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You are here: Home / DIY / DIY Tripod Floor Lamp

DIY Tripod Floor Lamp

October 13, 2015 By Karen Cooper 43 Comments

This post contains affiliate links, FYI. For my complete disclosure policy, please click HERE.

So, you may remember that we’ve decided to find a new friend for Hank, our rescued 10-year-old Golden Retriever. (I promise – I’m getting to the DIY tripod floor lamp part…bear with me.)

Hank Dog - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

We believe in adopting rescued dogs, whether from a rescue group or a shelter.

They rescue you right back.

Bear and Hank rescue dogs / thediybungalow.com

This is the third year I’ve participated in the Thrift Benefit for Sheltered Animals. Here’s how it works: The wonderful Jeanette of the blog Country Design Style gets a bunch of animal-loving DIY and home bloggers together. We each go to a thrift store whose sales benefit animal rescue and we buy something to transform. Then, we transform the piece and show you the finished product.

I headed to my favorite thrift store, Second Life Thrift. Here’s what I started with:

surveyors tripod from Second Life Thrift for Thrift Benefit for Sheltered Animals / thediybungalow.com

It’s a wooden surveyors’ tripod. That’s right – it’s marked at $4! I knew it would make the perfect DIY tripod floor lamp.

I had seen tripod floor lamps before and always wanted one, but not for $469, which is what this one costs, from Pottery Barn:

Pottery Barn tripod floor lamp

Instead, I bought the tripod, a lampshade, and a lamp kit at Second Life for a grand total of $20.

Materials needed to make tripod lamp / thediybungalow.com

You can also find lamp kits at your local hardware store or on Amazon here (<–affiliate link).

Here’s how to make the DIY tripod floor lamp.

First, make sure that you have an adapter that fits into the tripod opening. The lamp kit I used had three different-sized adaptors, and one worked. The adaptors are usually rubber or plastic and can be adjusted or manipulated to fit.

Follow the instructions on the lamp kit, which are usually straightforward. If you don’t know how to tie an underwriter’s knot, just google “how to tie an underwriter’s knot” and there are several videos. It’s easy, I promise!

lamp kit for tripod lamp / thediybungalow.com

You should end up with something that looks like that, above.

Add a bulb and a shade and you’ve got yourself a lamp!

How to build a tripod lamp / thediybungalow.com

tripod lamp underside view of lamp kit / thediybungalow.com

How to build a tripod lamp / closeup of lamp / thediybungalow.com

It's easy to make a tripod lamp. Here's how to make one from a surveyors tripod found at a thrift store! / thediybungalow.com

If you want to make a tripod table lamp (rather than a floor lamp), please see this tutorial.

And, if you are in the market for a new furry friend, please rescue one. I’d be happy to answer any questions about rescued animals – I’ve both worked for rescue groups and adopted rescued dogs.

Please check out all the bloggers participating in this benefit:

Thrift Benefit Graphic 2015

My DIY tripod lamp has been featured here:

Featured at Think and Make Thursday

 

Featured at Knock Off Decor

You might also like:

  • Project for Thrift Benefit for Sheltered Animals
    Project for Thrift Benefit for Sheltered Animals
  • I'm Just Waiting on a Friend
    I'm Just Waiting on a Friend
  • A Different Kind of Rescue
    A Different Kind of Rescue

Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Quick Room Updates, Repurposing and Upcycling 43 Comments

About Karen Cooper

Hi! I'm Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer” - I traded in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY adventures. Join me for DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organizing projects and tips as I transform a 1929 Tudor bungalow into our home. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.

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Comments

  1. Julie {Lilacs & Longhorns} says

    October 13, 2015 at 9:44 am

    LOVE this! Yours looks every bit as high end as the pricey one – well done!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:06 am

      Thank you, Julie!!

      Reply
  2. Jeanette says

    October 13, 2015 at 9:55 am

    Thank you Karen for joining on our third year! I’ve been wanting a tripod lamp, but the prices! What a great find and makeover. Pinning!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:06 am

      Thanks, Jeanette! Thank you for hosting this amazing and fun event and for including me each year!

      Reply
  3. Paula@SweetPea says

    October 13, 2015 at 10:16 am

    What a great find and you made the perfect lamp from it. Yours looks every bit as awesome as the Pottery Barn one.

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:05 am

      Thanks, Paula!!

      Reply
  4. Tammy says

    October 13, 2015 at 10:22 am

    Looks great…I love these type of lamps..great find

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:05 am

      Thanks, Tammy!

      Reply
  5. Christina says

    October 13, 2015 at 11:19 am

    This is fabulous! I can’t believe you made that fabulous lamp for $20-It looks like it’s right out of magazine
    My new thrift mission find a tripod- lol
    Cheers!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 8:12 pm

      Thank you!! You are so sweet!

