have to drill three little holes (use a very small bit) into the side of your fixture in order to use this technique (only if your fixture does not have these holes).

REGARDING ELECTRICITY: Uninstalling your fixture requires some knowledge about electricity…please don’t DIY unless you’re sure you can be safe.

If you LIKE the finish of your fixture, you’re ready to rock and roll. On the other hand, if you DON’T like the finish, then you’ll have to uninstall the fixture in order to spray paint it.

As you can see, our flush mount ceiling light fixture needed some help. We spray-painted ours with my favorite gold spray paint. Once you are happy with the finish/your paint has dried, reinstall the fixture.

Now, choose your own adventure…remember those books? Are you going to use a drum shade or a capiz shell shade??

Decisions, decisions. Let’s start with the drum shade option.

Hanging a Drum Shade to Update Your Flush Mount Light

*Note: The diagram below shows the fixture UNINSTALLED. The installation will work just fine whether your fixture is mounted or unmounted. For clearer pictures, I’m just showing it this way.

1. Align the Holes

Align (roughly) the arms of your drum shade with those holes (where you removed your glass, or where you’ve drilled) on the fixture. If it doesn’t line up exactly, no problem. You can adjust the zip ties to allow the shade to hang correctly.

2. Secure the Shade

Zip tie through a hole in the fixture, and around an arm of your shade. Secure loosely. Repeat for each hole in your fixture.

3. Level Your Shade

Once your zip ties are in place, make sure the shade hangs level. You can alter how it hangs by tightening your nylon ties.

4. Trim the Excess

With shade now hanging level, snip off the excess nylon. DONE! Below is an image of the installation of the shade while the fixture is mounted on the ceiling.

Ta-Da! No more ta-ta!

Remember The Price is Right? No, not Drew Carey. I’m talking classic Bob Barker…

But Wait! There’s More!!

Using a Capiz Shade to Update Your Boob Lights

If you get bored with option #1, we’ve got another option behind Door #2! How about a beautiful capiz shade? I love the look of capiz – very chic and very coastal. The thing is, though, that they can be VERY costly! $300+ is not unusual for a capiz chandelier. Luckily, our version is MUCH more affordable!

The most inexpensive route to a capiz shade would be to MAKE one. You can find an online tutorial for making one here if you decide to go that route.

Personally, I’m exceedingly lazy, and there’s only so much time in the day. I’m thinking that you know what I mean. So I would buy one any day of the week over DIY’ing one of these suckers. 😉

However, even with that in mind, the decision for me to DIY my flush mount lighting fixture here was super easy because I had a capiz shade on-hand from an old lamp. It was bought for my first child’s nursery and had been tucked away in the garage for years.

Tip: If you don’t already have one, you can find these for a decent price – especially if you look for a “capiz windchime”, instead of a “light fixture”!

Plus, I already researched and found a bunch of great options for you…just look in the supply list up toward the top of this post! ⬆⬆⬆

Although it’s basically the same method described for the drum shade, it’s slightly easier because a capiz shade usually has a round rim at the top, and you can fasten your cable ties anywhere you need.

Here’s a close-up of the top of my capiz shade. Follow these steps:

1. Stick your zips up there through the holes in your flush mount.

2. Tighten your zips while leveling the shade.

3. Snip the excess nylon once you’re happy with how the shade hangs.

Voila! Do you like it? I would totally sink some cold hard cash into this if I saw it somewhere…but luckily, we don’t have to!!

You’ve done it! A GORGEOUS DIY flush mount ceiling light that ISN’T even CLOSE to a boob light!

The only problem with this project is that after you dismantle those boob lights, you have a perfectly good glass shade leftover! So, I’ve racked (get it?) my brain, and come up with two possible solutions for you.

1. Start A New Side Job?

Hmmmm….that’s a NO. Hold on, I GOT IT!

2. Fancy Trick-or-Treat Candy Bowl!

Now go knock out some knockers, friends!!

Oh, and if these boob light shades aren’t your style, guess what? We’ve done more! Here are posts about other amazing alternatives to your current flush mount light fiasco:

Check Out These Other Flush Mount Lighting Update Ideas

1. Moroccan-Style Lantern

AKA the fun bag “full metal jacket”? I don’t know. Whatever you want to call it, this hack using a hip geometric metal lantern is an upgrade from what was hanging there before.

2. DIY Bamboo Shade

AKA the “bamboo brassiere“

Fun fact: made this baby out of some bamboo placemats I found at a local thrift store.

3. Boho Look Lighting Update

Our popular boho decor boob light hack!

4. Woven/Rattan Basket Shade

A tisket, a tasket…a boob light cover from a basket!

5. Macrame Light Makeover

From mammary to macrame – watch this light fixture transform from drab to fab!

Interested in that exact shade? Here are the macrame shade deets.

Pin

I hope you have as much fun updating your boob lights as I did! What’s your favorite DIY flush mount ceiling light idea?

Pin these boob light solutions for later! And if you try one of these flush mount lighting updates, let others know how it went by leaving a comment on the pin! Bonus points for uploading a pic of your own project! That helps others decide if this is a lighting project they want to try, too!

Pin it! Capiz Shade Boob Light Solution:

Pin it! Drum Shade Boob Light Solution