DIY custom light fixtures are a thing, right?

October 1, 2015 12:23 AM

The main "accent" wall in my living room is wallpapered in natural grasscloth (this one). I installed overhead dimmable recessed lighting but want to add two wall sconces on that wall. Is it safe to cover them in the same wallpaper (using a transparent adhesive) so they blend in during the day and softly glow at night? Are there any affordable sconces that would be particularly suitable for this application?

This is the style of light that appeals to me but it's over budget. I'd be very happy to settle for two of these $50 LED lights.


This light might also work –– it appears that the paintable surface is not transparent at all which is okay, but not exactly the effect I'm going for. If no cylinder lights can be had, I could definitely live with this, and the $75 price is appealing.

Obviously I'd try to go for LED lights so that the fixture doesn't get hot. Am I missing anything?

posted by halogen to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

Response by poster: (Before anyone asks, I tried attaching that wallpaper around other dimmable cylinder lights in my home – without adhesive – and it looks stripey and soft and awesome.)
posted by halogen at 12:26 AM on October 1, 2015

Use led lights, and not incandescent -- they stay cooler -- and you'd want to avoid heat in this application. Also, you need a dimmer designated for leds.
posted by zagyzebra at 1:11 AM on October 1, 2015

Best answer: As long as you use cool bulbs, you can totally make paper sconces. I make paper sconces for stage shows all the time, because you can suddenly get an expensive-looking Art Deco style light fixture with nothing but stiff rice paper.

Here's an example of the type of thing you can do.
posted by xingcat at 6:37 AM on October 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

No eponysterical lightbulbs and you'll be fine.
posted by beagle at 7:00 AM on October 1, 2015 [2 favorites]