How to Refresh a Thrifted Classic Ginger Jar Lamp

Sometimes a thrift store find doesn’t need a dramatic makeover. It just needs a good cleaning, a little polish, and a few simple updates to bring it back to life.

That was definitely the case with this classic blue-and-white ginger jar lamp. For just $10, I brought home a lamp that already had everything I loved—the classic shape, blue-and-white porcelain, and a beautiful dark base. It simply needed a little attention.

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Thrift Store Makeover Day

This month's project is a great reminder to look beyond a little dirt, worn hardware, or the wrong lampshade when you're shopping secondhand.

Sometimes a really good piece is already there. You just have to recognize it.

I found this beauty for just $10 while out thrifting with my daughter, Ashlyn. The lamp itself was in wonderful condition, and I loved the classic blue and white design, dark wood base, and traditional ginger jar shape.

It didn't need to be transformed into something new.

It just needed a little love.

The $10 Thrift Store Find

This lamp came home with me after a fun day of thrifting with Ashlyn.

We started at her house and worked our way down Wade Hampton Boulevard toward Greer, stopping at thrift, vintage, and antique shops along the way. We had the best time and both came home with some fabulous finds.

You can watch the reel!

I was actually the one who spotted this gorgeous blue and white ginger jar lamp first. I pulled it out for a closer look, and Ashlyn immediately said, in that jokingly way only a daughter can,

“Thanks so much for getting that down for me!”

Well, what's a mom to do?

Do you pull the finders keepers card, or graciously hand over the fabulous $10 lamp?

Ashlyn has recently started collecting blue and white for her home, so I did the motherly thing and let her have it. Ha!

I did have one stipulation: I was taking it home with me first so I could refresh it for this month's Thrift Store Decor Tour.

For only $10, it was such a great find. The classic ginger jar shape immediately caught my eye, and the blue and white design was beautiful. I also loved the contrast of the dark wood base.

Even better, once I got it home and checked it over, I discovered that the lamp was already in good, solid working condition.

There was no reason to completely make it over—or replace perfectly good electrical components.

It simply needed a good cleaning, a little polishing, a touch of gold to freshen up some worn metal, and a properly proportioned harp and lampshade.

Then it would be ready to head to Ashlyn's house and join her growing blue and white collection.

Supplies for This Ginger Jar Lamp Refresh

This is an easy project that doesn't require many supplies.

• Microfiber cleaning cloths
• The Original Bee's Wax
• Liquid Leaf in Classic Gold
• Small artist's brush
• Replacement lamp harp
• White pleated lampshade

If you enjoy thrifting for lamps, adjustable or assorted lamp harps are handy to have on hand. You'll be amazed at how much changing the harp height can improve the proportions of a lamp and shade.

Start with a Good Cleaning

The first thing I did was give the lamp a thorough cleaning.

Years of sitting around can leave a layer of dust and grime that makes an older piece look much worse than it actually is.

I wiped down the blue and white ceramic carefully with a microfiber cloth.

Once it was clean, I could really appreciate what good condition the original ceramic was in.

There was absolutely no reason to change it.

That's one of my favorite things about thrifting. I'm not looking for things simply because I can paint or completely make them over. I'm looking for pieces that have classic shapes and details that work with the collected style of our home.

Inspect a Thrifted Lamp Before Using It

Before using a secondhand lamp, take a good look at the electrical components.

Check the cord, plug, socket, and switch for obvious signs of damage or wear.

The electrical components on this lamp were in good, solid working condition, so I didn't replace them.

Why replace something that doesn't need replacing?

If you find an older lamp that does need rewiring, I've done that before and have a tutorial that walks you through the process.

Polish the Existing Finish

Next, I used The Original Bee's Wax to clean and polish the dark base.

I wasn't trying to make the base look brand new. I actually like a little age on vintage and thrifted pieces.

That's part of their charm.

The polish simply cleaned up the existing finish and brought back some of its richness and shine.

It's such a small thing, but once the base was cleaned and polished, the entire lamp already looked better.

