If you love natural tones and the natural look, and want a simple, original style for your space, we have a clever DIY solution: a charming string pendant light.
The project will cost no more than €10!
What you will need
• A strong balloon – and we say this from experience, it really does need to be strong. It’s best to go to a shop that sells balloons for events, or to a florist, as they also use them for events.
• Natural string in a shade of your choice. The string shouldn’t be too thick, so that the glue can “grip” it (you’ll see what we mean in the video), but not too thin either, so you don’t spend hours and hours wrapping.
A little wire.
A lamp holder set with cable, available from any electrical supplies shop.
A clear, heat-resistant glue, which you can find in powder form at a paint shop.
• As for tools, wire cutters, scissors for cutting the string, a bowl for mixing the glue and a brush for applying it.
The steps to follow:
1. Inflate the balloon you will build the light on.
Inflate it to the size you want, taking care not to overdo it and overstretch it – again, we speak from experience – so that it doesn’t burst while you’re working!
2. Prepare the lamp holder seat and the bottom opening of the light.
Using the wire, you need to make two small rings: one for the top of the light and one for the bottom opening, through which the bulb will go in.
Use the wire to measure the circumference of the lamp holder and shape your first ring.
Then, depending on how large you want the opening of your light to be, cut the wire for the second ring, which will sit at the bottom of the balloon.
Now you need to “dress” the large (bottom) ring with string.
You’re ready to move on to the next stage!
3. Carefully secure the rings at the top and bottom of the balloon and create the base of the structure.
Fix the top ring to the neck of the balloon. Using 4 pieces of string, essentially hang the bottom ring from the top one, tying small knots. Then trim off any excess string.
This step is quite important if your light is not to come out crooked (and here too, we speak from experience)!
You may well need to call in a little sticky tape to hold it in place. But use only very small strips, in no more than 1–2 spots, because later on you will need to pass the string between the ring and the balloon, and pulling on the tape could burst the balloon (especially if it isn’t particularly strong).
4. Start wrapping the string around the balloon and the rings.
Cut a long piece of string and tie a small knot on the bottom ring. Begin wrapping the string randomly around the balloon to cover its surface.
We chose to work with separate lengths of string so that it wouldn’t get in the way as we turned the balloon, but this means that in several places you’ll need to patch it up and join the length you are using to a new piece.
Inevitably, in several places you’ll see the string shift and slacken. Don’t let this worry you – you can “gather up” the loose string by passing the end of it around it on the next turn and then carrying on wrapping in the opposite direction.
It is quite important, as you’ll find as you go, to pass the string vertically or diagonally between the two rings several times to make the structure more stable.
The truth is that there’s no more specific instruction… you’ll work it out for yourself as you go!
Don’t be discouraged if there are gaps at first, or if the string doesn’t sit well. It will take quite a while to wrap, but the gaps will gradually close and you’ll build up a smoother surface around the balloon.
For us it took until evening, because our first balloon burst and we had to start over!
Once you are happy with the result, you’re ready for the next stage of the project!
5. Apply the glue to the surface of the shade.
Start by preparing the glue (this of course depends on the material you use). Ours was a powder. To make the mixture we used 1 small bowl of glue to 5 small bowls of water. After stirring carefully, we ended up with a thick, semi-transparent mixture.
Spread out sheets of magazine paper and rest the string-covered balloon on top so you don’t dirty your work surface. Then, using the brush, start applying the glue to the surface of the string, making sure it reaches everywhere!
Don’t forget to pay particular attention to the area around the rings.
6. Hang the light up to dry.
When you’ve finished with the glue, hang a piece of cord from the top ring and put your light somewhere to dry. We suggest placing newspaper underneath, as the glue may well drip.
Leave it like this for at least 24 hours, until the glue has dried completely.
7. Pop the balloon and install the lamp holder.
After the 24 hours have passed, pop your balloon and admire the result!
You’re almost done! Take the lamp holder, unscrew its lower part and pass it through the top ring. Then, putting your hand in through the ring at the base, screw on the washer and fix the lamp holder in place.
Fit an energy-saving bulb and your light is ready to hang!
Tip!
You can make 2–3 lights in different sizes, even using different types of string, and hang them together in a room – for example above the dining table, or above the bed in your bedroom – for an even more interesting decorative effect!
Presentation: Natasa Lianopoulou
Narration: Angeliki Ntai
Video Editing: Manos Lianopoulos
Music: surreal | rain_pt
