• Contact
  • About
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
Simplicity in the South

Simplicity in the South

  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • DIY
    • Remodeling
    • Before + Afters
    • Catalog Inspired Knock-Offs
    • Built-ins
    • One Room Challenge
    • DIY Lighting
    • DIY Woodworking Projects
    • Paint Transformations
  • Organization
    • Closet Organization
    • Bathroom organization
    • Laundry Room Organization
    • Bedroom Organization
    • Pantry Organization
    • Crafty Organization
    • small home/ BIG IDEAS series
    • Built-ins
    • Cleaning Tips & Tricks
  • Crafts
    • DIY Artwork + Signs + Mirrors
    • Crafty Organization
    • Paint Transformations
    • DIY Lighting
    • Printables
    • Dollar Store Crafts
    • Decoupage
    • Seasonal Decorating Ideas
  • Decorating Ideas
    • mood boards + design boards
    • Room Reveals
    • Home Tour
    • Seasonal Decorating Ideas
    • Roundups
  • Recipes

Aug 12 · 27 Comments

Faux Easy Mercury Pendant Light

Craft Projects· DIY Projects· Lighting· Paint Transformations

 
 

mercury light pendant

Welcome! This is my very first blog post! I’ve been wanting to start a blog ever since I stumbled upon Young House Love and The Lettered Cottage 3 years ago.
I am hopelessly addicted to home decor and doing things myself. My other addiction is Pinterest. My only saving grace with Pinterest is that I have been a lot more productive with projects around the house this past year, except for all the time I spend
wasting educating myself with Pinterest. Hence,
my board DIY A.S.A.P. (as-soon-as-I-Pinterest).
I saw this pin a while back and knew I had to do something with Krylon’s Looking Glass Spray Paint.

I also have been drooling over these mercury pendant lights.

 
Regina Andrew Antique Glass Pendant
 
Welcome to my sad little pendant light that has hung over our kitchen sink for the past few years.
 
 
Since we recently changed our chandelier over our kitchen table, it just wasn’t gee-hawing. Is that a word? I found a clear replacement shade at Lowes for $10.00, but it had this cheap texture to the inside of it that was partially chipped off. I probably could have scraped it off with my fingernail, but instead, I coated the inside with Citristrip paint remover.
20120807-092631.jpg
Yes, I am subjecting my poor Purdy-reject paint brush to this mess. After cleaning the shade, I sprayed the inside with one coat of the Krylon’s Looking Glass spray paint.  I used a water misting bottle and and lightly misted where I had just painted. I let this dry for about an hour. With one coat of paint, it looked like this.
 
Faux Mercury Glass Pendant using Krylon's Looking Glass Spray Paint from Simplicity In The South

Not terrible, but it was too transparent and “runny looking” (that’s the only way I know how to describe it). I didn’t want to see the bulb. After 2 more light coats to the inside of the shade and skipping the water, it was perfect!

*I’ve only used this light with the energy saving bulbs that don’t produce much heat. I’m not sure how it will do using regular incandescent bulbs.*

Before I proceed with, “Honey, look what I did!”, I like to find something comparable on the Internet so I can show my husband how much money we saved. In this instance, I spent $18.00 for the shade and paint. The pendants I had originally fell in love with are almost $400.00! Have you tried painting anything with the faux mercury glass spray paint yet?

Faux easy mercury pendant light using Kryon's Looking Glass Spray Paint
 
 
 
 
 
**Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links**

Related Posts:

  • 7 Easy Steps for Installing Faux Tin Ceiling Tiles
    7 Easy Steps for Installing Faux Tin Ceiling Tiles
  • Easy Planked Walls for the Office-In-A-Closet
    Easy Planked Walls for the Office-In-A-Closet
  • Cheap and Easy DIY Wooden Poster Hangers
    Cheap and Easy DIY Wooden Poster Hangers
  • Easy Makeup Organization Using Fabric-Covered Tin Cans
    Easy Makeup Organization Using Fabric-Covered Tin Cans
Next Post: Adding a vintage-industrial style to our teenage son’s bedroom »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Willa Blake says