      Reply
  6. Christina says

    October 13, 2015 at 11:21 am

    PS Your dogs are so precious!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 8:12 pm

      Thank you!! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Meegan says

    October 13, 2015 at 12:56 pm

    Oh my goodness. I like YOURS even better. So smart, fashion forward and inexpensive. That’s my kind of project.
    I can’t believe that you found it for $4. What a steal!
    Thanks for sharing and for showing us Hank. 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 8:12 pm

      Thanks, Meegan!

      Reply
  8. Karen says

    October 13, 2015 at 1:10 pm

    Great job! Your tripod lamp scores an A+ Pottery Barn could take some lessons from you! $469. What materials could possibly cost that much? Thrift store, rummage sale, tag sale, yard sale recycling DIY-ers rule!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 8:12 pm

      LOL – thank you!! #DIY4eva!

      Reply
  9. Deborah says

    October 13, 2015 at 4:31 pm

    She shoots, she scores! GREAT FIND! I LOVE IT!!!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 8:11 pm

      LOL! Thank you!

      Reply
  10. Robin says

    October 13, 2015 at 5:38 pm

    now THAT’S AMAZING!!! I just sat here with my mouth open…way to go!!!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 8:11 pm

      Thank you, Robin!!

      Reply
  11. kathy burgess fabre says

    October 13, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    What a great lamp and for a great cause. My little Chewy, rescued pekingese/yorkie is a precious pup and has made a wonderful friend.

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 8:11 pm

      Awww…I love it! Thank you!

      Reply
  12. Meagan B. says

    October 13, 2015 at 6:22 pm

    This is awesome Karen! I’m super jealous that you were able to score that base for $4!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 8:10 pm

      Thanks, Meagan!!

      Reply
  13. Jennifer {Brass & Whatnots} says

    October 13, 2015 at 7:10 pm

    Love, love, love this lamp!! And your doggies! So sweet! 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 13, 2015 at 8:10 pm

      Thank you, Jennifer!!

      Reply
  14. Lucy @ Patina Paradise says

    October 14, 2015 at 12:15 am

    Another deal of the century! Your lamp looks every bit of gorgeous as the high dollar one. Thanks for stopping by earlier today! :o)

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 15, 2015 at 7:32 am

      Thanks, Lucy!!

      Reply
  15. Steph @ The Silly Pearl says

    October 14, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    I have never seen those tripods for $4! What a great price! And your project turned out great. I would love one of these lamps!
    Your pups are adorable!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 15, 2015 at 7:31 am

      Thank you, Steph!!

      Reply
  16. Dharma says

    October 15, 2015 at 10:32 am

    I work in Engineering and when my boss retired he gave me an antique survey tripod from the early 1900s he had kept in his office for 40 years. I had absolutely no idea I could pull this off and I wanted to thank you for the guts and inspiration to do it! I’ll be hunting for a lamp kit soon 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      October 15, 2015 at 10:41 am

      Wow – that is too cool! Good luck!! I included a link to Amazon where you can get a lamp kit, FYI. Email me if you have any questions, m’kay? I would love to see the finished product!!

      Reply
      • Dharma says

        October 15, 2015 at 3:55 pm

        Thanks! I may have to take you up on that! Cheers Karen!

        Reply
  17. Susan Homeroad says

    February 3, 2016 at 6:43 am

    Great job Karen! I made the same one a few years ago and it’s one of our favorites!

    Reply
  18. Sadie Seasongoods says

    February 3, 2016 at 7:21 am

    Found you on Blogtalk- I am an animal lover and always seek out pet charity thrift shops for my project parts and for my Junkin’ Journey posts. I would LOVE to participate in the next Thrift Benefit Blog Hop, if you’re looking for more upcycling bloggers!!

    Thank you!
    Sadie Seasongoods

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      February 3, 2016 at 3:25 pm

      Sounds good! I will pass that along!! That would be awesome! Thank you!!

      Reply
  19. Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl says

    February 29, 2016 at 10:22 pm

    Love it! And love that you saved $449 in the process. Who pays those insane prices anyway?

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      February 29, 2016 at 10:23 pm

      Thanks! Seriously. $449 for a lamp?!? Thanks for hosting the link up!

      Reply
  20. Karen Cooper says

    October 22, 2015 at 7:14 am

    Thank you for the feature!!

    Reply
  21. Karen Cooper says

    October 23, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    Thank you, Paula!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Think and Make Thursday Link Party 54 · Addison Meadows Lane says:
    October 22, 2015 at 6:04 am

    […] you believe how cool this lamp turned out? Karen from Dogs Don’t Eat Pizza shows us how to save hundreds and make our own Pottery Barn Lamp knock […]

    Reply
  2. Best of the Weekend - Sweet Pea says:
    October 23, 2015 at 8:02 pm

    […] Tripod Lamp […]

    Reply
  3. 10 Amazing DIY Farmhouse Lamps To Try Right Now - Worthing Court says:
    May 11, 2016 at 4:56 am

    […] Dogs Don’t Eat Pizza […]

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer,” because I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. This blog is all about DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organization. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.




find projects here!

My Daybed in This Old House Magazine!

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To see my complete disclosure and privacy policy, click HERE.

About Karen

A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home. Read More…

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