Turn An Empty Pickle Jar Into Beautiful Fall Decor Using An Old Cheese Grater

Shorter fall days mean homes are getting darker, but the idea of buying a bunch of new lamps probably might sound pretty dreadful as the holidays are likely already coming for your wallet. While apple-scented candles offer plenty of fall decor vibes, they don't do much in terms of illumination. So where should you stop on your way home from the pumpkin patch if you want DIY fall decor to brighten up any desk or side table? Popular creator The Gooch recently shared a Dollar Tree hack on his YouTube Channel (A Dose of Daily Fun) that turns an empty pickle jar and old cheese grater into a stunning farmhouse lamp.

As sweater weather arrives, this is the perfect project for a rainy afternoon because the process takes a few hours. While there are a lot of spooky Dollar Tree DIYs that double as lights, this one captures the changing season courtesy of autumn-colored faux flowers, leaves, and ribbon. We recommend customizing your farmhouse lamp with Dollar Tree's $1.75 artificial maple oak berry bush faux floral picks, which come in brilliant fall hues.

There are several other supplies you'll need to grab, which will cost around $25 total. If you don't have an old cheese grater, look for the most basic metal version you can find. Toss a pack of holey synthetic sponges, a roll of natural jute cord, some assorted fall ribbon , and a short strand of battery-operated string lights into your cart. You'll also need craft paint in white, brown, and gold, as well as a pillar candle holder. And if you don't already have an empty pickle jar at home, grab some spears to snack on while you make this beautiful rustic centerpiece.

There's no reason table lamps have to be expensive, but this affordable DIY does involve several steps. First, decorate your old cheese grater. Because it serves as the lampshade, you can customize the design to your heart's content. The Gooch spray painted his a soft cream before using a synthetic sponge to randomly dot white craft paint on the entire surface. Once it was dry, he mixed a little brown and metallic gold paint together and lightly sponged it on each grating surface using an upward motion. Substituting matte black and metallic copper paints could also create a somewhat spookier decor, especially when paired with Dollar Tree's Crafter's Square Halloween Ribbon.

Embellishing comes next. Wrap jute twine tightly around the handle before using hot glue to secure it. Then, cut a thick and thin piece of ribbon slightly longer than the base of your grater. Glue them together before wrapping them around the bottom edge of your grater. Overlap the ends slightly before securing with more hot glue for a finished look.

Now is time to add the florals. The Gooch kept his design very restrained, opting to glue several large leaves in the lower center of his cheese grater before topping them with a small pumpkin, berry, and pinecone accent. However, each of the holes in your grater can have floral picks inserted directly inside them. Taking this approach instead could allow you to swap out some of the elements as fall turns into winter.

Table lamps are one of the best ways to layer your lighting this fall. Once your cheese grater lampshade is completely decorated, it's time to build the lamp base. Instead of using a lightbulb, you'll simply stick a strand of battery-powered string lights into an empty and dry pickle jar. To make it easier to turn your lamp on and off, use a little hot glue to attach the battery pack toward the top of your jar.

Next, attach the jar to your pillar candle holder with glue. If you opt to use a metal holder, the central pin that holds a candle in place will need to be removed. While you could pull out heavy-duty bolt cutters or a grinder, crafters recommend using a handheld Dremel or sharp pair of pliers. Adding paint or stain to your candle holder can further customize the base, but we think the cheese grater lampshade is definitely the star of this fall decor.

The final step is carefully setting your cheese grater lampshade on top of the illuminated pickle jar. Because most cheese graters are tapered at the top, it will eventually rest on the rim. You can adjust it slightly to ensure it's straight, and even turn your lamp around to adjust the amount of lighting it puts out depending on which side of your cheese grater is forward-facing. The largest go-to grater will cast the most light, while the tiniest cheese planer side will create a more subtle effect.