Why I Decided to Try Making a Flowerpot Lamp
I saw this weird flowerpot-looking lamp on Pinterest last Tuesday while searching for DIY projects. Looked kinda cool – like someone buried a lamp inside an actual plant pot? Thought it would spice up my boring bedside table.
Stuff I Grabbed From My Garage
- Old terracotta pot gathering dust
- Broken desk lamp base
- Extension cord with sketchy wiring
- Spray paint leftovers
- That sandy soil from my dead cactus
The Messy Assembly Process
First, I drilled a hole through the pot’s bottom using my shaky cordless drill. Broke the cheap terracotta rim on the first try. Got concrete dust everywhere. Swapped to a bigger pot after muttering some bad words.
Then I jammed the lamp base through the hole. Didn’t fit. Sawed off the plastic base corners with a steak knife until it wobbled in. Patched gaps with chewed gum (actually used epoxy putty but same idea).
Spray painted the whole thing gold in my driveway. Wind blew leaves onto the wet paint. Now it looks like a leprous flowerpot. Whatever.
The “Lighting Magic” Part
Stuffed the cable through dirt mixed with broken Lego pieces for weight balance. Plugged it in expecting cozy vibes. Nearly electrocuted myself when exposed wires touched the metal rim. Rewrapped everything with duct tape. Worked on second try.
Final touch: Plopped a fake succulent on top to hide the ugly bulb. Now it looks like a glowing plant coffin.
What Actually Worked in the End
- Light shines through terracotta cracks making cool patterns
- Weighs a ton so cats can’t knock it over
- No longer trips breaker after tape job
Honestly? It’s janky but I love this ugly thing. The paint chips give it “character” and it makes my plants look haunted. 10/10 would build another while ignoring safety instructions again.
