Upcycled Decor: Drum Lamps by Willem Heeffer

Artist Willem Heeffer makes beautiful upcycled drum lamps from a surprising reclaimed material.

What I love best about these upcycled lamps is that you can't tell at first glance that they're made from something else. Don't get me wrong: I love a little kitsch in my decor, but once in a while, you want something that just looks sleek, right? The Dutch designer's lamps are simple, modern, and gorgeous.

But what are they made from? He transforms reclaimed washing machine drums into these beautiful upcycled lamps!

When you think of upcycling, large appliances might not spring immediately to mind, but old washing machines wear out eventually, and when they do they're headed to the scrap heap, just like anything else. You can recycle old washing machines, but just like with other materials, reusing is always better. Reusing an old washing machine drum tends to take less energy than recycling it.

Heeffer is extending the life of at least part of old washing machines with his upcycled lamps, and the finished piece is made of 90 percent upcycled materials. Not too shabby! He says:

When I work with old materials I take them out of context, use it in an unexpected way to create something new. The goal is to first see a beautiful product after which you discover the history behind it. Only then the products are no longer viewed as trash and have become design pieces.

He uses locally-sourced materials to create his drum lamps, so his upcycled lighting helps support the loconomy in his area, too!

There are two versions of this lamp available: a special circular bulb called a T5 circular tube or an LED. You can find the upcycled lamps along with Willem Heeffer's other designs on his website.

Image Credit: Upcycled Drum Lamps photo by Yehia Eweis