DIY Wire Cage Light Fixture

Every once in a while, a DIY project presents itself that is so easy, so fast, and yet so completely perfect for a space that you can’t help dropping everything and doing that project. This DIY wire cage ceiling light fixture is just such a project. It’s unbelievably simple and straightforward, and the end result is completely satisfying.

DIY Wire Cage Light Fixture
DIY Wire Cage Light Fixture

The following article is a step-by-step tutorial on how to create and mount your own wire ceiling light fixture.

turquoise-cage-lighting-fixture-for-ceiling

DIY Level: Beginner

Materials Needed:

  • Wire grating (example uses a 2”x3” wire grid)
  • Metal cutters (aka “tin snips”)
  • Electrical tape and/or small wire
  • Spray paint
  • Ceramic light bulb mount
  • Edison LED light bulb
  • Screw hooks
diy-wire-light-wire-supplies

Begin by determining the size, either by circumference or diameter, of your desired light cage. Mark this length on your roll of wire grating.

Use tin snips to cut alone

Use tin snips to cut along the outer wire line of this distance, taking care to keep the line. Do the same for your desired light fixture height. When determining the width and height of your fixture, keep in mind the span of the light bulb(s) that the cage will mount on top of. In other words, make sure your cage is wide enough for your bulbs and also deep enough for your bulbs so the cage doesn’t touch the light bulbs in any way when it’s mounted.

DIY Wire Light - Round Geometric

You should end up with a cylindrical shape of wire grating, with even edges on all ends.

grab-some-electrical-tape

Grab some electrical tape (or small wire, if you’re not planning on painting your wire cage) and attach the grating edges together to create a complete cylinder.

diy-wire-light-tape

This example used electrical tape because it stretches and is flexible without being bulky. Keep the wrap-angle sharp so you make fewer rotations of the tape over your two connecting wires. If you’re using small wire, simply wrap enough small wire around the connecting grating wires so as to keep them securely together.

Use tape on the wire

Of course your tapes wires will be a little thicker than the others because there are two wires plus tape at this joint; however, the connection will be less obvious once you paint the fixture later.

Set your cylinder down and check

Set your cylinder down and check for evenness in its shape.

 parts of your cylinder

If there are parts of your cylinder that are uneven or slightly bent, bend them back into a smooth, round form.

newly-rounded-and-smoothed-cylinder

Set your newly rounded and smoothed cylinder on top of some flat wire grating.

diy-wire-light-smoothed-cylinder

Use your tin snips to cut the flat wire grating all the way around your cylinder, keeping about 1” overlap of the flat grating. This will be the bottom of your wire cage, and you want a little overlap to be able to connect the flat grating to the bottom of the cylinder.

diy-wire-light-overlap-wire

Don’t worry if all the overlap isn’t exactly even; do the best you can, and what makes the most sense, with the wire grating you’ve got. You want all raw edges on the flat grating for overlap.

Overlapping raw edges to a 90-degree angle

Use pliers to bend the overlapping raw edges to a 90-degree angle, precisely at the point of connection with your cylinder wire grating.

set-the-angled-raw-wire

Set the angled raw wire directly against the cylinder’s perimeter wire.

tightly-bend-the-raw-wire

Tightly bend the raw wire over (or under, depending on how you’re holding it) the perimeter wire, folding it back almost against itself.

Use pliers to pull the very tip

Use pliers to pull the very tip of the raw wire through the grate.

The wire loop should be touching itself

The wire loop should be touching itself, and the connection should be as small, tight, and efficient as you can possibly make it.

Repeat this process for each

Repeat this process for each of the raw wires on the flat bottom grating piece. Take care to maintain the cylinder shape throughout; don’t pull the raw wires too tightly, and don’t leave them too loose.

raw-edges-poking-out

You don’t want the raw edges poking out as far as they probably are.

tin-snips-and-carefully-trim

Take your tin snips and carefully trim off any excess from your raw wire loops.

Make any adjustments to the shape - wire lamp

Done with the hardest part! It looks good, doesn’t it? Make any adjustments to the shape that you might need to make at this point, before painting.

Set the wire cage on a drop cloth

Set the wire cage on a drop cloth and spray paint 2-3 light coats. Be sure to spray all sides and from all angles, including the inside-the-cage wires.

diy-wire-light-turquoise-spray-paint

Let the wire cage ceiling light fixture dry completely.

DIY Wire Light - wall ceiling hooks

When your wire cage is ready to be installed, get out some screw hooks that are the same color as your ceiling, if possible. You want these to be as invisible as you can make them.

DIY Wire Light - Setting the hooks aside for a minute

Setting the hooks aside for a minute, hold the wire cage up against the ceiling with the light completely centered.

diy-wire-light-equidistant-drill-spots

Mark three or four equidistant drill spots, even with the cylinder’s perimeter wire, onto the ceiling with a pencil. These will be where your screw hooks will go.

drill-appropriately-sized-holes

Drill appropriately sized holes for the screw hooks at the places you’ve marked.

screw-in-your-screw-hooks-ceiling

Screw in your screw hooks to the ceiling. Because they’re going into sheeting, these screws won’t tighten down all the way. Just screw them in until their flange touches the ceiling surface, then call it good. The wire cage isn’t heavy, so they’ll hold the weight just fine.

wire-cage-into-the-screw-hooks

Set the wire cage into the screw hooks.

diy-wire-light-turqouise-lamp

That’s it. Seriously. The end.

diy-wire-light-kids-turquoise-lamp

For something so easy, it sure makes a difference in the room’s personality.

Wire ceiling lamp - generic builder-grade light

A cheap, generic builder-grade light was in here before. And, while this wire cage isn’t expensive by any means, it’s much more stylish and unique.

How to create a wire ceiling lamp

Be sure to use a clear globe light bulb (or another bulb you love) to maximize the industrial effect.

Easy DIY Turquoise wire ceiling lamp

This aqua color was perfect for a pre-teen girl’s bedroom, but I think you could really have fun with some other colors. Black would be sophisticated, or gold would be chic in a less kid-focused space.

diy-wire-light-lighting-fixtures

Good luck creating your own customized DIY wire cage ceiling light fixture. We hope you’ll love it.