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This project turns a hollow, square-sided MDF column into a custom table-lamp base covered with painted watercolor-paper pieces arranged like herringbone tile. You build and paint the base first, create your own acrylic color fields on watercolor paper, cut the sheets into small rectangles, and attach them with Mod Podge. The result looks tiled from a distance but remains a lightweight paper finish. Part 1 ends with the decorated base; socket installation and wiring belong to the companion completion post.
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What you are making
Kristi Linauer designed two tall column lamps to fit the colors and proportions of her room and console table. She took the general silhouette of a Chevron Column Table Lamp from Shades of Light as inspiration, then changed the palette and used a herringbone layout instead of buying a finished lamp. The “tiles” are not ceramic, stone, or glass: they are pieces of watercolor paper painted with acrylic color.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The construction is a hollow MDF box with four vertical sides and an MDF top. After the joints are filled and sanded, the column receives two coats of metallic bronze paint. The paper decoration is then applied inside a taped border. Because the paper and adhesive are decorative materials, this article does not establish a tested electrical design, heat rating, bulb wattage, or minimum clearance. Treat the lamp base and the electrical assembly as separate stages.
#1 Best Overall
- Small lamp save Space: The small industrial table lamp is 3.5 inch (H) x 4.8 inch (W). Small desk lamp making it easy to create old-fashioned atmosphere at home. Place on a desk or bedside table as a small night light.(Bulb Not Included)
- Retro style look: Industrial desk lamp is constructed of high quality metal body and ceramic socket that creates the antique and vintage look. This charming design added industrialized touch
- Fit E26 E27 light bulbs: Perfect for any E26 E27 Edison bulbs. And the industrial lamp is also compatible with a variety of incandescent, halogen bulbs, LED or CFL light bulb. You can customize the bulbs of the vintage desk lamp you like
- Wide Application: The small table lamp base can be use in study room, bedroom, living room, dining room, hallway, balcony, bar, cafe, shop, etc. Compatibble voltage: 110-220V, Wattage: Max 120W
Materials and tools
For the MDF base
- MDF for four long sides and one top panel
- Wood glue
- Nail gun and suitable nails
- Wood filler
- 150-grit sanding discs and sandpaper for hand-sanding corners
- Metallic bronze paint; the author used two coats without primer
- Paintbrushes or rollers appropriate to the paint
For the faux tiles
- Three 18-by-24-inch watercolor sheets
- Seven acrylic paint colors
- Water and a small craft brush
- Painter’s tape
- Mod Podge
- Razor blade or craft knife and a metal straight edge
- Flat work surface protected for cutting and gluing
Linauer notes that smaller watercolor sheets that fit a paper cutter would make the cutting stage easier. That is a convenience change, not a tested improvement in adhesion or durability.
Choose dimensions without treating the example as a universal plan
For her actual build, Linauer cut four MDF sides measuring 19.5 by 5 inches. She described the intended form as a 5-inch square column, then noted that 4⅜ inches would have been the appropriate side width for the arrangement she was using. MDF thickness, joint layout, and whether a panel sits over or between neighboring panels change the finished outside dimension, so do not copy either width blindly.
| Item | Author’s documented figure | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Long side panels | 19.5 × 5 inches | Her cuts for the tall column; measure your MDF thickness and joint arrangement before cutting. |
| Intended column size | 5-inch square form | A design target, not a guaranteed outside dimension after assembly. |
| Width correction she mentioned | 4⅜ inches | Her note about the appropriate side width in that arrangement; verify against your own panel thickness. |
Build and prepare the MDF column
- Lay out the panels. Mark four matching long sides and a top panel. Dry-fit the pieces on a flat surface so you can see which edges meet and how the top will sit.
- Glue the corners. Apply wood glue to the mating edges, bring the four sides together into a hollow square column, and check that the assembly remains straight.
- Pin the joints. Use a nail gun to secure the glued corners. Keep nails positioned so they do not break through the visible faces.
- Add the MDF top. Glue and nail the top in place, maintaining the opening or drilling plan required by the lamp hardware you will use later. Do not drill electrical holes until you have the hardware instructions in hand.
- Fill imperfections. Spread wood filler over visible seams and nail holes. Let it dry according to the filler label.
- Sand smooth. Use 150-grit discs on the broad faces and sand the corners by hand. Remove ridges that could telegraph through the paper pieces, then clear all sanding dust.
A square, cleanly sanded surface matters more than making the MDF perfectly furniture-grade: the paper finish will hide minor color variation, but bumps under a tile remain visible as shadows or raised edges.
