• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
The Accent Piece

The Accent Piece

The Accent Piece is a blog about simplifying projects for the home like DIY furniture builds, painting projects, home decor, and tips on new home construction.

  • Home
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Project Gallery
    • DIY Home Projects
    • DIY Furniture
    • Building Basics
    • Painting Tips and Tricks
    • New Home Building and Construction
    • Web Stories
  • About
  • Contact
    • Send Suzie a Message
    • Brands & Collaborations
  • Subscribe

by Suzie February 2, 2022

How to Make an Aged Faux Stone Pottery Finish on a Lamp

In this post, I’m sharing how I made over an old lamp from a thrift store to create an aged stone pottery finish on it. I was able to take a dated lamp and create this “found” pottery look for a fraction of the cost of other aged pottery lamps I’ve seen for sale.

It took just about a couple hours (plus drying time) to make the lamp look like an old, vintage vase lamp. I have been eyeing this style of lamps for awhile now. I love the aged pottery look, but I wasn’t loving the price tag on most every one I saw:

Lamps found here, here, and here

Giving this old lamp an aged pottery look was a fun and quick little project. I’m so excited to show you how to make one on your own!

Materials Needed to make this faux aged stone finish on a lamp:

  • lamp with a vase-like shape (I found mine at a local thrift store for $5)
  • sandpaper
  • primer
  • plaster of paris
  • paintbrush
  • black acrylic paint
  • brown acrylic paint

Step 1: Sand and Clean

In order to help the primer adhere to the lamp, run sandpaper over the lamp a few times just to roughen up the surface. This will give the primer something to grab on to.

When you are done, wipe down the lamp well with a damp cloth. Make sure it is completely dry before moving on to the next step.

Make Aged pottery

Step 2: Prime

Before you spray primer, cover all of the electrical parts of the lamp. I used painter’s tape and a plastic bag.

Using spray primer, spray an even coat over the whole lamp.

Concrete lamp

Step 3: Plaster of Paris

You will now mix up the plaster of paris. Be sure to wear gloves so you don’t get it on your hands!

plaster of paris to makeover lamp

I did a 3:1 mix of powder to water. This gave it a little thicker consistency, which helped adhere to the lamp and gave it the stone and concrete texture.

Thrift store lamp makeover

Apply the plaster to the lamp. I just wiped it on with gloves.

The goal for now is to just cover the whole lamp with the plaster, leaving no surface uncovered.

Make Aged pottery

Once the lamp is completely covered with the plaster, use a paint brush to stipple the surface of the plaster. This will make indentions that will create more character and give it a vintage look.

Aged stone pottery lamp DIY

After letting the plaster dry on the lamp for about 30 minutes, I ran my hands (with gloves) over it lightly to smooth it out a little more.

Stone effect lamp

After it dried for about 2 hours, I lightly sanded it with 220 grit sandpaper just to further smooth it out.

Aged stone finish

Step 4: Paint

To make the base coat, I created a chalk paint. I made this so that there would be more texture in the paint, and also a matte finish.

Q: How do you make chalk paint?

A: Mix 1 part paint, 1/2 part plaster of paris, 1/3 part water. Mix thoroughly. Apply with a bristle brush.

Makeover lamp chalk paint

This is just the base coat, so just simply black is ok. You will add another layer to give it dimension.

How do you make a lamp look like concrete

Next, I made a watered-down version of chalk paint. I used these acrylic paints I had on hand – burnt umber and burnt sienna. Mix 1:1 paint to water. Add in 1/3 part plaster of paris.

Stone effect lamp

Since this mixture is so watered down, you can wipe it on with a cloth. So, wipe it on, then immediately wipe it off.

Allow this to dry, then add another coat. Do this as many times as needed; I did this twice. Allow these additional coats to completely dry.

For another faux stone project, check out this Airstone Review. You can also find another faux finish technique in this post on how to paint wood to look like metal.

how to make an aged faux stone pottery finish on a lamp

And that’s it! The biggest expense for this project was a new lamp shade (found here).

how to make Aged stone pottery lamp DIY

I love how quick, easy, and fun this project was! I’m now looking around my house for more things I can create this finish on.

Thrift store lamp makeover diy aged pottery

If you make this aged stone pottery lamp, I’d love to hear about it!

Find the web story for how to make an aged pottery finish on a lamp here!

Category: DIY Home Projects, Painting & Finishing Tips, Spaces

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

Want more ideas? Subscribe below to receive projects, free plans, and tutorials to your inbox!

Previous Post:how to trim frameHow to Get Started Building Furniture: A Beginner’s Guide
Next Post:Make a Juice Groove on a Cutting Board: No Jig RequiredJuice groove router bit edge guide

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous

    February 7, 2022 at 9:47 pm

    That’s really cool! Thanks for sharing!

Trackbacks

  1. AirStone Review - The Accent Piece says:
    February 2, 2022 at 8:11 pm

    […] RELATED: For another faux stone project, check out this DIY aged pottery lamp makeover! […]

Sidebar

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Suzie! I’m a self-taught woodworker, DIY enthusiast, house-to-home transformer, endlessly curious maker, mom and wife. Building and making is my passion. Creating a home with my own two hands is my jam!
Read More

Subscribe to Follow Along

Looking for something?

DIY Upholstered Sitting Bench: Free Plans

finished square wood coffee table

4 Simple Steps to Building a Large Square Coffee Table

finished shoe storage bench

Plans for Mudroom Bench DIY: Shoe Storage Drawers

how to make Hall tree with bench and drawer finished

DIY Mudroom Bench with Upper Cabinet and Hooks: Free Plans

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Privacy Policy · Disclosure · Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2023 · The Accent Piece · All Rights Reserved