No More Expensive Table Lamps: An Old Mason Jar Can Become One Instead
Expensive table lamps aren’t the only option when you need light beside a bed or on a desk. A half-gallon Mason jar can serve as the base for a table lamp with a painted finish, metal hardware, and a standard lampshade.
Homedit contributor Erin Francois turned a clear Ball Mason jar into a navy blue table lamp using acrylic paint and a lamp-making kit. The glass retains its embossed lettering, but the finished base resembles glazed ceramic rather than a food storage container.
The Project Starts With a Jar and a Lamp Kit
The materials include a half-gallon Mason jar, painter’s tape, a pen, an electric drill with a glass bit, navy acrylic paint, a brush, a pocket knife, and a lamp kit. The hardware consists of a socket, threaded tube, mounting pieces, and an electrical cord.
Most of the work involves preparing the glass and lid before attaching the light fixture.
Francois covered a section near the bottom of the jar with painter’s tape and marked where the electrical cord would exit. Positioning the opening toward the back keeps the cord out of sight when the lamp faces forward.
A glass drill bit creates the cord opening. The glass needs support, water to cool the bit, eye protection, and gentle pressure to reduce the risk of cracks.
Navy Blue Paint Changes the Glass Without Hiding Its Shape
After drilling, Francois removed the tape and placed a fresh piece over the hole to keep paint from escaping.
She chose to paint the interior rather than the outside, leaving the glass surface exposed.
Using a brush inserted through the jar’s opening, she coated the inside walls with navy blue acrylic paint. The raised Ball logo and measurement markings remain visible through the glass because the color sits behind them.
The before-and-after comparison shows the change from transparent glass to a glossy blue base. Once the paint dries, the jar can receive its electrical components.
The Original Metal Lid Becomes the Socket Mount
Instead of replacing the jar lid, Francois cut an opening in its center for the threaded metal tube supplied with the lamp kit.
The tube holds the socket above the jar and connects it to the metal lid.
The electrical cord enters through the hole near the bottom, travels inside the jar, and comes out through the top. The cord can then reach the socket without hanging over the outside of the glass.
The Lamp Hardware Turns the Painted Jar Into a Light Fixture
The six-part photo sequence shows the socket assembly. A threaded tube passes through the lid, followed by the mounting hardware and bulb socket.
For a safe lamp, the wiring must follow the kit manufacturer’s instructions, with the cord secured against pulling and protected from sharp metal and glass edges. A qualified electrician should handle the connections if the kit instructions are unclear.
With the socket mounted, the blue Mason jar has become a lamp base. The metal screw band secures the lid, and the bulb sits above the jar opening.
A white tapered lampshade completes the project, concealing most of the electrical hardware and balancing the tall glass base.
The result retains the Mason jar’s original shape and embossed markings without looking like a storage container. For anyone with an unused jar and a suitable lamp kit, it offers an alternative to purchasing another table lamp.