Many years ago we bought two charming ARSTID wall lamps from IKEA. You might spot them peeking out in photos from our previous Beach Cottage Bedroom reveal. They served us well for years, until one shade separated when the adhesive failed. I tried to reattach it, but it wouldn’t cooperate — like Humpty Dumpty, it was beyond a simple fix.
After discovering that IKEA no longer offered replacement shades for this model, I searched everywhere for a compatible option. The lamp’s unique design made finding an off-the-shelf replacement difficult, so I shifted my approach and started looking for creative alternatives that could work as a custom shade.
During a recent trip to IKEA, I noticed a small lantern-style tea light holder in the checkout area. On impulse I tested it against the wall lamp — and it fit surprisingly well. The little lanterns became the starting point for a simple, budget-friendly DIY lampshade solution.
Although the black lantern looked a little odd against the silver lamp arm, a quick spray paint update fixed that. I prepped the lamp by taping the chain and cord carefully with painter’s tape, protecting any parts I didn’t want painted. Then I sprayed the lamp base in an oil-rubbed-bronze finish to bring the metal tones together and create a cohesive look.
For the lantern shade itself, I covered the outside completely with painter’s tape, pressing each piece down firmly so paint wouldn’t seep under the edges and ruin the inner pattern. With the exterior masked off, I sprayed the inside with metallic gold spray paint. The gold interior warms and brightens the lamp’s glow while adding a subtle sparkle when the light is on.
Pressing the tape firmly over the lantern’s cutout details prevented paint from bleeding through, resulting in crisp edges and a clean finish. The transformation was quick: a little masking, a couple of light coats of spray paint, and a short drying time before reattaching the shade to the lamp arm.
The new gold-lined lantern shades warm the light and add visual interest, turning a replacement problem into an opportunity for a custom update. We were pleased with how the finished lamps looked and how the warmer interior color improved the quality of light in the room.
Aside from the aesthetic improvement, mounting the lamps on the wall frees up valuable space on bedside tables — a practical solution for small bedrooms or tight nightstand areas. Wall-mounted lamps create a cleaner, more open bedside surface while providing task lighting for reading or ambiance.
For anyone attempting a similar DIY: work in a well-ventilated area, use light, even spray coats to avoid drips, protect hardware and wiring with painter’s tape, and allow adequate drying time between coats. Press tape firmly over any decorative openings to guard against paint bleed, and consider a warm metallic for the interior to enhance the light output.
If you’re curious about the full process, I demonstrated the makeover during a live social media session where I showed how to set up a simple spray-paint booth and shared a few painting tips. And for a little behind-the-scenes humor, I posted a funny outtake photo on my Instagram feed that captures the reality of shooting these household projects.
