More Simple Ceiling Light Covers to Conquer Your Ceiling Cleavage Problem…
A tisket, a tasket a boob light cover from a basket. Today we’re gonna help you make some lovely boob light ceiling light covers from a simple basket.
Because if you’ve got any nipple-laden light fixtures looming over you at home, you need this DIY project like YESTERDAY…
Not sure if you’ve ever been here before, but if not, I’m so glad you found me. And you should be glad, too. Why? Because I may just happen to be the internet authority when it comes to boob jobs. Boob light jobs, at least.
In a minute, I’ll take you on a quick stroll down mammary lane. Errr…memory lane of boob jobs gone by.
Oh, and before moving on, if you’re the type who loves decorating your home BIG time, but on a small-time budget? Then you’ll want to grab a free copy of “Builder-Grade To Beautiful: 10 Totally Transformative Home Decorating Solutions, All Under $100!” Click here or on the image below. Your copy will be sent right away!
Here’s what you’ll need to tackle this DIY lighting project…
Supplies for your rattan basket boob light hack
- nylon cable ties
- scissors or linesman pliers
- box cutter
- painter’s tape
- drum-shaped basket…ours was a thrifted wicker one, but you could choose one made from another material. I searched around to find some that I thought would be awesome candidates for this project for you! Just click any of the pics and you’ll be taken directly to the source:
Tips for selecting the right basket:
*When choosing a basket, ideally, the diameter should be a few inches up to as large as 2x the diameter of your light fixture. The one I used was frankly too small. I think it would look MUCH better if it were a touch larger.
**Also, if this is hung in a spot where people walk below it, remember that you need at least 7′ of clearance underneath to prevent people from smacking their heads on your fixture.
***If you choose a basket that has handles, you may want to dissect the basket and remove the handle(s) before you hang it, unless you like the look of the handles being there. Personal preference.
Video Tutorial: DIY Lighting Hack
Easy breezy, right?
Yep! This is an easy solution to a huge eyesore, right? And trust me, I know. Because this isn’t my first boob-wrangling rodeo. After the tutorial, check out different versions of this project in case the basket ceiling light cover isn’t quite your jam.
How to make your basket ceiling light covers
1. Remove your boob light shade.
Typically, the glass shades are held in place by three (maybe more) small screws around the lip of the fixture. Just unscrew them, and remove that boob once and for all. Already looks better, right?
2. Use the shade to trace the size of the light fixture onto your basket.
Don’t pitch that thing quite yet. It comes in very handy as a quick template for our new shade.
Why the painter’s tape? I used it so that I didn’t have to draw directly onto the basket, plus, it helps reduce fraying while it’s getting cut in the next step.
3. Cut a hole in the bottom of your basket.
This will become the TOP of your new shade.
If you decided to use a natural fiber basket for this project, then you’ll likely have a bit of a challenge with the cutting.
Fear not, the top of this shade won’t be visible for the most part, so it’s not a catastrophe if it ends up a little ragged looking. Mine definitely was (see image below):
If you’re concerned about it, just make the hole on the small size, hold it up to the fixture and see how it looks.
Cut gingerly so that you don’t make the hole too big and increase the likelihood that your messy cuts will be seen around the top of the shade.
4. Your basket ceiling light covers ready to hang!
Who’s ready to banish a boob light? YOU are, my friend!
5. Grab some zip ties and hang your shade.
Count the number of screws you removed when you took down the old glass shade. That number is how many zip ties you’ll need. We’ll be using the zip ties to hang our ceiling light covers. Simply place the nylon tie through both your shade (just find a spot to push the tie through the weaving in your basket.
If you went with another type of basket…like a linen one, then use your box cutter to create a tiny slit where you can weave your zip tie through) as well as a screw hole in the part of your ceiling fixture that’s still hung. Close the tie, but DO NOT tighten the zip tie yet.
Continue around the shade in this manner, loosely securing shade through all screw holes with a zip tie.
*If the zip ties are too short, simply link zip ties together until they are long enough to connect the shade to the ceiling fixture.
6. Level.
Once all your zip ties are placed, level your new shade by tightening zip ties. Do this carefully.
If you tighten too much, you’ll have to snip your zip tie(s) and insert a new tie. Not a huge deal, but it will take a little more time.
Incrementally tighten your ties until the new shade is hanging as desired.
7. Snip.
Once you’re happy with the way your new shade is hanging, simply snip the excess nylon from the ends of each zip tie with your scissors or linesman pliers.
And just like that, you’ve successfully put a stop to that strip club on your ceiling. Congratulations!
Here’s a quick little visual stroll through our catalog of cleaved ceiling cleavage. Just like the coffee table books at your friendly local plastic surgeon’s office.
If you prefer any of these looks to the woven basket look we’re discussing today, just click on the link or the picture to go to the tit-TUTorial. Here ya go:
boob light job #1
The drum shade. The boob light hack that started it all.
If you already have an old shade, great! If not, here are some places I found them at decent prices:
boob light job #3
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.
Here are some sources for this lantern and other similar ones:
boob light job #4
The bamboo brassiere. Fun fact: made this baby out of some bamboo placemats I found at a local thrift store.
But I found some really pretty options other places since my thrift store now has none left for you:
boob light job #5
The boho boob cover. Our most recent adaptation, and quickly becoming an all-time fave.
Pin this post for later! And if you make one, leave a comment (or better yet, a photo) on the pin! That helps others know whether they want to try this project, too!
Pssst…before you go, I sure would love to hang out with you again really soon! Sign up now and get a FREE copy of “Builder-Grade To Beautiful: 10 Totally Transformative Home Decorating Solutions, All Under $100!” Click here to enter your email or on the image below. Your copy will be sent right away!
Julia says
I love the idea of doing something about those horrible boob lights! Thank you!
Maybe I’m paranoid, but do you worry at all about the basket getting too hot right next to the bulbs & catching fire?
Heather says
Hi Julia, nope. I’m not concerned about that at all, but if you are, then definitely try one of the other boob light hacks instead 🙂 We have a BUNCH of different iterations of that project that you could check out. I think the key is using a basket that is large enough that your bulb isn’t super close. But if you’re concerned, just err on the side of caution and try a different approach.
Alison says
Let me start by saying, I absolutely love your ideas and sense of humor! I have PTSD and am at home a lot. Your posts bring a smile to my face. Thank you for that……
Anyway, I saw a pic you posted that had a boob light on a slanted ceiling. I have high ceilings in my livingroom with a boob light that isn’t even centered that is driving me crazy, as if I’m not crazy enough as it is, lol
Do you have any ideas on how to cover it up?
Thank you again for making me smile!
AJ
Heather says
Alison, THANK YOU so much for your sweet comment. You seriously made my day ❤️. YES, for slanted ceilings, you can adjust the zip ties to be shorter on one side, and longer on the other so that the shade will sit level with the ground! There are other shade ideas, so if this one doesn’t work for you, check the others out as well. The best shade option for a slanted ceiling will likely be a shade with an “uno” fitter…this style shade has the metal arms inside the shade, which enables you to affix the shade closer to the ceiling so that the “guts” of your fixture wouldn’t be as visible from the taller side of the room on the more exposed side. Hope this is making sense. I talk about it a little more in the boob light bundle video, too. Hit me back with follow ups if you don’t get it…it’s kind of hard to explain in writing :). And thanks again for your comment 😘 Hugs!! Heather