How to make a table lamp from twigs

How to make a table lamp from twigs

This table lamp uses twigs to very stylish effect. Find out how to make your own, and bring a touch of woodland magic to your home.

Make a table lamp from twigs: choosing wood

The table lamp we have designed uses straight twigs and branches of different thicknesses, though your own DIY table lamp can use more consistent pieces of wood if you prefer. You can find the right kind of twigs in your garden or local woodland – before you cut pieces from trees outside your own property, make sure you are allowed to do so. Alternatively, look for twigs that are already on the ground. If you’re near water, river banks and beaches are often good places to find interesting pieces of driftwood that are great for craft projects.

Preparing your twigs

Remove any insects and creatures from the twigs and branches as you gather them. Leave the wood to dry out in open air or in the sun before you make your table lamp.

Committed to your safety: protective equipment

Working with powerful tools is fun and means you can extend your abilities, which is great as long as you are relying on effective and safe protective clothing while using them. Always wear your personal protective equipment when working with garden pruners. This includes safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves and much more.

STIHL Personal Protective Equipment >

Please refer to the operating instructions for your product for further details. Before you use your chainsaw for the first time, you should familiarise yourself thoroughly with the tool and ensure it is in flawless condition before each use. On request, your STIHL dealer will be happy to prepare your tool for its first use, and will also advise you on models and sizes of protective clothing that you can try at your leisure. Please remember that personal protective equipment is no substitute for safe working techniques.

Safety glasses, gloves and the STIHL GTA 26 cordless garden pruner

How to make a table lamp from twigs

Making your own table lamp means you can decide how big to make it and what colour undercoat will best suit your home. Once you’ve settled on these design points, get together the things you’ll need for your DIY table lamp.

Materials and tools you will need

  • Simple glass table lamp with light source (including cables and electronic accessories)
  • Twigs and branches of varying diameters
  • Strap (1-2 cm wide)
  • Paint (wall paint, acrylic paint or wood varnish, we have used white and grey)
  • Small saw (e.g. GTA 26 garden pruner )
  • Paintbrush
  • Utility knife
  • 120-grit sandpaper
  • Glue gun
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Folding rule or ruler
Materials for making a table lamp from twigs: gloves, STIHL GTA 26 cordless garden pruner, branches, and more.

Make a table lamp from twigs: step-by-step instructions

With your design in mind and your tools and materials ready, you can start the DIY.

DIY table lamp from twigs: a finished and switched-on lamp on a table, with pictures on a wall in the background

Summary: how to make a table lamp from twigs

  • Collect branches in your garden or in the forest. Driftwood is also great for crafting
  • Carefully remove any creatures from the branches while outside. Leave the branches out in the open to dry, preferably in the sun
  • Always wear personal protective equipment while you work, as directed in your operating instructions
  • Decide how big to make your table lamp and cut the branches to varying lengths
  • Scrape the bark a little to create a rustic, natural effect. Paint the branches in a colour; when dry, apply a coat of white paint over the top. Use sandpaper in places on the dry white paint to reveal the colour underneath
  • Glue the finished branches to the strap and then attach it to the glass lamp

How do you make a desk lamp with twigs?

To make desk lamp with twigs, you’ll need a range of suitable twigs and branches and a straight-sided glass lamp. Prepare the twigs by cutting and painting them; glue them to a flexible strap and then glue the strap to your lamp.

How do you make a wood lamp base?

You can make a lamp base from a piece of wood very easily. Buy a lamp kit and bulb. Use a drill bit to make a hole that is the right size for the bulb collar to sit in snugly. Use a bigger drill bit to drill partway through from the opposite side: when finished, you should be able to position the lamp kit so that the bulb sits above the wood when screwed into the bulb collar. Add a drilled channel to the bottom for the cable, so that your lamp will stand steady.

How do you make a twig lamp shade?

You can make a stylish twig lampshade for a straight-sided glass lamp by first simply gathering suitable twigs and branches, cutting them to length and painting them. Glue this prepared wood to a flexible strap, then glue that to your lamp.