I have a little birdcage that I decided to fill with mini-lights. Mine is a decorative birdcage, but you could use a real birdcage as well. However, the bird should probably not be still living in the cage. And it’s just a recommendation, but if you’re using a real birdcage, you might want to remove the newspapers, bird seed, and of course the bird poop. But you knew that!
So, I bought 2 boxes of white mini-lights – 100 lights per strand, for $2.49 each…
Because the plug on the mini-lights was too large to fit through the bars on the birdcage, I fed an extension cord through the bars.
To give the mini-lights a little height, I placed a glass jar (upside down) in the base of the birdcage, then messily placed the 2 connected strands of mini-lights into the cage around the jar and on top of the jar. An alternative to using the jar would be to use an additional strand of mini-lights.
I put the cage back together and voila!
\A quick and easy birdcage lamp!
Now for a couple of tips…
First, although you may be tempted to try LED mini-lights since they use less energy, I recommend using the traditional mini-lights. The LED lights are super-bright, and not in a good way. More like in a migraine-maker kind of way. Ask me how I know…yup, I tried them, and the glare and color of the lights was way too harsh, then had to go back to the mini-lights.
Also, I have the birdcage lamp plugged into an outlet that turns on with a light switch on the wall, which is convenient, so I don’t have to be plugging in the lights. Just flip the switch and the birdcage lamp is on.
If you don’t have the luxury of a plug controlled by a light switch, you can use an extension cord that has a foot switch. No need to bend and plug!
Showing off this lamp at the White link party at Funky Junk Interiors.
Thank you for the great lighting tips!! I must make one of these. Thanks too for your comments on my kitchen. The last time I was at the antique store they still had two towel bars; without the new packaging, but still in good shape. I am heading there this week and can check it out for you if you like!
Glad you liked the birdcage lamp! Great for the shabby chic look! Thanks for the offer on the towel bar, but I’m beginning to contemplate downsizing, so I probably wouldn’t add it to this house. But thanks anyway!
I absolutely love this! Love this!
Thanks, Nickie!
love love love this…i also collect birdcages…one will become THIS for the holidays ! (thanks for visiting my blog…i got the phone dial from my grandfather’s things when he died>>>no idea where it originally came from..it click click clicks when you dial it..too cool !! the kids love it!)
Thanks, Jeanne!
Also love your skeleton key jewelry! Made me think that I should decorate my ugly chandelier with skeleton keys and beads!
Adorable! And LOL on the migrane thing. I SO know what you mean!
Donna
Thanks, Donna! And isn’t it sad the LED lights are so annoyingly bright!
lovely lantern! can you,pls,explain where is glass jar? i dont see it on photo
Hi Katya,
Thanks for stopping by!
The glass jar is upside down on the base of the birdcage, thus taking up the “middle space” of the cage, allowing the string of lights to fill up more of the outer space within the cage.
Hope that helps!
~Andrea