This super easy and almost free DIY paper lamp is inspired by the beautiful organic shapes of coral reef. It is also quite versatile: you can use it as either a table lamp or a pendant lamp.
I think paper and light are a magical combination for people throughout history. The creating of paper lantern started in China somewhere in 230 BC. Many popular Ikea paper lamps are inspired by historic Japanese rice paper lamps.
Before we begin, I want to mention something very IMPORTANT when making a DIY paper lamp:
Always use quality LED light bulbs, which are low heat, and less danger of fire. Do not leave your paper lamp unattended, and always follow good safety practices!
Materials and tools to make DIY paper lamp:
( Some of the helpful resources are affiliate links. Full disclosure here. )
- construction paper like these, or these. It took 5 sheets of 8.5″x11″ paper to make a shade about 14″ diameter.
- glue or Mod Podge, and paper clips to help with the gluing process
- compass to draw (you can also use circle lids of many sizes) and scissors to cut paper
- pendant cord, optional yarns to transform the cord
- LED bulb : it’s important to use LED bulb with paper, because it generates much less heat. 7.5 watt LED bulbs like these light up like 40 watt bulbs, which is plenty bright. Again- NEVER use incandescent bulb with paper!
Step 1: cut and glue paper tubes
Draw a series of curves on the paper. These are about 1″ wide. Cut them into smaller sections anywhere between 2″ to 5″ long arc to get various sizes of little “tubes”.
Glue each piece into a little tube like shape. One end of it is smaller than the other. So when we glue more together, it will start to form a dome.
Step 2: make DIY paper lamp shade
Start gluing a few pieces into smaller clusters, then into bigger clusters. The paper clips are so helpful in holding clusters together as the glue dries.
Once we get enough of them to form a circle, we can finish the form with some final touches – add some more tubular pieces till it looks complete. I left about 7″ diameter of opening at the top and bottom. Feel free to improvise. The organic look is very forgiving!
Step 3: add light to DIY paper lamp
Now let’s give this mass produced pendant cord a beautiful custom look! We can accomplish this easily by wrapping some nice colored yarn around the cord. Use a clip to hold it when you go take a break =)
It only took 20 minutes to wrap this cord. I stopped at the switch since the rest will be behind a table. Put a little dab of glue, or tie a knot at the start and at the end.
Step 4: finish the DIY paper lamp
If you want to use this as a desk lamp, we are done!
If you want a hanging pendant lamp, use a paper clip and some fishing line. Tie a few knots like shown in photo below, so the triangle made from the paper clip can sit on top of the pendant socket. Easy, right?
Important tip to remember: NEVER use incandescent bulb in close contact with paper! Paper lamp shades are sold at many fancy stores. But always remember to use LED bulb, which generates much less heat.
For the hanging pendant, I used a branch and just propped it between a desk and the wall. You can add a wood or concrete base to it to fit the need of your space. Now let’s enjoy the beautiful glow of our one-of-a-kind DIY paper lamp!
More DIY paper lights ideas:
these paper house luminaries I shared here recently.
If you love paper and goemetric designs, this DIY space-saving shoe rack is so chic and useful!
And this grocery bag DIY pendant lamp is a conversation piece for sure! Can you guess what it is made of?
Or download the free template to make these dimensional paper flower lanterns!
Happy creating!
Jeanine
February 11, 2015 at 8:39 amWow this is really creative and beautiful! I love this I also love that you can do it on your own and don’t have to spend a fortune which I’m sure you’d have to at the store, very very cute!
Chelsea
February 11, 2015 at 10:40 amI LOVE how unique that coral lamp idea is!! Also, wrapping the cords in yard- hooooly moly, how have I not thought of this? I have all these hideous cords under my desk.. at least they’d be prettier in a bright pink or blue! 🙂
Jessica Doll
February 11, 2015 at 11:16 amThis lamp is so neat! I can totally see it in a more beachy room. I’d love it in white, too. And I love the yarn cord wrapping idea, especially since none of the lights in our house are hard-wired, I have a loooottttt of cord-kits around, ha!
jessica
http://teamwiking.com
MacKensey
February 11, 2015 at 12:04 pmThis is so creative and unique! I’d live to make these for my girls’ room. Thanks for sharing!