    Oct 15 at 9:49 am

    You never see ideas for mobile homes. So I look under small areas. We did remodeling maybe ten years ago. Now I’m ready for change! We have one large bathroom at one end with a small room separate for the commode and shower. The sink has a large cabinet base, a 5 foot closet,a linen closet and Double archway into the bedroom, which also has a walk-in closet in an L shape with 2 deep shelves above the built in water heater(closed in). Next a laundry room with cabinets above and on side wall with hanging area while hanging and folding clothes. Kitchen/living room all open the kitchen is in a square u shape. the sink and that counter and space is facing living room.Next bath with tub/shower ,commode & sink. Last my Creative Room for any crafts or sewing which also has a walk in closet..This needs serious organization, it’s packed. The rest of the house paint and ridding excess never used “things”. Also revamping lights,painting cabinets and a new couch and chair. Any ideas? I love the look of the bronze light you did. I even know colors I’d like to use . My husband doesn’t smile that I want to paint the cabinets.

    Reply
  2. mary says

    Feb 04 at 5:59 pm

    We just bought a house that was built in ’85. The living room has 2 chandeliers that look exactly like this:

    http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m3l-MyFqcXOXjPQZ4NgjKWA.jpg

    I don’t want to spend $400-$800 for new lighting, so I was thinking of spray painting it black. I have been at a loss on what to do with the horrible looking glass panels. I’m considering trying the mercury glass effect but I am a little worried it will block a lot of light from the bulbs and make the room too dark. These are the main 2 sources of light in our room, and not just accent lighting. After you did this did you notice it blocked a lot of the light out?

    Reply
  3. infinity blade 3 hack says

    Aug 05 at 3:53 am

    Fastidious answer back in return of this issue with solid arguments and describing all about that.

    Reply
  4. Audrey Zumwalt says

    Sep 22 at 3:42 pm

    That turned out really nice. I am inspired to do that as I love recycling old lamps and do not like the glare of the clear shades.
    Blessings,
    Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures

    Reply
  5. Jamie says

    May 09 at 2:01 am

    I have recenly been trying to find glass shades that are clear with removable texture (the only things I’m finding are the ones that the glass isn’t even, theres lines or scales in it) This is for my ceiling fan lights. What would you reccomend? I have looked at lowes & lowes.com but I can’t seem to find anything. Any tips? I’ve also heard that you can use mineral spirits instead of water.

    Reply
  6. Screendoorgirl 3 says

    Apr 27 at 6:24 am

    Great job! I just bought a can of looking glass and with the warmer weather , i can’t wait to attack something! Thanks for the post and good luck with your blog!

    Reply
  7. Jenny says

    Feb 27 at 2:02 pm

    Does your glass have to be clear when you start off in order for you to get this effect? Thanks! JM

    Reply
    • Tricia says

      Feb 27 at 3:44 pm

      Hi, Jenny! I’ve not tried the mercury glass spray paint on anything that wasn’t clear, but I would highly recommend it. If you want to try it out, you can remove what you’ve spray painted easily with Citristrip (paint remover). I know this because I’ve had to redo this pendant when I scratched the paint with my wedding ring changing the light bulb.

      Reply
  8. Jean says

    Jan 29 at 10:53 am

    I’ve seen this look before, but never thought to put it on a glass shade. You’re so clever! Found you on Beneath My Heart’s top 2012

    Reply
  9. Bailey Dunmire says

    Dec 14 at 8:15 pm

    Super excited that you posted this! I am in love with mercury glass! I have been wanting to know how to do it. I have tons of bottles saved and might even make some xmas ornaments cheaply!!! YAY! Thank you!

