| Family First Feature |

Bring Your Creative Visions to Light

By Mati Swimer | January 13, 2021

If you’re looking to replace your existing fixtures or add new, more contemporary designs to your living space, then read on! The possibilities are endless

Photos: Jeff Zorabedian

How to Wire a Socket

Disclaimer: Electrical material covered is for informational purposes only. Family First takes no responsibility for action taken with this knowledge. We recommend consulting a licensed electrician when undertaking electrical projects.

Supplies:

3 feet of black cloth-covered electric cords (3-wire grounded conductor wires)

black basic strain relief cord grips

decorative gold socket cover

black socket: cap, terminal plate, and shell

pink cord gripper

wire-stripping tool

masking tape

small screw driver (from an eye-glasses kit)

regular size screwdrivers

Warning: The terminal is designed to lock the socket permanently. Don’t assemble the socket with the terminal plate inside before it’s been wired.

Instructions:

Wrap an inch of masking tape 1¼ inches from the tip of the black cloth-covered cord.

Using the pink cord-gripping tool, strip the cloth covering over the midsection of the masking tape to expose the three conductor wires.

Make sure the conductor wires don’t get cut in the process. If they did, snip off the cord just below the cut wires and start again.

Place a strip of masking tape over the tip of the cloth-covered cord, just below the exposed three conductor wires, to ensure the edges of the cloth covering don’t get damaged during the wiring process.

To put on the basic strain relief cord grip, grab the cord grip and untwist the cap. Insert one end of the black cloth-covered cord into the top hole of the cord grip. If it doesn’t slide smoothly and gets stuck, try spinning it instead of sliding it on.

Move the cord grip two to three inches along the cord.

Thread the decorative gold socket cover onto the cord, followed by the cord grip cap.

Next, thread the black socket cap onto the cord. Note: For illustrative purposes, in this picture, the gold socket cover has been removed so that the black socket cap can be clearly seen.

Using the wire stripping tool, strip one end of each of the three conductor wires to expose about 3/16 inch of the stranded copper coils.

Using your fingers, twist each of the strands as tightly as possible.

Flip the black socket cap upside down and locate the grounded terminal screw. Loosen the screw about 1/8 inch. Bend the exposed end of the green grounded wire to a 90-degree angle and wrap the wire around the screw. Then secure the wire into place by tightening the screw.

Locate the positive and negative terminal screws on the terminal plate. The positive terminal is the longer brass part, and the negative terminal is the shorter one.

Flip the terminal plate upside down. Determine which of the two screws is the positive one, and which one is the negative one, by referring to the other side of the terminal plate. Loosen both screws to open up the terminals. Align the terminal plate with the socket cap, so the black wire is aligned with the positive terminal, and the white wire with the negative. Wrap the exposed copper of the black wire around the positive terminal screw, and the exposed white wire around the negative terminal screw.

Push the terminal plate into the black socket cap. It should sit in the ridges inside the cap.

Align the shell with the cap and twist them together until the cap locks into the socket shell. Listen out for a clicking sound to indicate that the cap has securely locked into the shell.

Now that all the wiring of the terminal plate and conductor wires has been completed successfully, it’s time to connect the black cord grip, the gold socket cover, and the black socket.

Twist the black cord grip downward right into the screw hole of the black socket cap until it’s tight. Shake the socket lightly to test for tightness.

Next, connect the cord grip cap with the cord grip. The gold socket cover will be sitting between these two pieces, and when you connect them, it will cover the entire cord grip and black socket. The socket cover might move around slightly; it won’t be a tight fit.

Good luck!

Note: If you’re using your cord to wire several sockets, don’t divide and cut the wire first. Since mistakes can happen, wait to cut the electric cord only once the socket is wired properly. When you’ve successfully wired the second socket, you can cut the electric cord to your desired length and continue on to the third.

Custom Multiple Pendant Light

This light fixture uses a multi-port ceiling canopy to attach the fixture to the ceiling. The upside of using this means you can have several pendants hanging down, enabling you to combine design and functionality in one piece. Multiple pendant fixtures like this make a room feel instantly contemporary. Let your creativity run wild with the virtually endless color combinations.

Supplies:

12-feet of black cloth-covered electrical wire (3-wire grounded conductor wires)

round wooden beads, 1.6 inches and 0.8 inch in size

cone-shaped beads

brass tubing in various lengths: 4 inches, 5 inches, and 6 inches

2 flat-top socket covers in white

4 sockets

2 metal-barrel strain relief cord grips in gold

Instructions:

Follow the directions above for wiring all four of your sockets. You should have four wired cords approx. 3 feet each.

Prepare the beads and brass tubing for each cord. If the wooden beads are raw and natural, then spray-paint them with a minimum of two coats in a coordinating color.

Ensure that the bead hole is sufficiently big to feed through the cord. To make the bead holes slightly larger, you’ll need to drill through with a slightly larger size drill bit. If it’s still too small, then gradually increase drill bit size until the hole you make is the right size.

Apply a piece of masking tape to the other end of the cord. Begin stringing your beads and tubes in any pattern you desire. The final length of each cord should vary slightly as well.

Have a licensed electrician wire the fixture to your port and then to the ceiling.

To create your own one-of-a-kind fixture, you can choose different options from each of the components:

the color of your cloth-covered electrical wires

the style and color of the strain relief cord grip

the design and color of the sockets and socket covers

beads or pipes, and the color of each

the number of ports in the ceiling canopy

the color and material of the ceiling canopy

the shape of the port configuration, either rectangular or rounded

the shape and style of the light bulbs

Multiple Pendant Swag Chandelier

Multiple-pendant swag chandeliers create a clean, contemporary look. This fixture is beautiful in appearance, and also so easy to create. You can swag the pendants using different lengths and variations to produce dramatic results. Get creative with your cord, socket, and ceiling port combinations. Try using rope cables with wooden ceiling ports. For a monochromatic look, choose the same color cable as your socket and ceiling port. The choices are endless….

