Whether it’s my desire to prevent future birds from being trapped or the intriguing architectural lines, vintage bird cages have also captured my attention. In an effort to repurpose my growing collection, I have found that vintage birdcages make the most charming lamps. With the lamp kits that you can purchase for $5 – $10, a string of LED lights, or even candles, you can repurpose vintage birdcages that chirp with light and charm.
As some of you kind readers may recall, my first birdcage lamp related project was restoring an antique Italian chandelier and hanging it on a birdcage stand, which makes for the perfect solution for renters who want to enjoy a chandelier — but also need to take it with us!
If you have the pleasure of finding a wooden birdcage, then you can easily purchase a wood lamp kit to create beautiful ambiance in your home. While this birdcage from A Cottage Industry is not vintage nor handmade, it is excellent inspiration for antique birdcages. You could actually mount the lamp kit to the top of any wooden birdcage by removing the top finial, if needed.
Be inspired by Philadelphia’s Dog Haus, hosted by the Philadelphia Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and sweeten any birdcage with its own curtain, which naturally diffuses the light without any lamp shade necessary. If you would like to hang your newly repurposed birdcage lamp, then you can purchase a hanging lamp kit (Ikea has one for about $4). You may want to use fire-retardant spray on the fabric, or opt for LED lightbulbs, just in case.
Go wireless and use a string of LED lights to illuminate your newly repurposed vintage birdcage, like ZuZuPetals. You can use rubber bands or clips to create the shape you desire for the light sculpture inside the birdcage.
To create a fantastically stylish and bohemian look in your home, be inspired by shelikesdior’s photo by stringing a medly of vintage birdcages across your ceiling. Only one needs to be illumminated, and I love how the different genres of birdcages are brought together using a common color theme.
Pray tell, have you repurposed any vintage birdcages in your home? I always enjoy hearing about your projects and ideas!
13 responses so far ↓
1 carol // Jan 26, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Once again, some fantastic ideas! I HAVE one of these birdcages; a leftover from when my daughter moved out and discarded it. It’s been collecting dust in the basement. I love the idea of hanging an interesting light fixture from the frame…
2 ljcadv // Jan 26, 2009 at 2:36 pm
wow! I never would have thought of these at all! makes me wish I had some birdcages now!
3 Cherry@NewburghRestoration // Jan 26, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Wow, I never would have thought of this. I like the first one the best.
4 Stacy // Jan 26, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I found 2 rather large bird cages on the side of the road last year. They’re both in my yard…I was using them as “yard decoration”. Your article is inspiring…perhaps I’ll jazz them up w/ candles or lights and use in our next outdoor party!
5 Rachel // Jan 26, 2009 at 7:18 pm
That fourth photo down has won my heart. Now I’ll be keeping my eyes out for birdcages.
6 cindy k // Jan 26, 2009 at 10:07 pm
such a great idea. i love yours and the one from cottage industry.
7 jessica@thehomebound // Jan 26, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Hey, what did I tell you about this. I don’t care how nice you are, I will come and steal that thing if you keep showing it to me!
All of these are so wonderful, I want them all.
8 Becky // Jan 27, 2009 at 4:09 am
I gave an old wire birdcage to my friend Danny years ago.. he uses it to this day — to store toilet paper in his guest bathroom! It works; it’s funny and whimsical.
9 Grace // Jan 27, 2009 at 4:13 am
Thank you so much for sharing!! I love how birdcages somehow find themselves into our lives, whether indoors or out! The toilet paper idea is really intriguing — I love finding ways to repurpose old elements that really make the eye conduct a double-take.
10 Lynne // Jan 29, 2009 at 12:14 am
Oh, I love this post. I never even THOUGHT about birdcages until I started reading blogs, and now I am obsessed. Even though there is something about them I don’t like, when I think of those little birds trapped inside…still, love this – my favourite is your original chandelier idea and I also saw a great photo recently of a stash of candles burning inside one.
11 Suzanne // Feb 3, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Tweet, tweet, Miss Grace. You know I love that chandelier bird stand, but that bird cage covered with the beautiful linen drapery is luscious!
I have a large and rusty old birdcage in our garden and do put candles in it for out door parties. Also have a smaller one that I used to have my pet “Bird” in when I lived in the Bay Area. I painted it turquoise and have a real bird’s nest sitting in it with little chick candles.
Ciao bella ~ another fabulous post.
12 I hate birds*… - Stickers and Donuts // Mar 12, 2009 at 11:01 am
[...] impeccable taste! Look at her antique library card catalog!) In January, she suggested turning old bird cages into lamps (GO LOOK!) The birdcage curtain is as adorable as baby bunnies. Frolicking in a meadow. With [...]
13 Crafty Rose // Jan 12, 2010 at 9:13 pm
I like the pics of what you’ve done and found.
Years ago I made a simple birdcage lamp: the hardware store had a splitter and so I had 2 small lights.
Cover was a thin white vintage tea-towel, as that’s what we used to use for our bird when I grew up.
Gorgeous diffused light it sheds…
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