How to Make A DIY Mason Jar Bathroom Vanity Light
I love DIY projects that have that ‘wow’ factor, but sometimes simple projects that cost next to nothing get me just as excited. Not only was this DIY mason jar light fixture super easy, but it cost less than $20! Yippee!
If you’re like me and looking for ways to update your builder grade home on a budget, this DIY project is the perfect thing to get you started. See the full tutorial below on how we gave our bathroom light fixture a fresh farmhouse look!
How To Make A DIY Mason Jar Light
(Affiliate links are provided below for convenience. For more information see my disclosure, here.)
Supplied Needed:
- Wide-mouth quart sized (32oz) mason jars (with lids) (Amazon)
- Edison style LED light bulbs (Amazon)
- Oil-rubbed bronze spray paint (Amazon)
- Sharpie
- 1 5/8″ Bi-metal hole saw (Amazon)
- Drill
- Old light fixture
Removing The Old Light Fixture
We started by finding and shutting off the circuit breaker in the electrical panel so that we could safely remove the light fixture.
Once the power in the bathroom was off, the light fixture was ready to be taken down.
The actual removal was easy – it only took about 5 minutes.
Spray Painting
The old fixture had frosted glass shades that looked pretty dated. Those had to go!
Next it was time to paint the light fixture with my favorite oil-rubbed bronze spray paint from Rustoleum.
The metal on the fixture had a matte finish, and looked like it would probably take paint well.
We didn’t bother sanding or doing any other prep besides wiping it down to get it nice and clean.
Two coats of spray paint later, the light looked brand new!
Before and After
Installing Mason Jars On The Light Fixture
To achieve the farmhouse look I was going for, I decided to replace the frosted glass shades with mason jars.
We used quart sized jars, but depending on the light bulbs you plan to use, pint sized jars would work too!
This step was actually pretty quick, and easier than you might think. The only thing that needed to be done was drilling a hole in the lid.
To keep the process as simple as possible, we made the hole in the lid the same size as the old shade. This way, we could reuse the original lock ring.
The hole in the lid needed to be exactly in the middle, so we used a Sharpie to mark the center before drilling.
Next, we measured the inside diameter of the old shade, and used the appropriate size of drill bit (1 5/8″ Bi-metal hole saw (Amazon)).
To make the lid easy to hold, we assembled the jar with the lid screwed on tightly. This way, I could hold onto the whole jar while Mike drilled.
Each lid only took about 30 seconds of actual drilling, so the whole drilling process only took about 5 minutes from start to finish.
Once the holes were drilled, it was time to put it all together!
How To Assemble The Mason Jar Light Fixture
Place the lid and ring over first, then fasten it to the light fixture with the original lock ring → next, screw in the light bulb → and finally, place the mason jar right over the light bulb, and screw into the lid!
Important – because the jar is sealed, be sure to use LED Light Bulbs (Amazon) for this project. LED bulbs put off very little heat and therefore are a safe option to be housed in an airtight container. If the LED light bulb you choose to use in your DIY mason jar light is not specifically rated for use in a sealed fixture, you should drill extra vent holes in the lid of the mason jar.
Here’s what it should look like once it is assembled.
After adding the other two jars, all that was left to do was put the fixture back up on the wall and admire!
This light fixture has so much more personality now!
My Related Articles: How to Add a DIY Wood Frame to a Bathroom Mirror
By using clear jars and LED bulbs, the light in this space is much brighter now when before it felt dim and dingy!
I love how this space is coming together and am so excited to share the full reveal!
Until then, make sure you checkout the other two major DIY projects we’ve done in this space.
