The Beauty Of A Bare Bulb

Five easy ways to dress up an uncovered light bulb

Homeowners spend hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of dollars on light fixtures, shades and covers. However, sometimes, a bare bulb in a simple fixture is beautiful all on its own.

In the early part of the 20th century when electricity was still new and rare, light bulbs actually represented luxury and grandeur, which is why you'll see fixtures with exposed bulbs in historic houses and locations like Grand Central Station in New York.

Don't worry, we're not suggesting you just leave all the bulbs in your house bare -- in many instances a shade is necessary. However, here are five examples of uncovered light bulbs that prove that bare is beautiful.

At right is "The Chandy" a creation of Scott Bodenner, which appeared in the book Craftivity: 40 Projects for the DIY Lifestyle (Harper Paperbacks). Bodenner crafted this bulb cozy from crystals of various sizes and 50 or so 1/4" jump rings.

Below is a simple makeover from the ever-resourceful Anna Dorfman of Door Sixteen. Anna turned ugly, brass sconces with frosted, fluted shades into something modern and fresh. Simply remove the shade, spray paint the sconce and replace your usual bulb with a silver-tipped round glass bulb.


Dwell magazine recently featured a kitchen with an innovative design for bare bulbs. Simple ceramic fixtures were used in a "random polka dot arrangement of compact fluorescent lamp bulbs on the ceiling." The effect is modern and graphic, don't you think?

Last spring, I spied another use of ceramic fixtures while on the bi-annual Fort Greene house tour. The homeowner had forgone pricey bathroom fixtures in favor of two simple ceramic sconces and a Anna's fave, the silver-tipped bulb.

For those who want to dress up a hanging bulb, you could opt for Tord Boontje's Garland Shade Light. The laser-cut garland simply wraps around your light bulb.

Want another great idea for uncovered light bulbs? Check out Erin's post about some very cool wire lamps shades.