How to Paint a Metal Floor Lamp (A Step-by-Step Guide)

Want to start a painting project but don’t know what to paint? What about your floor lamp? A great idea isn’t it? But do you even know how to paint it?

For a floor lamp that comes in a finished form, you need to know the right steps before you change the paint. Otherwise, the paint might chip or crack after a few days. In this article, we will share with you a step-by-step guide about how to paint a floor lamp.

Steps Required for Painting the Metal Floor Lamp

Things Required for Painting the Metal Floor

Before getting started, you need to grab all the materials that are required for painting your floor lamp. Here is the material you will need:

1. A cleaning cloth
2. Primer
3. Paint for the lamp
4. And of course your floor lamp.

Step 1: Clean Your Floor Lamp

First and foremost, make sure your lamp is nice and clean. Grab a piece of cloth to make your lamp pole free of any impurities, dirt, or grime.

This step is very important as it will lead to the cracking of the paint if there is any dust deposited on the lamp pole. Rub the cloth thoroughly on the entire length of the lamp pole and make it a nice canvas for painting.

Step 2: Sand Your Floor Lamp

Sanding is a very important step when you are painting something. Sanding it down will help the paint absorb into the lamp pole better. Whether your floor lamp is metallic or wooden, you need to sand it down before you apply any coat of paint over it.

Step 3: Apply Primer

a primer is necessary to let the paint stick on the lamp pole strongly. painting primers are easily available in any home and maintenance store.

Use a paintbrush and apply the primer on the entire length of the surface you want to paint on. apply a thin coat and let it dry completely. Once it is dried out you can move on to the next step.

Step 4: Apply the First Coat of the Paint

Now that your primer is dry, you can paint the lamp. Use a thin brush for this purpose. You can also use a small sponge for adding texture to the lamp pole. Apply an even layer on the entire surface and make sure there isn’t any empty space on the lamp. This will be your first coat of paint.

Step 5: Let the Lamp Dry

This is very important and you don’t need to hurry. Painting the second coat directly will lead to wrinkles in the paint which will ultimately crack out. Leave the lamp overnight so that it is completely dried out.

Step 6: Apply the Second Coat

Once the lamp pole is completely dry, you can move on to the second coat. This coat should be thinner than the first one. Paint it the same way you painted the first coat. 

Your Lamp is Ready

Once your second coat is also done, let it dry once again. Your lamp is now ready. You can put lampshades back on the pole. Assemble the floor lamp and it is ready to be placed in your desired spot. Now sit back and appreciate yourself for doing such a great job!

What Designs Can You Make While Painting a Floor Lamp?

While painting your floor lamp, you can take it as a canvas and create different fun patterns. Some designs that you can make while painting your floor lamp are as follows:

• A black and white ombre
• Geometrical patterns
• Stripes on cylindrical pole
• Glitter paint to give a funky look
• Floral patterns for your girlies

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to Choose Paint for Your Floor Lamp?

For choosing paint for your floor lamp, keep a few things in mind. Firstly, it should not contain lead or else it will be poisonous if you inhale it. Secondly, consider where you will place your floor lamp. For a very sunny room, make sure the paint has light color or else it will absorb a lot of heat. Also, the color should be subtle rather than reflective.

Why is it Important to Prime the Floor Lamp Before Painting?

Paints can flake and crack out. This is true not only about a floor lamp but any type of surface that you paint. For this purpose, a primer is very important. It helps the paint stick to the surface and prevents cracking. A paint primer works similarly to a makeup primer and gives a plain canvas for you to work with.

My Floor Lamp is Already Painted: How Can I Repaint it?

Repainting a floor lamp follows the exact same steps as painting it for the first time. First of all, sand down the lamp to remove the coats of previous paint. Once it is all removed, clean the floor lamp and apply a coat of primer. Once it is dry, apply thin coats of the paint until you get an even layer. Let it dry and your lamp is ready.

Can Wood Stains be Used to Paint Floor Lamps?

If your floor lamp is wooden, you can use a wood stain to paint it. The process is also similar. Sand down the lamp and apply wood stain primer. Now apply the stain using a small cloth until you get a nice layer of the stain on the wood surface. Once it is dry apply a second coat until you get the shade of your choice.

Can We Draw Patterns on the Floor Lamp With Paint?

Yes. Patterns can be easily drawn on the floor lamp. You need to get a thin brush as the surface to paint the patterns is smaller. You should also trace out your design first to make it easier for you to paint on.

Conclusion

Here you go. If you have never painted a floor lamp before, you should definitely give this article a thorough read. It is an amazing guide for beginners who have never painted anything before. Following these steps, your old floor lamp will get a totally new look. I hope you’ll enjoy it!