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Linauer applied two coats of metallic bronze paint without primer. Follow the drying time on the paint you own and make sure the surface is dry before masking or gluing. Painting first gives the narrow border and any tiny gaps between paper pieces a finished color instead of raw MDF.
Rank #2
- Industrial Style Made Simple – The clean black metal lamp base offers a timeless industrial look, making it easy to build your own unique table lamp for any room.
- Fits Most E26/E27 Bulbs – Compatible with LED, incandescent, CFL, and Edison bulbs up to 60W (bulb not included), giving you the freedom to customize brightness and style.
- Convenient Plug-In Design – Includes a 5.6-foot power cord with an inline ON/OFF switch for easy everyday operation and flexible placement.
- Built for Everyday Use – Durable metal construction with a stable base provides reliable performance while allowing quick bulb changes whenever needed.
- Great for DIY & Home Décor – Perfect for bedrooms, living rooms, offices, bedside tables, bookshelves, cafés, bars, studios, workshops, and creative lighting projects.
Keep paint away from any socket, cord, switch, or other electrical part if you have begun hardware work. A July 2025 Bunnings lamp-makeover guide advises unplugging a lamp before painting, preventing paint from reaching electrical components, ventilating while painting, and allowing the finish to dry thoroughly before use. Those are general precautions, not a certification of this particular MDF-and-paper design.
Create the watercolor-paper color fields
- Protect the work area. Spread the three 18-by-24-inch watercolor sheets flat. Secure corners if they move, but avoid tape where it could tear the paper.
- Prepare seven acrylic colors. The exact palette is the author’s personal choice; select colors that work with your room and the bronze base.
- Moisten the brush slightly. Use water sparingly. The goal is a brush that drags color rather than floods the sheet.
- Place color randomly. Touch different colors onto the sheet in irregular areas.
- Drag, do not overmix. Pull the slightly wet brush through adjacent colors, leaving streaks and transitions. Linauer specifically avoided excessive blending so the cut pieces would retain variation.
- Dry completely. She left the painted sheets overnight. Do the same unless your paper and paint manufacturer specify a longer time.
Letting the sheet dry flat reduces the chance that a damp edge will curl when you cut or glue it. If a sheet does cockle, place it under clean, flat weight after it is fully dry; do not trap moisture beneath the weight.
Cut the paper into repeatable pieces
- Cut long strips first. Using a metal straight edge and razor blade, cut the dry sheet into strips three-quarters of an inch wide.
- Cut the strips into pieces. Divide the strips into approximately 2-inch lengths. Keep a batch of pieces nearby so you can work continuously around one side.
- Sort without making a rigid pattern. Mix pieces from different areas of the painted sheet. Rotating pieces changes the direction of the brush marks and keeps the herringbone from looking mechanically repeated.
- Test-fit at a corner. Place dry pieces around the edge to see where partial pieces will be needed. Mark the cutting line before applying adhesive.
A paper cutter can speed the long, repetitive cuts when the sheet fits its bed. A razor and straight edge remain useful for trimming a piece precisely to a corner or border.
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Use painter’s tape to mark a ¼-inch border around each face. Press the tape down firmly enough to keep Mod Podge from creeping underneath, but remove it while the adhesive is still workable if your tape or paint tends to bond strongly.
Rank #3
- 【Sturdy & Premium Material】This table lamp base is constructed with durable metal and high-quality plastic featuring a refined surface finish, delivering solid abrasion and corrosion resistance for long-term daily use. This industrial lamp base offers minimalist texture perfect for your DIY lighting projects.
- 【Safe Plug-In Power Setup】This light bulb base with cord is fitted with a practical inline ON/OFF switch and US 2-prong plug. The 5.74ft power cord enables flexible placement of your simple lamp base and delivers convenient control for your exposed bulb table lamp. The industrial table lamp base and power cord meet high safety standards, ensuring peace of mind for your everyday needs.
- 【Universal E26/E27 Medium Socket】Our E26 lamp base works seamlessly with standard E26/E27 bulbs. This bulb holder is compatible with Edison bulbs, LED, incandescent, halogen and CFL bulbs, allowing you to freely customize your preferred lighting. NOTE: Lamp base only, bulb is not included.
- 【Short Table Lamp Space-Saving Base】Measuring 3.5 inches (H) x 4.7 inches (W), this small lamp base without shade occupies minimal space. The short table lamp design makes it simple to create old-fashioned ambient lighting on desks, bedside tables and countertops.
