Thrift Store French Farmhouse Table Lamp Transformation

June 24, 2022

Sometimes the best DIY home decor projects are the most obvious. Like my thrifted French farmhouse table lamp transformation.

white fancy French table lamp with drum shade on side table

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romantic French inspired lamp with white shade on clock table

As previously shared in Thrill of the Hunt #124, I found this French farmhouse table lamp at Goodwill for $2.99. The thrifted (temporary) lamp shade was also $2.99. I thought the lamp looked very much at home sitting on my DIY Vintage French Farmhouse Clock Table.

romantic metal flower lamp base

I couldn't get over the delicate details and the timeworn patina.

thrift store lamp shade

It's a very large lamp, measuring approximately 33" from the base of the lamp to the tip of the finial. Which I loved.

verdigris lamp base

But it looked a little too brassy/coppery for my taste, hence my desire to paint it.

French lamp on clock table

It reminded me of another lamp I had seen online, costing $196.00. I knew I could make my thrift store lamp look more like that one with nothing more than a little paint and a new (thrifted) lamp shade.

can of Rust-Oleum Chalked Ultra Matte Paint in Linen White

I decided to use my favorite white chalk paint -- Rust-Oleum Chalked Ultra Matte Paint in Linen White. One of the first times I used it was when I painted faux pumpkins. Since then I've used it countless times on various DIY home decor projects.

32 oz. container of Dixie Belle Mineral Chalk Paint in Fluff

Unfortunately, I was unimpressed with the coverage after two coats, so I added a third coat of another favorite, Dixie Belle Mineral Chalk Paint in Fluff. And that did the trick.

white metal table lamp with flowers and white shade

May I remind you again of the inspiration lamp I shared in Thrill of the Hunt #124? The one that cost $196.00. While I still like it, I'm gonna go with mine, which cost a total of $8.00 and some paint.  

While its shade is more of a modified bell shape, I personally prefer drum shades, so that's what I used for my lamp.

French table lamp with natural drum shade and white shade

I tried it out with both the natural (on the left) as well as the white (on the right) drum shades I found at Goodwill for $4.99 each. I was beyond thrilled to find them at that price. (Even Wal-Mart's 10" by 13" drum shades cost $36.99.)

I ended up siding with the natural drum shade (on the left). They both could have worked, but the natural drum shade covered all the hardware beneath the bulb better than the white shade did, as I point out in the picture on the right, above. 

French lamp and table vignette with altar candle stick and French urn

And I absolutely love how it turned out.


boxwood ball moss ball candle stick urn Windsor mirror French lamp

It's elegant enough that it works seamlessly with my vintage thrifted French candlesticks and garden urn.

lamp Windsor mirror gilded candle stick French urn moss balls

The thrifted gilded Windsor mirror was a great find. It was so heavy I had to hang it with a 3M Claw Drywall Picture Hanger.

I first shared my vintage French urn planter in Thrill of the Hunt #121. I haven't yet shared the gilded candle stick, but it will be revealed in an upcoming Thrill of the Hunt post.


It's hard to believe that I picked up this gorgeous table for a song 11 years ago! It's almost like it was waiting for the French farmhouse lamp to make things official.

If you aren't lucky enough to find the thrifted lamp and shade of your dreams like I was, but you still want a French farmhouse lamp, you can find some online like this Duval French Country Lamp or this French Country Cottage Table Lamp.

Well, that's it for today, friends!

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my

Thrift Store French Farmhouse 
Lamp Transformation

and that I've inspired you in some way. 

Don't Forget To Pin It!

white fancy French table lamp with drum shade on side table

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Leave a Comment!

My thrift store addiction said...

Looks great, Kathleen! I have only tried the spray version of Chalked which seems to have better coverage than your experience. I'll make a point not to try the other!

Ann said...

Paint gave this lamp a whole new look. It's beautiful and has a much better price tag than the inspiration!

Junkchiccottage said...

What a great new look for this beautiful lamp. I think yours is prettier than the inspiration lamp. Happy 4th.

The Antiqued Journey said...

It's gorgeous!!! How inexpensive that was and it looks like it cost hundreds of dollars! Beautiful job of fixing that up!!

Anonymous said...

I can't imagine spending almost $200 for a lamp. Yankee thrift? Frugal by necessity? I just LOVE your version. I'd smile every time I look at it. Although I liked the white shade better, I did like the way the one you chose covered the "hardware." Hope your family gives you plenty of back pats for all the work you do to make their home so pretty! Kathy A

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