• Latest Posts
  • Categories
    • Architecture
    • Art
    • Home
    • Interiors
    • Style
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • At The Office
    • CMYLK
    • Deconstruction
    • Design Store(y)
    • Designer Dailies
    • Designer Desktops
    • Destination Design
    • Friday Five
    • Get Out!
    • Make It Modern
    • Skim Milk
    • Taste
    • Unframed
    • Where I Work
  • Search
  • Connect
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Flickr
    • YouTube
    • Videos
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Milk Factory
    • Clever Podcast
    • Shop Society6
  • Design Milk
  • Dog Milk
  • Adorn Milk
  • Clever Podcast
  • Design Milk Job Board
  • Milk Factory
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Submit
  • Contact
Design Milk
Search
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Home
  • Interiors
  • Style
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • Videos
  • More
    • Architecture
    • Art
    • Home
    • Interiors
    • Style
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • At The Office
    • CMYLK
    • Deconstruction
    • Design Store(y)
    • Designer Dailies
    • Designer Desktops
    • Destination Design
    • Friday Five
    • Get Out!
    • Make It Modern
    • Skim Milk
    • Taste
    • Unframed
    • Where I Work
  • Connect
    • Flickr
    • YouTube
    • Videos
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Milk Factory
    • Clever Podcast
    • Shop Society6
Design Milk
All Home Furnishings

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

02.17.14
Posted by Meg Kemner
Home Furnishings Main
DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp View Photo Gallery View Photo Gallery
  • Share This Article
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin
  • Submit
here

For whatever reason, the most obvious solutions are often the most elusive. It’s like when you’ve put your wallet right on the middle of the coffee table (and of course, it’s the ONLY thing on the coffee table) but you end up tossing around cushions and digging under the couch and checking the fridge (just in case) while trying to hunt it down, because “Where did I PUT that thing!?”

That’s kind of what it’s like to come up with a simple, overly-obvious DIY. We knew we wanted to do lighting, and I had a few ideas I was referencing for inspiration, but I couldn’t pin down the execution since we also wanted to keep it SUPER simple. No tools, no fuss, no time, no mess. I’m not sure what finally led to the “Eureka!” moment, but after WAY too much thinking, I picked up a sheet of paper, rolled it into a cone, and… blam. That was it. Pendant lamp.

For each lamp, you’ll need:

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

Supplies:

– a machine screw that’s about 1/4″ to 1/2″ long (I went with this beefier one, but you could go more subtle if you want)
– a hex nut that fits the machine screw
– marker
– craft knife
– tape (painters tape will do, but if your material is more resistant to bending, use a stronger tape.)
– any flat, flexible, and flame-retardant material — try metal mesh, some felts, leather, hardware cloth, certain types of papers, canvas, etc (see more on this in the instructions)
– cord set and bulb — I got this blue one from Urban Cottage Industries, but there are a number of options elsewhere, like Ikea, Anthropologie, West Elm, or Lowes.

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

Step 1:
Cut your material to size.

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

I stuck with the standard 8.5″ x 11″ which made a really nice asymmetrical cone once I rolled it up. You can always test out some sizing with cardstock or paper first, though. If you want to go wider or larger, play around and see what works.

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

Step 2:
Once you have your cone figured out, lay your sheet flat and cut a small X where you want the screw to go. For this leather lamp, I put it right in the corner, about 1/4″ in from the edges and just large enough to fit the machine screw.

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

Then re-roll the cone to how you want it. Secure with tape once you get it just right, and use the marker to mark your next X on the material beneath.

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

Step 3:
Unroll and cut the second X where you marked. Then roll up your cone again, this time around the cord set.

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

Push the machine screw through the first X, then line it up and push through the second X.

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

Step 4:
Pull the socket down and out of the way, reach in and screw the nut onto the screw, securing as best you can.

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

Pull the cord taut to the top of the cone, screw in a bulb (make sure it’s not resting on the cone) and hang!

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

Since its such a versatile project, there’s a lot of room to play around and add your own touch. Try out different materials, sizes, bulbs, and hanging techniques. Different kinds of metal mesh and hardware cloth could yield a cool result. A super flexible wood veneer would look way more rustic. Marble contact paper over a PVC sheet would be a clean, classy and contemporary way to go. I made another one using this gold perforated sheeting that’s meant as a decorative cover for heating vents. Wicker, metal flashing, and 100% wool felt are other options.