Supplies:

16 to 18 feet of cloth-covered electrical wire (3-wire grounded wire)

4 swag hooks

4-port ceiling canopy

4 sockets

4 socket covers

4 strain relief cord grips

20 white beads, 1 inch each in size

Instructions:

Follow directions for wiring your four sockets.

Cut the electrical cord separately, after each socket has been wired.

Wrap a piece of masking tape around the tip of the opposite end of the electric wire.

String the beads onto each cord, until they reach just above the socket.

Have the four cords wired to the ceiling canopy and then the canopy wired to the ceiling professionally.

Mark off four spots around the canopy indicating where you’ll place the swag hooks.

Secure the cords with painter’s tape and make adjustments until you achieve the desired look, with the dimensions appropriate for your space.

Drill the swag hooks screws into the ceiling and attach the hooks.

Remove the painter’s tape and feed the cords through the hooks and pull the cords to form a swag.

Bamboo Orb

Let the light shine through with this bamboo orb. The open weave design will fill your space with an inviting glow. This fixture can be created in any size and finished in any color.

Supplies:

For the orb

30 balsa wood strips; 24 strips ⅛ inch x ¼ inch x 24 inches in size and 6 strips ⅛ inch x ½ inch x 24 inches in size (available on Amazon, at Walmart, or at craft stores)

12–15 smalls binder clips

Gorilla wood glue

metallic gold spray paint

For DIY socket wiring and ceiling canopy

2½ feet of cloth-covered electrical cord (3-wire grounded wires)

single-port ceiling canopy in a coordinating color

shade ready socket in a coordinating color (Alternatively, if you don’t want to do any electric wiring, on Amazon, you can find a shade ready socket pre-wired to a single-port ceiling canopy, called an Industrial Mini Pendant Light Vintage Socket)

cord strain relief in a coordinating color

Instructions:

Apply wood glue to the last ½ inch of one wood strip. Curve the other end around in a circle and place the tip on top of the glue. Secure with a binder clip. Let it dry for at least an hour. Form three of such circles.

Starting with the three bamboo circles, intersect them into the shape of an orb. The intersections should create an equilateral triangle. Apply a dab of glue at each tip of the triangle and clamp in place. Let dry at least 2 hours. (Note: The most time-consuming part of this project is waiting for the glue to dry. The more clamps you have, the more wood circles you’ll be able to add at the same time.)

Continue forming wooden circles. Be sure to leave an opening somewhere that is big enough for a light bulb and socket to pass through. Glue and clamp each circle to the orb in two to three places. Determine which side of the ball will be the top. Once it is completely dry and all the wooden circles are secure and tight, take your wooden orb outside. Spray-paint it in your desired color. When dry, apply a second coat to reach all areas, checking the inside of the orb as well.

Turn the ball all around to find open areas. You can add smaller strips of wood to close them up. Apply a dab of glue and secure with a binder clip. The ball doesn’t need to be a full round circle and neither do the strips need to be intact. Slight imperfections and irregularities only add to the beauty of your DIY orb.

Bubble Chandelier

See your space in a new light with this timeless spherical lighting fixture. The glass spheres mimic bubbles floating in the air.

Supplies:

14 glass spheres, found at CB2. This chandelier used 8 large (6-inch glass spheres) and 6 small (4-inch glass spheres).

monofilament fishing line, 30–50 lb capacity strength

8 pcs of clear acrylic/plexiglass round rods, 3 mm in diameter

frosted glass spray paint

painter’s tape

2-port gold ceiling canopy, (if unavailable can also use 3- or 4-port ceiling canopy)

6 feet of gold-colored cord-covered electrical wire

2 white sockets

2 metal-barrel strain relief cord grips

2 clear globe LED bulbs

Instructions:

Spray the small glass spheres with frosted glass spray. You want to leave about ⅓ of the glass sphere exposed so mark off with painter’s tape the area of the ball that will not be frosted. Allow to dry.

Break four of the acrylic sticks in half to be used with the larger glass spheres, and two of the acrylic sticks into thirds for the small glass spheres.

Cut the fishing line into eight 30-inch pieces and six 24-inch pieces.

Tie the strings around the acrylic sticks and knot several times. Test for endurance.

Carefully insert the acrylic rods into the glass spheres so that they can hang. Repeat the procedure with each bubble.

Wire the two sockets onto the cord using the instructions above. You should now have two wired cords.

Wire the cords to the ceiling port. Attach both cords to the port with a cord grip.

Have the ceiling port hung by a licensed electrician.

Create batches of two to three glass orbs each. Tie each batch together, making about two to three knots. The knots should sit just above the glass orbs. Make sure to leave two glass orbs on individual strings.

Begin hanging your batches of glass orbs onto the cord to create your bubble fixture. Attach them by tying knots onto the cord.

Tie the first batch onto one cord, and the second batch onto the second cord. Twist and turn the glass orbs slightly so that the two batches somewhat enmesh together.

Continue hanging the next set of batches, some higher and some lower to create symmetry. Twist some orbs together, and feed some orbs through loops of other orbs.

Stand back and walk around the fixture to get a feel if the build of the fixture is right for your space.

Use your two individual glass orbs and hang them where you find a space. You can hang one either higher or lower than the rest and/or protruding out to gain width.

Snip any extra strings. Take care not to snip too close to the knot.

Stand back and admire your handiwork!

Note: Electrical supplies such as ceiling ports, cloth-covered electrical wire, sockets, and cord grips can be purchased on Amazon, and at CreativeCables.com or ColorCord.com.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 726)

Oops! We could not locate your form.