I made a moon lamp from the IKEA FADO which is about 10 inches in diameter. It’s a large, impressive moon lamp and more affordable than those of the same size sold online. Not only that, the globe is made out of glass vs. the usual ones in plastic.
And it looks as good, if not better.
With a Philips Hue bulb, I can control the brightness of the moon. If you prefer a moon lamp with color control, you can go for a smart bulb with color-changing options.
IKEA items used:
- FADO Lamp
Other materials and tools:
- Dark grey acrylic paint
- Paper Kitchen Towels
- Philips Hue bulb
DIY Moon lamp hack instructions:
1. Clean the inside of the FADO lampshade.

2. Put a small amount of grey acrylic paint onto a folded-up paper towel.
3. Apply the paint very thinly to the inside of the lampshade by dabbing and rubbing to create some darker spots and some lighter spots until you have peppered the entire internal surface with some degree of paint.
4. Allow to dry for 5-10 minutes.
5. Re-insert the bulb and observe the results.

If you use a Philips Hue or other color-changing bulb, try different shades of yellow, red, and blue to create the full realistic effect in your DIY moon lamp.
~ by Leon Maughan
Other FADO lamp hacks you may like
#1 A FADO Kitty lamp that doesn’t say hello
Make this cute kitty lamp out of polymer clay, a black pen, and a steady hand. Add a touch of white glitter for the cheeks, if you like. See the kitty FADO lamp.
#2 A Miffy lamp
A DIY version of a Miffy lamp. You’ll need some cardboard for the ears, glue, a Sharpie, and again, a steady hand. See the Miffy lamp hack here.
See more FADO lamp hacks.