Makeover a Lamp

Learn how to cover a lamp shade with fabric by following this easy tutorial from Jamielyn Nye. Makeover a Lamp and put it on display in your home to impress all of your guests. You'll love creating something unique and true to your home decor style.

Materials:

• lamp shade and stand
• spray paint
• fabric
• lace, beads, fringe for decorating

First you’ll want to head to your closest thrift store and pick up a lampshade and stand. I found this lamp at goodwill on dollar day Thursdays and new some spray paint would clean it right up. Lime green it was!



I also found this lamp shade at goodwill for $1 as well. So it cost me about $2 bucks…not bad!



First you’ll want to cut out a piece of fabric that is about twice the length of your lamp shade. Then you’ll start at the lamp shades seam and trace the lamp shade (top and bottom) while rolling it, until you get back to the lamp shades seam. whew! Does that make sense?



It should end up looking something like this. You’ll want to cut it out leaving about a one inch border all the way around. Mine is definitely far from perfect, but it works. At this point you’ll want to iron your fabric if you haven’t already. If I was smart I would have done it before. lol



I didn’t take very many pictures during the next few steps, because let’s be honest trying to take a picture while hot gluing is never easy! I already end up with enough glue burns as it is! lol.

Basically you’ll want to start at the seam of the lamp shade and begin hot gluing your fabric. It’s best to take it a few inches at a time. You’ll want to make sure to smooth out the fabric as you go as well. When the fabric has covered the entire lamp shade you will tuck the fabric around the top and bottom edge. Then make sure to trim any excess fabric.



Next you’ll want to decorate the top and bottom edges with trim, lace, beads, fringe, etc to give it a finished look. I made a ruffle by taking a 1 in strip of fabric and sewing it with my longest stitch and tension. It curled right up as I sewed it.



Then I glued down the ruffle around the base of the lampshade. Then I added a flower and it was complete! It’s far from perfect, but for my first lamp shade makeover I think it turned out pretty cute.