- 【Versatile for DIY Home Decor】This desktop lamp base is great for crafting industrial table lamp styles. Ideal for bedrooms, offices, cafes and bars. Create your unique Edison bulb table lamp, ambient night light or decorative lighting with this lamp base without shade.
Herringbone is built from short pieces meeting in alternating V-shaped rows. Start with a reference line near one edge, then place one piece at an angle and butt the next piece against its end so the two form a chevron. Continue that direction across the row; begin the next row with the opposite orientation. Keep the long edges aligned and allow a narrow, consistent gap only if your design requires one. The painted bronze beneath will show through any intentional spacing.
Adhere the paper pieces with Mod Podge
- Work one face at a time. Brush a manageable coat of Mod Podge onto the MDF inside the taped border. Overspreading a large area lets the adhesive skin over before the pieces are positioned.
- Place the first row. Set the reference piece, then add its partner to form the first herringbone point. Use the straight edge or a clean scrap to nudge alignment without touching wet adhesive with your fingers.
- Build outward. Continue alternating the direction of each pair. Press every piece from its center toward the edges to expel air.
- Control curl immediately. Linauer found that Mod Podge initially curled the paper and required repeated pressing. Hold a curling edge down with a clean, dry tool or fingertip until it grabs, then move on.
- Trim boundaries. Cut pieces to fit the taped border and corners. Do not force an oversized piece into place; a cleanly trimmed partial tile looks intentional.
- Let the face settle. Avoid brushing repeatedly over the paper once it is positioned. Excess handling can lift edges or smear the acrylic.
Linauer reported about 40 minutes per side to apply the pieces, excluding cutting, and described the project as time-consuming but not difficult. That figure is her 2014 report for her two-lamp project, not a guaranteed schedule; paper size, pattern density, room humidity, and your cutting speed will change it.
Dry, inspect, and decide whether to add a protective finish
Allow the decorated column to dry fully before moving it. Inspect each edge in raking light. Press down a loose corner with a small amount of adhesive and remove any squeeze-out before it hardens. If you want the same finish Linauer used later, the completion post says she sprayed the dry decorated bases with Rust-Oleum Triple Thick Glaze. Apply any spray only according to its label, with suitable ventilation and no electrical parts energized nearby.
A clear coat can change sheen and may darken or deepen the painted colors. Test the product on a spare painted-paper piece first. No source establishes a particular coating as heat-proof or as protection against every lamp hazard, so do not use a finish as a substitute for safe bulb selection, airflow, or proper electrical assembly.
Rank #4
- Small lamps for small spaces: The small industrial table lamp is 3.5 inch (H) x 4.8 inch (W). Small desk lamp making it easy to create old-fashioned atmosphere at home. Place on a desk or bedside table as a small night light.(Bulb Not Included)
- Retro style look: Industrial desk lamp is constructed of high quality metal body and ceramic socket that creates the antique and vintage look. This charming design added industrialized touch
- Fit E26 E27 light bulbs: White lamp base is Perfect for any E26 E27 Edison bulbs. And the industrial lamp is also compatible with a variety of incandescent, halogen bulbs, LED or CFL light bulb. You can customize the bulbs of the vintage desk lamp you like
- ON/OFF switch: The table lamp base has an on/off switch on the cord, easy and safe to control. The length of cord is long enough to use.
- Wide application: The small table lamp base can be use in study room, bedroom, living room, dining room, hallway, balcony, bar, cafe, shop, etc. Compatibble voltage: 110-220V, Wattage: Max 120W
Keep the wiring stage separate
The companion completion post describes the hardware Linauer used: a three-way socket kit, 1/8-IP nuts and washers, two 3-inch 1/8-IP threaded nipples, cord, a harp, a bulb, and shades. She drilled holes and assembled and wired the socket. Those are details of her finished lamps, not a universal wiring procedure.
If you continue beyond Part 1, read the instructions supplied with your selected socket kit and follow applicable local electrical requirements. Work with the lamp unplugged. The project sources do not establish a safe bulb type, wattage, operating temperature, or paper-to-bulb clearance for this particular construction. The Guardian’s October 2011 paper-light-box guidance says paper should not touch the lamp and that airflow must be available for cooling; apply that general principle conservatively and stop if the paper, coating, or MDF becomes hot, discolored, or smells of scorching.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Historical cost and comparison context
Linauer reported spending $90 for two lamps in 2014: $10 for paint, $24 for two lamp kits, $50 for two shades, and $6 for extra parts. MDF and watercolor paper were already on hand, so that total is not a complete materials cost for someone starting from zero and is not a current price. She also reported that the inspiration lamp cost $345 at Shades of Light in the original 2014 article. Both figures are historical references, not present-day quotes.
