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How to DIY a Rattan Wall Sconce

Meggan Wynja



At Color Cord Company, we love to hear how creative DIYers use our light fixture accessories as the base for some of the most unique home decor projects. However, if you need a little more inspiration for a new project, we can help with that too. Check out a fun and easy DIY project, where we’ll show you how to use lamp parts from our button fixture collection to create a custom wall sconce! 

Follow along with our DIY sconce project to learn how to make a rattan light shade fixture today.

Materials

For this DIY sconce project, you’ll need several electrical components and lighting essentials from our store, as well as tools you might already have at home. And don’t forget to source a rattan place mat you love as the base of this project.

Fixture Essentials

If you’d like to play with different finish colors for the different components, you can find Black, White, and Metallic options in our online store.

Tools

  • Pliers
  • Small Phillips Head Screwdriver
  • Standard Wire Stripper
  • Adjustable Wrench
  • Glue Gun
  • Power Drill w/ 1/2" Bit
  • Slab of wood to protect your table (optional)

Most of these tools are for wiring your DIY sconce light fixture, but the glue gun, power drill, and piece of wood are for use with the rattan place mat.

Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to learn how to make a rattan light shade fixture? Follow each step as shown in our video to create your piece.

Prepping the Rattan

  1. Place your slab of wood on the work table.
  2. Use the glue gun to create a circle of glue about 1” in diameter on each side of the placemat.
  3. Allow the glue to dry completely.
  4. When the glue is dry, use the power drill to create a hole large enough for the reducer all thread.

Wiring Your Socket

  1. Strip an ⅛” off the end of both wires to expose the wire underneath.
  2. Loosen the screws on the terminals and insert the black (positive) wire into the gold terminal and the white (negative) wire into the silver terminal.
  3. Loosen the set screw inside the socket cap.
  4. Apply the all thread to the top of the cap.
  5. Tighten down the set screw.
  6. Slide the conductor wires through the bottom of the cap until the terminal is flush with the cap.
  7. Thread on the socket bottom.

Building Your DIY Sconce

  1. Drop the socket cover over the socket.
  2. Thread the reducer all thread onto the all thread nipple.
  3. Tighten the all thread pieces with a wrench.
  4. Slip the wires and all thread through the hole in the rattan placemat.
  5. Drop the canopy and washer plate onto the reducer all thread.
  6. Tighten them down onto the rattan with the ¼” washer and nut.
  7. Secure the washer and nut more tightly with the wrench.

Installing the DIY Sconce

  1. Strip 1” of each conductor wire to expose the stranded wire.
  2. Flip the light switches off and turn off your breaker.
  3. Attach the rotating canopy mount to the junction box with the mount screws.
  4. Hook the green ground wire from the junction box behind the green canopy screw and tighten it down.
  5. Twist the black wire from the sconce and the black wire of the junction box together and secure them with a wire nut.
  6. Repeat the same wire connection with the white wires from the sconce and junction box.
  7. Use electrical tape to secure both wire nuts.
  8. Push the black and white wires into the junction box.
  9. Line up the canopy screws with the rotating canopy mount and apply the canopy screws to secure the fixture in place.
  10. Screw in a light bulb of your choice.
  11. Turn on your breaker.

Now you can turn on the DIY sconce with a light switch and illuminate your space!

DIY Sconce FAQ

Have a few more questions about how to make a rattan light shade? We have answers!

Does the size of the rattan placemat matter?

The standard placemat size can range between 12” and 18” in diameter. The size you choose depends on the statement you’re trying to make. If you want to highlight the beauty of the placemat, choose a larger size. Interested in making a unique bulb stand out? Use a smaller placemat.

Can you make a DIY sconce that can plug into an outlet?

Yes, but you’ll need to use our color cord and a plug end to create a pluggable design. Choose your favorite cord colors to match the finish of your canopy and the hue of your placement. Then, learn how to wire a grounded plug end when you follow our How-To Guide here.

Is wiring a wall sconce to a junction box hard?

We don’t believe that wiring your own light fixtures is difficult when you follow our instructions. However, if you’re feeling unsure, you can reach out to a local electrician once you finish constructing the rattan light fixture.

Unique Ideas from Color Cord Company

At Color Cord Company, we love your creativity and want to encourage it. If you’re looking for more DIY sconce and light fixture projects, check out some of our favorites here:


Now that you know how to make a rattan light shade, wire a junction box, and customize your DIY sconces, you can come up with your own projects. Share your newest fixtures on social media and tag us!

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