Soft Glow – A One-of-One Lamp I Designed and Printed

🪄 Inspiration: From Thrift Store to Design Software

This lamp actually started with a little design jealousy.

I came across a beautiful 3D printable design online called the Mid Century Modern Lamp. It had this elegant vibe—clean lines, un-balanced proportions, something about it just worked. It sparked an idea: what if I tried designing my own lamp from scratch?

Around the same time, I saw a rounded, minimal lamp at a thrift shop. It was nice, but it was priced at $85—which felt steep for something I thought I might be able to replicate. So I took that as a challenge.

I sketched out the silhouette, fired up my CAD tools, and started shaping my own version—one that captured the cozy, grounded feeling of that thrift store find but with a bit more personal flair.

Fresh off the 3d printer, weights added

I played around with the lamp design a bit, trying to find that sweet spot between clean design and personal touch. This one came together unexpectedly well, though it was super light, kinda mid section heavy. I had some car wheel balancing weights left over from another project, so I designed a small section and added them to the base.

Wheel Weights in the base

Upside down, some sanding and primer

I also created a simple piece to hold the bulb assembly that notches into the base.

Light Bulb socket Bracket

I made the shade using the slicer setting spiralize vase but with 4 bottom layers, .25mm high each, to give the mounting section enough strength. Not seen here, I also made a tiny spacer to give the shade enough surface area to mount onto the lamp shade bracket. Also not seen here, the sanding. So much sanding.s

All the pieces for assembly

Three prototypes in and I’ve got a working lamp that required minimal post processing.

First coat of paint, still wet

I call it the Soft Glow—a small table lamp with a smooth, hand painted, slate-blue oval base and a crisp white shade. Both parts are 3D printed. I designed the base and lamp shade from scratch, designed a small bracket to connect the bulb socket, and assembled the rest by hand. It plugs into the wall with a simple inline switch, and it works with any standard LED bulb.

This is one of those projects that started with “I wonder if I can…” and ended with something I now kind of want to keep. But I won’t—I’m offering it up as a true one-of-a-kind piece. There’s only one, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. I mean, I will probably make more, but it’s hand painted and assembled by hand, so it won’t look exactly the same I’m sure.

I’m pricing it at $30, just enough to cover materials, time, and the satisfaction of knowing it’ll end up in a good home.

Even though Soft Glow is a true one-off, I can make something similar just for you. If you like the shape but want a different color—or even a raw, unpainted version you can customize yourself—just reach out.

I love working with folks who appreciate handmade design and want something a little different. Let’s make it happen.

If you’re into simple, functional, handmade objects with personality, check it out:

👉 [Buy it on Artisans coop]
👉 [Buy it on Etsy]

Thanks for following along as I keep experimenting and making cool stuff.

If you liked this project, consider subscribing to the newsletter. I’ve got more ideas in the pipeline—some weird, some practical, all handmade and one-of-a-kind.

Subscribers get a first look at my latest designs before they hit any marketplaces. And honestly? Knowing people are watching and curious is what keeps me motivated to keep making.

Thanks for being here.

— Nathan

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Want to see more behind-the-scenes updates, early prototypes, and works-in-progress?

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I post early experiments, failed prints, and sneak peeks before they become finished pieces. Come say hi!