Our roundup of creative lampshade ideas has something for every style.
Give your lampshades a new look with these easy tweaks.
Give ordinary lampshades a lift with add-ons that take less than an hour.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Which Lampshade Works for Me?
Our roundup of DIYlampshade ideashas something for every style.
Her trick for keeping her lines neat is to go slow.
Painted lampshade by Liz Kamarul.Credit: Carson Downing
With pleats in place, she ironed them and secured the tops and bottoms with dots of fabric glue.
The recipe calls for corn starch, so the trick is to stir well to avoid clumps.
To prevent drips, use a natural-bristle brush that’s damp but not wet.
Dip-dye lampshade by Rachel Mae Smith of The Crafted Life.Credit: Carson Downing
I want to recover a sofa in this pattern!"
Botanical Lampshade
Artist Inslee Fariss used Angelus Leather Paint to create this DIY lampshade.
“It is a perfect viscosity and requires no water mixing.”
Lampshade design by Beth Diana Smith.Credit: Carson Downing
If you’re not confident painting freehand, start by tracing simple plant shapes with a pencil.
DIY Decoupage Design
Create a DIY lampshade using your favorite fabric and decoupage.
Thisbeautiful watercolor drumwas made by cutting floral designs from spare fabric.
Watercolor lampshade design by Mat Sanders.Credit: Carson Downing
Decoupage medium and bias tape create a polished design.
Don’t be afraid to mix patterns or overlap large cutouts for a garden-fresh collage look.
To make the design, paint the outside fabric withpaint colorsranging from light to dark.
Botanical lampshade design by Inslee Fariss.Credit: Carson Downing
Work quickly as you paint because it’s difficult to blend further once dry.
Coastal Charm
Make a subtle change to a plain white lampshade by dressing up the inside.
We addedfun, bright wallpaperto the shade’s interior for this DIY lampshade makeover.
Credit: Brie Passano
Measure the wallpaper to fit the shade’s interior and cut to size.
(It’s always best to cut it slightly larger and go back to trim precisely.)
Insert the wallpaper into the shade and use Mod Podge or glue to secure at the seams.
Credit: Brie Passano
Get the look by wrapping .28-inch-diameter cord around the base, hot-gluing as you go.
Switch colors after a few passes to create alternating cream, white, and gold bands.
Thread and Needle Shade
Embroidery floss is made for more than just friendship bracelets.
Credit: Brie Passano
Use it to dress up everyday items around the house.
Find a plain lampshade and use the floss and a needle to make trendy geometric patterns.
verify all tied ends stay on the inside of the lampshade.
Credit: Jacob Fox
These contrasting colors pop against the white fabric, making thefreshly paintedlamp base look sharp.
This project requires no prior sewing skills.
Dainty Dots
This lampshade looks covered in embroidered French knots from far away.
Credit: Adam Albright
But once you peek up close, you’ll see that those aren’t knots.
They’re paint dots made with the same dimensional fabric paint you used to collect for decorating shirts.
This DIY lampshade makeover is easy for any skill level.
Credit: Cameron Sadeghpour
Fabric Dye Lampshade
Usefabric dyeto add color to basic accessories easily and quickly.
For a dip-dyed lampshade, mix powdered dye in a large container.
Dip all but a few inches of the shade in the mix, holding for three to four minutes.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Lift out a few inches of the shade and then hold again to create a darker hue.
Repeat to create a gradually darker hue.
Let dry before using.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Cardstock Design
Bring the garden indoors with thisfloral-inspiredshade.
Punch out 1-inch and 112 -inch scalloped circles from several hues of pastel cardstock.
Recycled Fabric Lampshade
Give an old dress new life on a lampshade.
Credit: Jacob Fox
A stretchy fabric in a small size works best for this project.
Spray-Painted Shade
DIY lampshade makeovers don’t get any simpler than this spray-paint hack.
Felt DIY Lampshade
Strips of felt add color and texture to a boring lampshade.
Credit: Jacob Fox
you’re able to have something beautiful with inexpensive copper foil tape without even buying a new shade!
Although the change may be small, it will elevate your space with chicmetallic sparkle.
Then dab black paint into the stencil openings with a small brush.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Remove stencil and let dry.
Reposition and repeat until the stencil covers as much of the shade as desired.
How to choose the right lampshade for your living room.
Credit: Jacob Fox
How to make a DIY bamboo lampshade.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Credit: Jacob Fox
