I have never really liked lamps. I prefer overhead lighting in most situations, but it is a pain to get up from my bed and flip the switch that is on the other side of the room – so I have to compromise and have some lamps in my life. Because I don’t like most lamps, I decided to design one for the upcycle project.

In sticking to the design aesthetic I like most, I wanted to keep the lamp very simple and use as few parts as possible; yet maintaining an interesting look and its primary function (lighting). As of right now, not including the lightbulb and fixture, the lamp is made of two parts – a milk crate and a giant plastic bag. The milk crate was sourced from Community Food Share, which is a local donation based food shelf. The plastic bag (I can fit inside of it) was found in the trash at my work. Yes, I went dumpster diving. I repurposed a flood light fixture and an LED bulb I had around the house to produce the lighting.

The plastic bag is meant to diffuse the lighting and to make the crate glow. I took the bulb and wrapped it in the plastic bag then stuffed it inside the crate. I was surprised at how bright it actually came out considering the amount of plastic I used. Looking forward, I could turn the plastic into drapes that would line the inside of the crate for a more polished look. I don’t know if I want to that though, because I like the chaotic form of the plastic now when it is lit up.

The L1 is meant to stay on the ground and produce a low-mood-lighting experience; see the photo below.