Refresh the Worn Metal with Gold

The visible metal around the socket needed a little more attention.

The original finish was worn and dull, so I used a small artist's brush and Liquid Leaf in Classic Gold to freshen it up. Instead of taping the area with painter's tape, I just wedged an index card around the aged brass and painted with a paintbrush. I did 2 coats, drying between them.

This was purely cosmetic.

I wasn't trying to make all of the metal look perfectly new. I just wanted the worn area to look a little more polished.

The warm gold works beautifully with the blue and white porcelain and the dark base.

It took very little product and made a surprisingly nice difference.

Finding the Right Harp for the Lampshade

Now we get to the part that probably took me longer than cleaning and polishing the actual lamp!

The lampshade.

I tried several shades that I already had around the house, and some were too small while others completely overwhelmed the lamp.

I actually found a fabulous brown, floral pleated shade on Amazon. Sadly, it was too small. I ended up using it on another lamp that needed an updated shade.

Then there was the harp.

I switched harps, stood back, looked at the lamp, changed the harp again, stood back again…

You get the picture!

The harp is important because it determines exactly where your shade sits on the lamp.

If the harp is too tall, you'll see too much of the socket and hardware beneath the shade. If it's too short, the shade may sit too low and overwhelm the lamp base.

Don't assume that a lampshade is the wrong size until you've also considered whether the harp is the correct height.

That little adjustment can make a huge difference.

Choosing the White Pleated Lampshade

I ultimately went with this simple white pleated shade.

It measures approximately 14 inches across the bottom, 9.5 inches across the top, and 9.5 inches high. I picked it up at HomeGoods.

I love the pleating with the ginger jar.

It adds a bit of texture and traditional detail without competing with the beautiful pattern of the ceramic.

The crisp white also keeps the overall look fresh.

The Finished Ginger Jar Lamp

That's it!

No spray paint.

No major makeover.

No rewiring.

I simply cleaned the lamp, polished the base, refreshed a little of the worn metal with gold, added the appropriate harp, and finished it with a new pleated shade.

Sometimes the best makeover is knowing when not to make something over.

The original lamp was already beautiful.

It just needed a little attention.

Styling the Ginger Jar Lamp in Our Home

Before sending the lamp home with Ashlyn, I couldn't resist styling it in our home for a few photos.

I placed it on the painted cabinet beneath our large antique mirror, and wouldn't you know—it looked right at home!

The blue and white porcelain works beautifully with the dark cabinet and warm gold tones in this area. I stacked two oversized art books, Van Gogh and Monet, and topped them with a small framed landscape.

For a moment, I may have questioned my decision to let her have it. Ha!

But I love that Ashlyn is starting her own blue and white collection, and this $10 thrift store find is such a fun piece to add to it. She plans to use it in their foyer.

Decorating with Collected Pieces

The large mirror reflects our staircase gallery wall and adds another layer of collected art to the space.

I love rooms that feel as if they've evolved over time rather than being decorated all at once.

That's one of the reasons thrifted pieces work so well in our home.

They add character.

This little $10 lamp doesn't look like something I bought just to fill an empty spot. It looks like it belongs with pieces that we've collected over the years.

And that's exactly what I want.

The lamp is especially pretty in the evening when it's turned on.

The pleated shade gives off such a lovely glow, while the blue and white base still makes a statement.

Not bad for $10!

Don't Overlook Thrift Store Lamps

The next time you're browsing a thrift store, don't immediately dismiss a lamp because it's dirty, the metal looks worn, or it has an awful lampshade.

Look past those things and really examine the lamp itself.

Is the shape classic?

Is the ceramic or base in good condition?

Does it work with the colors and style you already love?

Is the electrical wiring in good working order?

Lampshades and harps are easy to change. A dull finish can often be cleaned and polished. Small cosmetic details can be refreshed without completely changing the character of the piece.

This ginger jar lamp is a perfect example.

It didn't need a makeover.

It just needed a refresh.

Shop the Look

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