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

I have this one set with an Edison bulb, but it’d look really cool with a mirrored vanity bulb.

DIY Simple Cone Pendant Lamp

As for hanging, there’s always the standard swag hook on the ceiling, but with a cord set, try wrapping it around open shelving, slinging it over a mirror, or flip it around and screw the cone directly into the wall as a sconce.

  • Share This Article
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin
  • Submit
Meg Kemner gained her informal education at Space 1026, beginning in the print industry and weaving seamlessly through roles in photography, editorial, digital media, art, fashion, interiors and graphic design. When she isn't hunting for new and strange materials at local hardware stores and flea markets, Meg consolidates her creative work at MK Dept. of Treasury and writes the Design Milk DIY column.
You can follow Meg Kemner on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram. Read all of Meg Kemner's posts.

Design Milk Digest

Fresh design delivered right to your inbox.

Daily
Weekly
Previous Article
Next Article

3 Comments

  • babiesartroom on 02.18.2014 at 01:59 AM

    amazing lights! !!! i will do it write now

    Reply to this comment

  • Lydia on 03.15.2014 at 18:04 PM

    Where did you find the leather piece?I can’t seem to find anything.

    Reply to this comment

    • Meg Kemner (post author) on 03.16.2014 at 21:35 PM

      Hi Lydia! The leather piece was actually left over from this DIY:
      http://design-milk.com/make-it-modern-diy-minimal-leather-stool-cover/
      I actually got the leather from a local fabric store, but you can find a some resources by following that link and looking under “Supplies.” Best of luck!

      Reply to this comment

Want your image to appear next to your comment? Get a gravatar!Leave A Comment Cancel reply

View 3 Comments
Hide Comments

Related Posts

Ludovica Lamp by Zanocchi & Starke

Ludovica Lamp by Zanocchi & Starke

OOS Collection by Studio248
Skim Milk

OOS Collection by Studio248

Welles and Dean by Gabriel Scott

Welles and Dean by Gabriel Scott

Stine Mikkelsen’s Solid Formations Is Part Furniture, Part Sculpture

Stine Mikkelsen’s Solid Formations Is Part Furniture, Part Sculpture

Peg Lamp Inspired by a Clothespin by William McDonald

Peg Lamp Inspired by a Clothespin by William McDonald

Rafael Morgan Designs

Rafael Morgan Designs

Design From Around The Web

Popular In Home Furnishings

More
A New Collection from CEDIT That Proves Color Is Everything Sponsored

A New Collection from CEDIT That Proves Color Is Everything

The Cromatica collection by Formafantasma brings color variance back to contemporary ceramic tiles.

DUOO Is a Modern Writing Desk Stripped of Unnecessary Details

DUOO Is a Modern Writing Desk Stripped of Unnecessary Details

A modern writing desk that's stripped of all unnecessary adornment, leaving behind a thoughtfully designed place to work or write.

5 Influential Women in the World of Modern Design

5 Influential Women in the World of Modern Design

We look at 5 influential women in the world of modern design who deserve to be household names.

Design Milk Job Board

More
Brooklyn NY 11232

Retail / Store manager - WantedDesign

WantedDesign
View Job
San Francisco, CA

ACD – Design - godfreydadich

godfreydadich
View Job
San Francisco, CA

ACD – Art Director - godfreydadich

godfreydadich
View Job

Featured Columns

Where I Work Where I Work
Friday Five Friday Five
Unframed Unframed
Partners →
  • Be Original Americas
  • Become a Partner
Our Sites →
  • Dog Milk
  • Adorn Milk
  • Clever Podcast
  • Job Board
  • Milk Factory
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Home
  • Interiors
  • Style
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • Videos
  • More
    • Architecture
    • Art
    • Home
    • Interiors
    • Style
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • At The Office
    • CMYLK
    • Deconstruction
    • Design Store(y)
    • Designer Dailies
    • Designer Desktops
    • Destination Design
    • Friday Five
    • Get Out!
    • Make It Modern
    • Skim Milk
    • Taste
    • Unframed
    • Where I Work
  • Connect
    • Flickr
    • YouTube
    • Videos
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Milk Factory
    • Clever Podcast
    • Shop Society6
Photo copyright retained by photo owners, everything else © 2019 Design Milk®, part of the JD2 Media, LLC "Milk" family.
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Archives
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Submit
  • Contact

Design Milk Digest

Fresh design delivered right to your inbox.

Daily
Weekly