Have you ever noticed that after you redecorated one of your rooms, you glanced up to find your outdated ceiling fixture standing out like a sore thumb? After choosing to revamp one of my bedrooms inspired by a Safari theme, I realized that my old, outdated ceiling fan lacked continuity with the new décor. With an already overextended budget, exchange light fixtures were relatively expensive. However, with a miniature bit of creativity, I discovered a cost sufficient solution to this accessory dilemma. Using some reasonable and recycled items, you can precisely revamp your existing ceiling fan, to make it a unique focal point.
Here are the materials needed:
o Tissue Paper (your choice)
o White craft glue (or decoupage paste)
o Water
o Disposable plastic cup
o Scissors
o Fan Blades (purchase new blades if you prefer)
o Scotch or duplicate Sided Tape
o Sponge Brush
o Cotton rags (for cleanup)
o Plastic knife or wooden stirrer
o Disposable gloves
o Polyurethane or Crystal Clear Gloss Spray
o Sheer stain or tinted glaze
o Ahl or Ice Pick
o Four to Five wire hangers
o Glass globes (if applicable)
o Glass paint or paint markers (optional)
The following eleven steps will help you coordinate your outdated ceiling fan with the rest of your room:
1. Begin with clean blades by removing and cleaning existing blades from your ceiling fan.
2. Cut the tissue paper twice the size of your blade. Don't worry about cutting your paper in the exact shape of the fan blade. A rectangular pattern will suffice.
3. Put on disposable gloves. Form the paste by mixing one part water to one part white craft glue in a disposable plastic cup. If you prefer, you can use decoupage paste instead of the glue mixture. Execute in a well ventilated area.
4. Apply paste solution using a sponge brush to coat both sides of the blades.
5. Gently lay your tissue paper over the coated area and brush someone else coat of paste over the paper to saturate and ensure that the two materials adhere. Don't worry about overlapping or completely smoothing the paper, because the miniature folds and creases add character and texture.
6. With an ahl or ice pick, pierce the paper through the top town hole on the fan blade. Gradually guide the "hook" end of a wire hanger through the pierced hole and hang the blade from an elevated surface. Keep anything from brushing up against your blades that would interfere with the drying process.
7. (Optional) After blades are dried, if you want to obtain an antiqued appearance, apply a sheer coat of stain or tinted glaze over them.
8. Allow to dry completely, then brush on a thin coat of polyurethane or spray the blades lightly with a coat of crystal clear gloss. This seals the paper while adding a subtle sheen to the surface.
9. After your blades are completely dry, pierce the paper with your ahl or ice pick in the location of the other screw holes and reattach them to the fan's frame.
10. If the neck of your ceiling fan is short, you could tape a miniature bit of your tissue paper nearby this area. If the neck has a long stem, you could wrap some complimentary fabric nearby it and obtain with Velcro. Ensure that nothing is obstructing the motor's ventilation and operational systems while in use.
11. (Optional) Embellish your operate chain pulls with beads, crystals or lightweight finials. You can also add a ornamental accent to your existing light globe or glass covers, by using paint designed for such surfaces.
Be creative when reviving your light fixture. Overall, this project will run between five to twenty dollars, depending on the materials you have on hand, as well as your extent of embellishments used. This makeover is lightweight and should not cause undue strain on the fan's operational system, depending on its current condition. Consider the drying time in regard to temperature, proper ventilation and the estimate of accents applied. This project should take a day to complete. Now, stand back and enjoy your refurbished, one of a kind, ceiling accessory.
Dress Up an Outdated Ceiling Fan with Tissue Paper: Using 11 simple Steps