| Reported item | Amount | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Two-lamp project total | $90 | Kristi Linauer’s 2014 report; MDF and watercolor paper already owned. |
| Paint | $10 | Included in that 2014 total. |
| Two lamp kits | $24 | Included in that 2014 total. |
| Two shades | $50 | Included in that 2014 total. |
| Extra parts | $6 | Included in that 2014 total. |
| Inspiration lamp | $345 | Price reported in the original 2014 tutorial, not a current listing. |
Troubleshooting the finish
Paper edges keep lifting
The likely causes are too little adhesive at the edge, a damp or curled piece, or moving on before the first tack develops. Press the edge flat repeatedly, use a thin coat beneath it, and let that section set before adding neighboring pieces. Avoid flooding the paper, which increases curl and drying time.
Best Value
- Touch Control Bedside Lamp - This smooth dimmable touch control table lamp featured with touch-sensitive sensor, to make quick changes to 3 different level brightness (Low, Medium, High), and soften the atmosphere quickly. Simply a touch or a pat on the bedside lamps' base or lamps' supporting pole when you want the nightstand lamp On/Off, brighter/dimmer. (used as a night lamp at low brightness, medium/high is enough to meet your needs for reading/working)
- USB & USB-C Charging Ports and Outlet - Power 3 devices at once bedside lamp! With a usb-c port (5V/2.1A) and a usb-a port (5V/2.1A) and an outlet (120v) on the small nightstand lamp for charging, getting your phones, pad, laptops, humidifier, headsets, speaker, earbuds and other electronics fully charged all from a single small table lamp no matter if the bed side table lamp is on or off.
- Plug and Play Table Lamp - Package included a non-flicker Free E26 led light bulb, a install-free flaxen fabric shade, a stable lamp body and a touch control metal base with wooden finishing. Put all together for a minimalism lamp is really perfect to decorate anywhere of your house. An ideal USB nightstand lamp for bedroom, dorm room, living room, study room, kids room for girls and boys, office room, desk, etc. at the same time.
- LED Light Bulb Included - For saving you more time on finding a correct bulb, we particularly pair with an non-flicker E26 LED light bulb. Unlike other dazzling side table light lamp, our bedside lamp with dual usb port and outlet provides no-flickering lights, to protect you and your kids and family's eyes from eye strain, or eyesight damages. You'll love how easy it is to get to your device when you need it. Gone are the days of running to the nearest power outlet.
- Fenmzee - Our team was founded by three interior designers who had been working with a head lighting manufacturer over the years to strive to design practical, aesthetic and well made lighting room decoration for customers. Fenmzee team design all our products in house, using only the selected materials to ensure they not only look good in your home, but will last for years to come.
The pattern drifts across the face
Stop every few rows and compare the long edges with your reference line. Trim a partial piece at the border rather than forcing the next full piece to compensate. The ¼-inch taped border gives you a visual frame that makes small variations less noticeable.
Colors look muddy
Overworking the wet acrylics causes the random color fields to blend. Linauer’s method was to drag a slightly wet brush through placed colors while avoiding excessive blending. For the next sheet, use less water, leave more unworked space, and let the paper dry fully before cutting.
The MDF shows through unexpectedly
Check whether the gap is intentional, whether a piece shrank as it dried, or whether the border tape lifted. Touch up exposed MDF with the same bronze paint, allow it to dry, and replace the paper only after the surface is clean and stable.
Recommended Free Tools
What can be customized safely in the decorative stage
- Palette: Keep the bronze undercoat and choose any seven-color acrylic combination that suits your room; the original colors were personal, not a required formula.
- Tile scale: The documented pieces are approximately ¾-inch by 2 inches. Smaller pieces create more joints and take longer; larger pieces reduce cutting and make the herringbone read more boldly.
- Border: The documented tape line is ¼ inch. A wider border emphasizes the column’s geometry, while a narrower one gives a nearly edge-to-edge treatment.
- Sheet format: Use three 18-by-24-inch sheets as documented, or smaller sheets if that makes cutting manageable. The source does not establish how many lamps another sheet size will cover.
- Finish sheen: Leave the Mod Podge appearance or test a clear spray on a spare piece before coating the finished column.
The completed decorative base should be allowed to cure before it is handled as a lamp. Once the paper is attached and dry, inspect the entire column and proceed to hardware only with the selected kit’s instructions, local requirements, and conservative paper-and-light clearances in mind.
Quick Recap
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