DIY pendant lamp - a quick and cheap way to light your home

Do you love DIY and have a DIY spirit? Or maybe you are looking for a cheaper way to furnish a new apartment? You don't have to be a handyman to assemble designer lighting on your own. In this text, we will tell you how to quickly and easily create a stylish and functional pendant lamp. It's time for a great adventure :)

Stop 1: Preparation

Let's focus on the simplest lamp to make yourself. First, you need the appropriate components to make the lamp. To create a standard loft-style pendant lamp, you will need the following:

• 1 ceiling cup with a hanger or a handle, in other words, a soffit (choose the number of holes depending on the planned bulbs),

• lamp holders (as many frames as holes in the mask),

• fabric cable - standard or flat (adjust the length to the size of the room and the number of lamp holders),

• electrical cube,

• decorative bulbs,

• optional: a lampshade or decorative elements such as wooden balls, a cable holder or a beam on which you will wrap the cable.

Tools that will help you with assembly are:

• a sharp knife or wire stripper, scissors can also help,

• insulating tape or transparent adhesive tape,

• insulated screwdriver,

• current flow meter,

• drill.

Step 2: Lamp holder

Start by securing the cut area with electrical tape to prevent the braid from fraying. At the point where the insulation tape is attached, cut the wire to remove the outer insulation of the cable. Be careful not to cut the wires in the cable - this may cause a short circuit when connected to the electricity supply. Strip the insulation from the ends of the wires (the ends will then be connected to the socket) to separate the blue and brown wires at both ends.

To insert the cable into the holder, unscrew the plastic screw from the cable lock, and the bulb holder itself should be unscrewed into its components. Secure the cable tightly with insulation tape at the end. Screw it into the socket like a light bulb, with a gentle circular motion (pushing the cable in will make the braid slide down), and clamp its end by turning the small screws. Twist each of the frames in this way.

Screw in the bulbs (do it only when the lamp is already hanging - earlier, the bulb may break) - we recommend decorative ones. You can string decorations such as wooden balls on the cable to give the lighting a boho character.

Step 3: Ceiling cup

Before you pick up the ceiling cup, check that the plugs are definitely turned off. Only the soffit is connected to the power supply can pose a threat! Take care of safety. Insert a single cable into each of the holes in the bezel on the opposite side from the mounted holder. Drill holes in the ceiling, hammer in the wall plugs and mount the mounting arm on the ceiling, to which then screw the soffit. This way, the soffit will fit snugly against the ceiling. Remember to make sure that no wire is placed where you are drilling. To reduce the mess, you can use a paper cup, which, when placed on the drill bit, will collect the loose plaster. Depending on how heavy the lamp is going to be, think about how many pins to put in. For a standard lamp, two are enough, larger luminaires may require up to four.

Make a loop on one of the cables and put them on the cable holder (thanks to the cable holders you can easily attach the cable to the ceiling or wall, creating a real decorative installation). Then move the rest of the cables, if your lamp has a few light "rhizomes" :) Usually we have three wires on the ceiling: two phase (black or brown) and one neutral (blue), and in some cases also the protective cable, i.e. the ground (yellow-green ). Phase wires go to the light switch and neutral leads to the distribution box. Remove a few cm of insulation from each of the cables and bend them so that they do not touch each other. Use the cube to connect the ceiling cables with the cables of your lamp. How to do it? Loosen the small screw in the cube and insert the end of the cord into the hole, then tighten. Now you can turn on the fuses and see if the bulb lights up. If so - bravo! Finally, hang the headliner to hide the protruding wires.

NOTE: To identify which wire is which, carefully set the fuses and use a meter to check that there is current flowing. The wires with the light on are the phase wires, and the third - the neutral wire. Remember and switch off the fuses again. Under no circumstances touch the wires with your bare hand!

Step 4: Accessories

Na koniec możesz podkręcić wygląd swojej lampy, np. dobierając odpowiedni abażur (w takim przypadku oprawka musi mieć pierścień do zamocowania abażuru - warto pamiętać, że nie każda oprawka ma taką funkcję). Polecamy użycie uchwytów do przewodów, które zawieszone na suficie sprawią, że doprowadzisz światło w dalsze zakątki mieszkania. W przypadku kilku zwisów świetnym rozwiązaniem są blokady symetrycznie rozłożone na planie koła, dzięki czemu powstaje loftowa lampa pająk. Ciekawy efekt stworzy również zamontowany na suficie reling - opleć wokół niego kable w oplocie. W roli relingu sprawdzi się również belka lub konar drzewa. Jeśli chcesz stworzyć wyjątkową świetlną aranżację, użyj akcesoriów z kolekcji Filè włoskiej marki Creative-Cables. Płaskie przewody i specjalne uchwyty pomogą wyczarować na ścianie lub suficie prawdziwe cuda! Nie zapomnij o dopasowanych gniazdach i włącznikach. Pięknie prezentują się szczególnie te wykonane z ceramiki. 

Finally, you can turn up the look of your lamp, e.g. by selecting the appropriate lampshade (in this case, the lamp holder must have a ring to attach the lampshade - it is worth remembering that not every lamp holder has such a function). We recommend using cable holders, which, suspended from the ceiling, will allow you to bring the light to further corners of the apartment. In the case of several overhangs, locks symmetrically arranged on a circular plan are a great solution, thanks to which a spider loft lamp is created. The metal rail mounted on the ceiling will also create an interesting effect - wrap braided cables around it. A beam or tree limb will also work as a railing. If you want to create a unique light arrangement, use accessories from the Filè collection of the Italian brand Creative-Cables. Flat cables and special holders will help you conjure up real wonders on the wall or ceiling! Don't forget about matching sockets and switches. Especially those made of ceramics look beautiful.

Here is our recipe for a DIY dream lamp in 30 minutes. Will you take up the challenge? :)