DIY Hollywood Light Cover Upgrade

Caitlin Sole
·2 min read

At one point, Hollywood lights were the way to add glamor to your bathroom. Today, however, they're nothing short of sad and outdated. Luckily, we've found a genius way to cover up the ugly bathroom fixture.

With a few DIY supplies, you can create a drum shade that slips over a Hollywood light, blocking the fixture from view. Light still soaks through, casting a soft, sophisticated glow over your bathroom.

More Bathroom Lighting Ideas

What You Need

  • 1/2-inch square dowels (5)

  • Measuring tape

  • Pencil

  • Miter saw

  • Sandpaper

  • Wood glue

  • Clamps

  • Spray paint

  • Plexiglass (6 1/2 x 20 1/2 inches)

  • Painters tape

  • Glass cutter

  • Frosted spray paint

  • Fabric (1/4 yard of fabric -- allot excess for fabric patterns)

  • Staple gun

  • Staples

  • Bias tape

  • Fabric glue

  • Sawtooth hangers

Before You Begin: Measure and Cut

Measure and cut 1/2-inch square dowels to size. Our light measured 18 x 4 1/4 inches, so our frame was four 20 3/4-inch pieces, four 5 3/4-inch pieces, and four 6 1/8-inch pieces. Adjust measurements accordingly to fit your bathroom light. Lightly sand the edges of the cut dowels.

Step 1: Build the Box

Build the top frame by gluing together two short (5 3/4-inch) and two long (20 3/4-inch) pieces into a rectangular shape. Once they're glued, clamp them together. Repeat with the remaining lengths to build the bottom frame. Let them dry.

Step 2: Attach Pillars and Paint

Attach the pillars (6 1/8-inch) to corners of the top and bottom frames. Glue them together, clamp, and let them dry. Spray paint the wood frame your desired shade. Let it dry.

Step 3: Cut Glass

Measure the plexiglass so it's the same size as the bottom of the frame. You'll need to cut out notches so the plexiglass sits inside the frame. To cut plexiglass, use an extra dowel as a template for the notch size. Tape off the square to ensure the plexiglass doesn't chip when you cut it. Score the lines of the notch with a glass cutter, then carefully break it off. Once it's cut, spray paint one side of the glass with frosted paint and let it dry.

Step 4: Attach Fabric

Wrap the box with fabric, leaving 1/2 inch of excess on each side. Then staple the fabric to the back of the frame. Edge the corners with bias tape and glue together with fast-drying fabric glue. Start with the risers, then finish with the top and bottom.

Step 5: Add the Hangers and Light

Attach the shade to the wall with sawtooth hangers so it hangs around the light fixture.

Editor's Tip: Use LED lights in your light fixture to ensure the plexiglass doesn't overheat and yellow over time.