How to Make Hanging Pendant Lamps for a Miniature Kitchen (1:12 & 1:6)

Lighting adds instant realism and atmosphere to your dollhouse or diorama. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create modern miniature pendant lamps for a miniature kitchen using beads, wire, LEDs — and even custom lampshades made from UV resin with a plate mold.

Perfect for 1:12 dollhouses and 1:6 fashion doll dioramas, this project is beginner-friendly but looks designer-level once complete.

Supplies You’ll Need

	Tool / Material	Purpose	Where to Shop
	Transparent beads / glass domes	Lampshades	Find on Amazon · Find on Etsy
	Plate silicone resin mold	Lampshades	Find on Etsy
	UV resin (clear / tinted)	Casting custom lampshades	Find on Amazon · Find on Etsy
	Brass eyelets (3mm =1/8'' or 5mm = 3/16")	Clean hole finish + lamp “hardware”	Find on Amazon 5mm · Find on Amazon 3mm
	Warm white LED lights (battery/USB)	Realistic illumination	Find on Amazon · Find on Etsy
	Mini hand drill (pin vise) + bits	Making precise ceiling + bead holes	Find on Amazon · Find on Etsy
	Beads 5mm	Cutting, trimming, marking placement	Find on Amazon
	CA super glue gel	Securing beads, wires, eyelets	Find on Amazon
	Metallic acrylic paints (gold/black/silver)	Painting canopies, eyelets, hardware	Find on Amazon
	Heat-shrink tubing	Tidy LED connections	Find on Amazon

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1. Prepare the LED and Glass Bead

• Thread a warm white LED through a transparent glass bead.

• This bead becomes the main lampshade body.

• Secure with a tiny dot of glue so the LED sits centered.

Step 2. Add a Plate (UV Resin Mold)

• Pour UV resin into a plate mold, cure under UV light.

• Demold the tiny “dish” and drill a small hole in the center.

• Slide the LED lead with bead through this resin plate.

• The plate acts like a wide diffuser below the lamp.

Step 3. Insert an Eyelet

• Place a brass eyelet into the hole on top of the bead.

• This creates a professional finish and prevents cracking.

• Fix in place with glue.

Step 4. Add a Decorative Bead on Top

• Slide a small metal or glass bead above the eyelet.

• This completes the look of the fixture’s “hardware.”

• Twist the LED wires neatly together.

Step 5. Glue and Paint Details

• Apply glue at each joint (bead, plate, eyelet, top bead) to secure.

• Once dry, paint eyelet and top bead with metallic acrylics (gold, silver, or matte black).

• This gives a luxury designer look.

Step 6. Prepare the Ceiling

• Mark lamp placement on the ceiling with a ruler.

• Drill holes with a pin vise.

• Insert small eyelets into the ceiling holes → these act as ceiling mounts.

• Secure with glue.

Step 7. Install the Lamp

• Thread the finished pendant lamp wires through the ceiling eyelets.

• Adjust height, then glue the canopy flush to the ceiling.

• Repeat for each lamp (2–3 over the kitchen island).

Step 8. Connect to Power

• Twist the wires together at the back side of the ceiling.

• Connect to a battery box or USB LED power pack.

• Test the lights before final fixing.

Pro Tips

• Always glue after each assembly step to keep parts from sliding.

• Use clear UV resin for a glassy plate, or add pigment for colored glass.

• Eyelets in both lamp and ceiling = realistic finish + cleaner look.

• For 1:6 scale, use larger beads (12–15 mm) and stronger LEDs.

• Test LEDs before gluing permanently.

  
  

Conclusion

By combining glass beads, UV resin plates, and brass eyelets, you can create pendant lamps that look like they came from a modern luxury interior design magazine — but in miniature.