Chandeliers are all the rage right now, but the more ornate lighting fixtures can significantly lighten your pocketbook. So I was excited to find this refreshingly simple DIY project on Cookie Magazine's Nesting Blog (via Craft). After finding a $10 chandelier at a yard sale, this crafter gave it a hip update by coating the bronze finish with cheerful light-aqua paint.

Even if your craft skills are minimal, you can easily complete this project in under an hour. For step-by-step instructions, read more

DIY Chandelier Upgrade
via Cookie Nesting Blog

We all might dream of owning a Murano glass chandelier, but don't deprive yourself until that day arrives. This chandelier was a $10 yard-sale purchase and had a fairly ordinary bronze finish. With just a little spray paint, the chandelier was turned into a whimsical piece that fit seamlessly into a cheery kitchen. The body was painted sky blue and the bulb stems were painted gray, to give a bit of contrast. While this piece doesn't say luxe quite like Italian hand-blown glass, it's a perfectly beautiful stand-in that can happily make its way to another yard sale when you finally find (or can afford) the chandelier of your dreams.

1. Clean the chandelier thoroughly to remove dirt and rust.
2. To eliminate a step (roughing up the smooth finish with sandpaper to allow paint to stick) consider using Krylon Fusion spray paint, which easily sticks to slick surfaces like metal.
3. Tape off any areas that you do not wish to paint with painter's tape.
4. In a well-ventilated area, hold the can about 12 inches from the chandelier and spray using long smooth strokes to avoid drips.
5. Let dry for about an hour. Then come back and add another coat. Repeat as necessary until you have desired coverage.