I created this project for Bunnings NZ #DIYJULY as sponsored posts over on Instagram. I’m sharing it in full here for easy reference! I hope you love it.

Part lamp/part side table/part sculpture/part Michelin man - this is my favourite DIY ever! Read on for how to create your very own Ettore Sottsass/Kartell/Memphis style lamp all with items you can find at your local Bunnings.

This is a style trend that fills my Pinterest boards, cute bubbly curves in scrummy, good enough to eat colours and shapes. Only problem? Most of these design statements are well out of my budget. No worries, I’ve figured out a DIY version that works a treat.

The secret ingredient is insulation pipe, you know that foam tubing you have covering hot water pipes? Who knew!

You’ll need:

To create this project you’ll need:

A plain floor or table lamp
Straight sided plastic or fibreglass plant pots (2 for a floor lamp) approx 25 cm diameter
Insulation pipe (you’ll find this in the plumbing section!)
25cm diameter place mat
Dulux Plastic Primer and paint of choice (I used Dulux colour “Huka Falls”)
A statement light bulb, I used the “ombre vase” bulb from Bunnings.
Tools: Hot glue gun, drill, scissors and masking tape for painting

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I’m obsessed with these light bulbs from Bunnings. Totally the cherry on top. They’re LED too, but give off a lovely warm glow just like a real filament bulb.

Steps to make:

Gather your supplies

Drill a hole in your pots to fit lamp

Fit pots over lamp base

Use hot glue to secure pot to base

Glue place mat to top

Cut pipe to length

Hot glue pipe in to rings

Slide rings over pots

Secure top & bottom rings with glue

Coat with a plastic primer

Paint with spray or brush

Let dry and second coat

🪴 Drill holes in the bottom of your pots so that they fit over the lamp fitting. Use hot glue to secure to base, and if adding a second pot, glue this to the first.
🕳 Drill a hole that will fit snugly around your lamp base in the placemat board and cut a slit so that you can slide it on to the top of your base. Secure with glue.
📏 Measure the lengths of insulation pipe so they will fit snugly around your base. Hot glue the ends together to create rings.
💍 Slide the pipe rings on to the base, securing the first and last ones with glue to hold them all in place. Make sure the seams are all at the back of the lamp.
💦 Mask off the stem of the lamp (or dont if you also want to paint it to match!) and give the base a good spray of plastic primer.
🎨 Paint in the colour and finish of your choice! You can use a spray gun or spray paint for this, or a brush - it all depends on the finish you’re after!