Tammi
February 11, 2015 at 12:13 pmI love these lamps! They look so easy but expensive. These would look great in my daughter’s room. Thanks for a great idea. 🙂
Carly Anderson
February 11, 2015 at 9:51 pmWhoa, I LOVE that lamp!
Arti
February 11, 2015 at 9:59 pmYour creativity never ceases to amaze me Ananda! How gorgeous is that lamp!I love the yarn on the cord idea,too. Thank you:) xx
ananda
February 16, 2015 at 9:20 amthank you my dear friend! xo
Suzanne Rudge
February 11, 2015 at 10:17 pmSo cool and I love the colors you chose! What a great idea for a recycling project for school kids to do too.
Franc Ramon
February 12, 2015 at 8:58 amThese lamps have distinct designs that make it perfect decors. It also looks easy to do.
Raymond Vasquez
February 12, 2015 at 9:08 amCreative idea! Incidentally I just bought a wooden lamp. I’ve not gotten my order yet, but it’s a wooden lamp with the name of my girlfriend on it! I intend to give it to her on a valentines day! I hope I could get it soonest. 🙂
papaleng
February 12, 2015 at 9:32 amCool lamps and a very creative idea. bookmarked this one.
Fred
February 12, 2015 at 12:11 pmGreat looking ideas! I should do these with my daughter who loves projects like these.
nicol
February 12, 2015 at 2:09 pmactually adore every single one of these. the lantern ones are my favourite
Vanessa Ally
February 13, 2015 at 1:31 amThese DIY ideas seem so adorable and pretty easy to try at the same time. The results are stunning chandeliers that will fit my room decoration and style completely and bring many positive emotions in my interior as well!
Kylie
February 13, 2015 at 2:32 amAll DIY?! They’re so superbly creatively nice!~ I love it very much!
Sim @ SimsLife.co.uk
February 13, 2015 at 2:52 amWbat stunning designs! Definitely inspired me to make some changes around my house and I could do with some new lamps! Sim x
Angelo The Explorer
February 13, 2015 at 4:50 amOh wow! These are really cool ideas! I wish i could do something like this in the future. I would love to have one in our house.
Lauren
February 13, 2015 at 5:39 amThose lamps and candles are fantastic and creative! I think I want to try out that first one. It would be a great group project for my students (I’m a teacher).
ananda
February 16, 2015 at 9:19 amawesome! enjoy! =)
Yvonne Bertoldo
February 13, 2015 at 6:19 amThat coral lamp looks nice and easy to do. I also love the dimensional flower lanterns 🙂
Fatemah Sajwani
February 13, 2015 at 8:09 amwow DIY posts are always fun to read. the lamps looks amazing.
Eliz Frank
February 13, 2015 at 9:52 amMy goodness, you are super talented. I love everything you featured her, but most especially your coral lamp. Love it. You should open an Etsy shop.
hannah gee
February 13, 2015 at 3:36 pmOh wow this is great, I love the shoe holder what a genius idea.
Maureen
February 13, 2015 at 8:47 pmWOW! These looks so gorgeous. Love the last one, I think I will try to make it. Thank you for sharing this 😀
ananda
February 16, 2015 at 9:19 amhave fun maureen! =)
Tonia
February 14, 2015 at 9:03 pmThis is so neat that I’m going to try one this weekend but I’m going to do tried colors and hope it comes out as beautiful as yours happy crafting
Николай
February 15, 2015 at 2:22 amЯ сначала подумал, что это настоящие кораллы. И только разглядев картинку, понял всю тонкость задумки автора! Блестяще!
ananda
February 15, 2015 at 9:41 amБольшое вам спасибо за ваши добрые слова ! =)
Camesha
February 17, 2015 at 9:29 pmThat lamp is too pretty! I would love to have that in my work space.
Christopher
August 4, 2015 at 3:52 amTHIS IS AMAZING! I’m so going to try this when I have a bit of free time this weekend! It does look incredible!
Many thanks
Christopher