    Reply
  10. Shanna Gilbert says

    Oct 11 at 6:51 pm

    Love the pendant! I have been wanting to try looking glass paint, you have inspired me to give it a try!

    http://www.restorationredoux.com

    Reply
  11. Lynn Heckman says

    Sep 18 at 6:05 pm

    Love this idea. I have some crappy glass items stored (somewhere), this might be just the thing to do with them.
    Congrats on the blog!

    Reply
  12. Rustown Mom says

    Sep 12 at 8:37 pm

    Good job! I would love to try this – maybe I will start out small at first and do a vase…

    Reply
    • Tricia SimplicityInTheSouth says

      Sep 13 at 3:20 pm

      You should try it! Since this was my first time trying the looking glass spray paint, I figured that if I messed it up, I could always put the citri-strip paint remover back on it and start again!

      Reply
  13. kate says

    Sep 12 at 7:18 pm

    I have, and it always looks likehe second light here, which in my opinion, looks cloudier than the first example. I want them to look shinier, yet speckled!

    Reply
    • Tricia SimplicityInTheSouth says

      Sep 13 at 3:17 pm

      Yes, I like the shinier speckled look too! I want to try it again on some candle holders since this was my first time using the looking glass spray paint. I also saw how you can dab on gold/copper paint to make it look more aged after the first coat.

      Reply
  14. Lisa @ akawest says

    Sep 12 at 7:07 pm

    Wow, that looks great! I am a new follower, and look forward to reading your posts. Come visit my blog! akawest.com

    Reply
    • Tricia SimplicityInTheSouth says

      Sep 13 at 3:03 pm

      Hey, Lisa! I’m following you back! I can’t wait to try your recipe for the Baklava. My nanny used to make it and it was always my favorite. And the Chocolate Chip Dessert Dip looks delicious!

      Reply
  15. Leslie A. Hawkins says

    Sep 12 at 7:04 pm

    I love how this turned out. I just did a glass lamp from goodwill. I’m loving the paint and am looking forward to doing a more mercury glass.

    Reply
    • Tricia SimplicityInTheSouth says

      Sep 13 at 12:21 am

      Me too! I can’t wait to do some candle holders for Christmas!

      Reply
  16. Vicki B says

    Sep 12 at 12:55 am

    Very nice. I am planning a new house and I think I will use this idea. I too love diying myself and will be doing it all when we build this house. We are just having the builder dry the house in and install the drywall. We will paint, trim etc. Can’t wait to use this idea.

    Thanks. Am rssing you.

    Reply
    • Tricia SimplicityInTheSouth says

      Sep 12 at 10:16 am

      Thanks for following! Although it will be a lot of work, it’ll be all worth it in the long run knowing you did it all by yourself! Good luck!

      Reply
  17. Bethany Lee says

    Sep 12 at 12:38 am

    GORGEOUS!

    Reply
  18. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    Sep 08 at 4:56 pm

    What a neat project…love the outcome…so very pretty.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  19. Kellee says

    Sep 06 at 1:40 am

    Found you via Pinterest and I am a YHL and Pinterest addict too! Love what you’ve done so far! Bookmarking you!

    Reply
  20. Jessica Versiga says

    Sep 01 at 6:24 pm

    What color did spray paint the shade? Inside and out or just the outside! Sorry I am one of those that likes pictures of everything you use in a project! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Simplicity In The South says

      Sep 01 at 7:22 pm

      I totally left that information out. Thanks for pointing it out to me! I added a picture of the spray paint and more details on the directions. It is Krylon’s Looking Glass spray paint and I only painted the inside. I was bound to leave some things out since it was my first post. Lol!
      ReplyDelete

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

shop our home

Shop our home _ Simplicity in the South

looking for something?

Categories

Footer

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

As featured on

  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • DIY
  • Organization
  • Crafts
  • Decorating Ideas
  • Recipes

COPYRIGHT © 2012-2022 · SIMPLICITY IN THE SOUTH · DISCLOSURE & PRIVACY POLICY · TERMS & CONDITIONS

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok